Stanislaus County will have to wait for call center decision

STANISLAUS COUNTY -- State officials will wait until Jan. 18 before choosing a county to operate a call center for the California Health Benefit Exchange.

Stanislaus County had expected a decision last week on its bid to run the call center, which would be one of three in California helping the uninsured purchase coverage under the federal health care law starting in 2014.

The local center could have 250 to 300 employees. The exchange would have two state-run call centers and wants to contract with a county to run the third one.

Officials are considering proposals from Stanislaus and Contra Costa counties; Sacramento County dropped out. The state could choose one of the counties Jan. 18 and then would negotiate a detailed agreement with that county.