Although the HealthCare.gov user experience has improved significantly since October, there's no ignoring the fact that the federal health exchange site's launch was "flawed and unacceptable," HHS Secretary Kathleen Sebelius wrote today in a blog post.
In order to better understand the policies that led to the site's technical issues, Ms. Sebelius wrote she has asked HHS Inspector General Dan Levinson to conduct a thorough review of the site's development, including contractor performance and program management structure.
Additionally, she has asked CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner to create a new position: CMS chief risk officer. The new official will work across CMS to assess risk management practices concerning major agency initiative. Furthermore, Ms. Sebelius wrote her agency intends to update and expand CMS employee training on best practices for contractor and procurement management, rules and procedures.
Since its launch last month, the federal exchange website has experienced numerous technical issues, such as people not being able to create accounts, frustrating consumers and drawing criticism from the healthcare reform law's opponents. However, federal have made "substantial progress" in repairing HealthCare.gov, which can now support 50,000 users at a time, according to an HHS progress report.
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