The General Assembly wants a jump on how to create a health-insurance exchange required under federal law.

The Richmond Times-Dispatch reports that commerce and labor committees of both legislative houses will meet Nov. 15 for a joint briefing by Secretary of Health and Human Resources Bill Hazel.

He's Gov. Bob McDonnell's point man on health-care reform.

McDonnell opposes the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act
signed into law by President Barack Obama last year.

Still, the governor and key legislators want to be sure that the state runs the exchange, not the federal government.

How that will be achieved remains unclear. The General Assembly
is waiting for an overdue report by the governor's Health Care Reform Initiative Advisory Council. It's in the governor's hands.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)