Beshear prepares to implement health reforms

FRANKFORT, Ky. - Kentucky is poised to move ahead with the creation of a statewide health insurance exchange after Thursday's U.S. Supreme Court ruling upholding federal health care reforms.

Gov. Steve Beshear said the Supreme Court's ruling removes much of the uncertainty that has surrounded the health care reforms since its passage in 2010.

The Democratic governor said he will soon issue an executive order to create the state's health insurance exchange to help uninsured Kentuckians find affordable health coverage.

The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld virtually all of President Barack Obama's historic health care overhaul, including the hotly debated core requirement that nearly every American have health insurance.

The reforms also will result in hundreds of thousands of Kentuckians who can't afford health insurance being added to the Medicaid program.