Michigan Consumers for Healthcare, a Lansing nonprofit with 155 member groups, issued a statement encouraging Snyder to give his own go-ahead for an exchange -- a largely Web-based program for comparing and buying insurance.
"The delay of health exchange legislation that has been created by needless obstruction by a handful of misguided politicians has put Michigan consumers in a weak position with respect to establishing a state-based health exchange," its statement said.
President Barack Obama's Affordable Care Act requires states to create the exchanges by 2014 or have the federal government do it.
Michigan cannot create the program unless Snyder signs an executive order or the Legislature authorizes the state to move ahead.
Snyder spokeswoman Sara Wurfel said the governor hoped the House had started to move the program along Wednesday, and he would continue to encourage legislative leaders to make progress on creating an exchange.
"While we do wish the House would have taken action today, we'll work to help address and resolve the additional questions so they are ready to take next steps," the governor's statement said.
The developments followed a statement Tuesday by House Speaker Jase Bolger, R-Marshall, saying he would not move on an exchange until the House holds hearings. "We won't be driven by artificial deadlines, we won't be motivated by politics and we won't act based solely on federal promises for money," the statement said.
Michigan has $9.8 million in federal funds on hold until the governor or Legislature give the go-ahead to create an exchange. The program expects to serve a half-million uninsured people who buy their own insurance as well as small businesses.
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