States struggle to fix failed exchanges

The "spectacular failure" of health insurance exchanges in Minnesota, Massachusetts, Maryland and Oregon -- despite their support of the health law -- gets a closer look from ProPublica. Repair efforts in Maryland and Oregon are also covered.

ProPublica: Epic Fail: Where Four State Health Exchanges Went Wrong
Much has been written (and will continue to be written) about the spectacular failure of health insurance exchanges in Minnesota, Massachusetts, Oregon and Maryland-;all blue states that support the Affordable Care Act. All were woefully unprepared for their Oct. 1 launch, and unlike HealthCare.gov, the federal marketplace, they are still having trouble getting back on their feet. ... One common element emerging in the coverage of these exchanges is that at least some state employees knew they were heading for disaster but didn't take action early enough to remedy it (Ornstein, 2/6). 

The Associated Press/Washington Post: Md. Panel To Examine Problems With Health Exchange
The panel, which will hold its first public meeting Monday, will include five state senators and five members of the House of Delegates. A main focus will be overseeing the progress of fixing technological problems and helping as many people as possible sign up before an open enrollment deadline of March 31. Members will later look at what led to the problems in the first place with an aim toward preventing it from happening again in the future (2/6).

The Oregonian: Cover Oregon: House Bill Would Require Independent Oversight On Large IT Projects
Oregon lawmakers are considering a bill to require independent quality-assurance oversight on large information technology projects in an attempt to avoid a repeat of Cover Oregon's disastrous rollout. House Bill 4122 and amendments would require third-party oversight on all contracted technology projects that cost more than $5 million and certain projects that cost more than $1 million. It received a hearing Thursday in the House Consumer Protection and Government Efficiency Committee (Zheng, 2/6).