Mass., Vt. halt payments to firm behind health sites

[alp227]

Source: Boston Globe

WASHINGTON — Even as President Obama’s health insurance website limps to recovery, at least two states that used the same contractor and are still plagued with malfunctions — Massachusetts and Vermont — are taking preliminary steps to recoup taxpayer dollars.

Massachusetts officials are reviewing legal options against CGI Group, a Montreal-based information technology company, and will make recommendations on how to seek financial redress at a Jan. 9 meeting.

So far, the state has paid $11 million of its $69 million contract with CGI. It will not pay a penny more until a functioning website has been delivered, said Jason Lefferts, spokesman for the Commonwealth Health Connector, the state’s insurance marketplace.

“CGI has consistently underperformed, which is frustrating and a serious concern,” Lefferts said. “We are holding the vendor accountable for its underperformance and will continue to apply nonstop pressure to work to fix defects and improve performance.”

Read more: http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2013/12/26/states-weigh-legal-options-against-contractor-for-malfunctioning-health-insurance-websites/gNml5qwOtQPiR3qoFINjsN/story.html

[Mass]

1. I did not realize Vt was affected, but MA is still very much in a mess.

We were told we were covered without change, but we had to do everything on the phone and by mail.

Good for the state to try to cut its losses. The federal government should do the same.

[Demeter]

2. But that's not the Obama style

He'll cut a supporter first....there's still lots of room under that bus.

[loudsue]

3. Sieg heil privatization! The mantra of the corporatists.

And all corporations do is cost a fucking fortune to do what government employees could do for a tiny fraction of the cost, and the government employees would do it BETTER!

[former9thward]

10. Not in this case.

What government agency has employees who do this? Where are they at? Who was supervising this company? If no one was supervising them that is an indictment itself.

[loudsue]

12. That is part of the problem! What in the hell is wrong with HIRING US Citizens to work for the

government, and run the health care system web site....hell! And keep them on to process claims, instead of having some insurance COMPANY sucking all the money out of the medical system.

[former9thward]

13. The people who make websites are not the same as those who process claims.

Completely different skills, knowledge,etc. The website was supposed to be created as a temporary project. Do you want to hire a bunch of people then fire them as soon as they do their job?

[dixiegrrrrl]

4. So the exchanges are run by private for profit contractors

and the premiums will go to private for profit insurance companies
and the subsidies will go to private for profit insurance companies...

What woulda happened if all that money had been spent on actual health treatment for the citizens
whose tax dollars
are paying all the private for profit middle men????

[valerief]

7. What would've happened if the for-profit contractor was a US business employing US citizens? nt

[dixiegrrrrl]

8. What woulda happened in terms of what?

[valerief]

9. Just using your "what woulda happened" structure.

I mean, not only did they pay taxpayer money to a for-profit, they didn't even pay it to an American for-profit!

I'm for single payer, big time.

[loudsue]

11. That would make too much sense....so all the tea party koch heads would explode

And it would save actual PEOPLE money....can't have THAT!!! We have to somehow glorify the corporate world, instead, and let them SUCK all the money out of the American economy.

[Betty]

5. I have been trying since October

To get my health insurance here in MA. Mind you, the website worked just great for years, I have had Romneycare since it started. Never a problem with the website, now, it is completely broken, as is customer service. I was on hold for about a half hour, finally got a live person who was going to enroll me over the phone... And just as we were about to finish the long process, the fucking system disconnected me, and of course, no one called me back. I then tried applying by snail mail, and I got a letter back saying I had to send them a copy of my green card...even though I am an American citizen.

I am no closer to getting health insurance an I was in October, and they are ending the policy I am on in March, I believe... Was going to be cut off at the end of this month, but they had to extend our old polices due to this clusterfuck.

[Roci]

6. Anyone for common sense in Government here?

After a screw-up like this, of truly DoD proportions, why is anyone cashing state or federal Government checks behind this massive mess? I read where they've been paid $11 Million so far. I say let them keep that much, (and that is way too much), but only if they fix things to work as advertised. Otherwise, sue the heck out of them, and get the public's money back. But for Pete's sake, don't pay anybody another thin dime until it all works the way it's supposed to work.