NASHVILLE (AP) — Gov. Bill Haslam says he's taking advantage of an extended deadline the federal government has given states regarding health insurance exchanges.

States had until Friday to inform the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services if they plan to set up their own health insurance markets. But the deadline has been extended to Dec. 14.

Haslam has yet to reach a decision, but the Republican governor says he's hopeful that in the coming weeks he will receive answers from Washington to questions he has about the exchanges, mainly the amount of flexibility Tennessee would have if it set up its own.

Republican Senate Speaker Ron Ramsey of Blountville told reporters earlier this week that he expects the governor to keep his options open on the state-run exchange.