Oregon is considering scrapping its glitch-ridden state-run health insurance exchange and relying on HealthCare.gov instead, according to a USA Today report.
The Cover Oregon technology options workgroup has recommended using the federal health insurance exchange technology to enroll people in private health plans and using the current exchange technology for Medicaid, according to the report. Oregon will decide tomorrow whether to stick with its state-based exchange or use the federal one.
The state spent at least $134 million on its exchange site, according to the report. It spent another $7 million processing paper applications after the contractor, Oracle Corp., was unable to repair the exchange site.
In March, the Government Accountability Office announced it would launch an investigation into the flawed Oregon exchange, at the request of Republican members of Congress. Oregon is not the only state to experience technical problems with its exchange — Maryland, Massachusetts, Nevada and Hawaii have also had trouble. However, Oregon would be the first to abandon its flawed exchange for HealthCare.gov.
Most state-based health insurance exchanges have been successful, with several (Vermont, Connecticut and the District of Columbia) exceeding projected 2014 enrollment by March 1, according to a report from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and the Urban Institute.
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