Under fire, MNsure director resigns abruptly

Criticized about the launch of Minnesota's health insurance marketplace and about a tropical vacation, April Todd-Malmlov resigned Tuesday.

The Associated Press: Embattled Minn. Health Exchange Chief Resigns
The chief of Minnesota's health insurance marketplace resigned Tuesday after facing criticism over the troubled rollout and a questionably timed international vacation. April Todd-Malmlov submitted her resignation during an emergency closed session of the government board of MNsure, Minnesota's version of the insurance exchange that's tied to the federal health care overhaul. She had been under increasing pressure over insurance sign-up problems and failed to get a vote of confidence from Democratic Gov. Mark Dayton last week (Bakst, 12/17).

Minnesota Public Radio: MNsure's Executive Director Resigns
Assistant Commissioner for Health Care Scott Leitz will serve as the interim executive director for MNsure until the agency can find a permanent replacement for Todd-Malmlov. MNsure's technological problems coincided with ongoing political fallout from Todd-Malmlov's decision to go on a two week international vacation at the end of November with her partner, James Golden - the state Medicaid Director, who has been working on the rollout of MNsure (Stawicki and Richert, 12/17).

The Star Tribune: Embattled MNsure Director Resigns Amid Increasing Criticism
Todd-Malmlov's abrupt departure comes as thousands of Minnesotans scramble to enroll in the state's online insurance marketplace by Jan. 1. The implementation of Minnesota's program has gone more smoothly than in other states, but it still has been marked by countless technical glitches, delays and frustrated consumers (Helgeson and Crosby, 12/17).

Pioneer Press: Under Fire, MNsure's Executive Director Abruptly Resigns
[R]ecent reports that Todd-Malmlov vacationed in Costa Rica last month sparked outrage, even though MNsure board members knew of the trip and Todd-Malmlov maintained daily contact with health exchange officials. "I commend the members of the MNsure board for their strong action to change immediately the executive staff leadership," Gov. Mark Dayton said in a statement (Snowbeck, 12/17).