Maryland A.G. urges probe of state health exchange

Douglas Gansler, also a Democratic candidate for governor, called on Gov. Martin O'Malley to launch an independent probe of problems and management issues that related to the state's online insurance marketplace.

The Washington Post: Gansler Asks O'Malley For Independent Probe Of Maryland Health Exchange, Gets Rebuffed
Maryland gubernatorial hopeful Douglas F. Gansler on Tuesday called on Gov. Martin O'Malley (D) to appoint a special counsel to investigate problems with the state's online health insurance exchange, in his latest attempt to call attention to its shortcomings (Wagner, 4/8).

The Baltimore Sun: Gansler Calls for Special Probe Of Health Exchange
Attorney General Douglas F. Gansler stepped up his barrage of attack's on the O'Malley administration handling of the development of the state's health insurance exchange, calling for the appointment of a special counsel to investigate the web site's failed launch. Gansler, who is running for the Democratic nomination for governor against Lt. Gov. Anthony G. Brown, called for that investigator to be given subpoena powers to examine what the attorney general called "mismanagement, malfeasance and waste" in the establishment of the failed exchange. He called for the investigator to be given 60 days to compile a report -- a schedule that could lead to its completion just before the June 24 primary if the probe started almost immediately (Dresser, 4/8).

Meanwhile, news from Washington state about what people should do if they missed the deadline --

The Seattle Times: Missed Health-insurance Signup Deadline? Here's What To Do
It's "follow the rules" time for folks who missed the deadline to sign up for a private health plan through Washington's Healthplanfinder but who still want insurance. If you couldn't finish -- or even start -- an application, you'll need to get a special dispensation from the Washington Health Benefit Exchange to move ahead. So keep reading, and we'll tell you how to be granted the dispensation, aka "special enrollment period." Your insurance -- if you are approved, follow all the steps, select a plan and pay -- should begin May 1 (Ostrom, 4/8).