ANNAPOLIS, Md. (AP) — A Maryland panel working on implementing federal health care reform has chosen the state employee health plan as a benchmark for other plans sold in the small group and individual markets for two years, starting in 2014.

The Maryland Health Care Reform Coordinating Council approved the state employee plan as the benchmark on Thursday.

The federal government has adopted a two-year transitional policy for states to select a health benefit plan from a menu of 10 options already sold within their state to serve as the benchmark plan.

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