Posted on 02/12/2014 2:05:17 PM PST by GQuagmire
Lawmakers blasted Gov. Deval Patrick and top Health Connector administrators today for stranding Bay Staters struggling to sign up for health insurance through the state’s botched $69 million Obamacare website.
“The governor continues to say no one is going to fall through the cracks,” said state Sen. James Welch (D-West Springfield), the chairman of the Joint Committee on Health Care Financing. “But we hear constantly from our constituents who are falling through the cracks.”
State Rep. Jennifer Benson (D-Lunenburg) said Patrick has been “dismissive” about the depths of the website’s problems.
She also read portions of the bombshell email from Health Connector board member Jonathan Gruber — first reported in the Herald on Monday — that admitted the board failed in its duty to oversee the website and was more interested in projecting a harmonious public image.
“I do not have trust in an organization and a process that its own members are saying, ‘We have not been doing this work transparently, we have not been taking our jobs seriously’ and a real disinterest in the nuts and bolts of getting this done,” said Benson.
State Sen. Richard Moore (D-Uxbridge) cited a Herald report from Tuesday in which a project official claimed state leaders wanted to build the “Rolls-Royce” of websites and that in-fighting among state agencies also plagued the project.
“There was not a team effort, it appears, in developing this website,” said Moore. “We spent a lot of money on a website that doesn’t work and now we’re going to spend a lot of money to fix it … It’s a wonder we don’t have a serious mental health crisis because of people’s frustrations (using the site).”
Lawmakers also said they were outraged that top Patrick administration officials didn’t show up to the three-and-a-half hour hearing, including A&F Secretary Glen Shor, Health & Human Services Secretary John Polanowicz or even the governor himself — leaving newly hired website czar Sarah Iselin to repeatedly field questions she could not answer.
Health Connector officials later told lawmakers Shor is out on paternity leave and that one of Polanowicz’ family members is seriously ill.
Meanwhile, Iselin, who repeatedly told legislators she understands their concerns, said they have set up a “command center” at the MassHealth offices in Quincy and have asked the Obama administration for a six-month extension to its March 31 transition deadline — something that could be granted as early as today.
She also acknowledged that the entire mess may not be fixed by the time her four-month contract with the state is up — which means another central point person may have to be brought on in May.
Health Connector Executive Director Jean Yang repeatedly acknowledged the problems with the site and offered an apology for the debacle.
One lawmaker, however, said an apology doesn’t cut it.
“Why not have a voicemail message when you get put on hold with Gov. Patrick’s voice saying, ‘I’m sorry that we’ve had such long wait times,’” suggested state Rep. Ruth Balser. “I’m serious. … Don’t just apologize to us. Apologize to every person on that line and don’t have them waste their day.”
Lawmakers also said they were outraged that top Patrick administration officials didn’t show up to the three-and-a-half hour hearing, including A&F Secretary Glen Shor, Health & Human Services Secretary John Polanowicz or even the governor himself — leaving newly hired website czar Sarah Iselin to repeatedly field questions she could not answer.
Health Connector officials later told lawmakers Shor is out on paternity leave and that one of Polanowicz’ family members is seriously ill.
What in the hell is paternity leave? I'm sure this hack makes over 100k a year(that I'm paying for) Since when do men take paternity leave? I'm afraid I know the answer...
I thought that this would be a snap for a state that originated gov’t managed healthcare. Obamacare even screwed that up?
To all you LIBs/DIMs who vote for LIBs/DIMs... Bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaahahahahahahahahahahahahahaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa.
For people who cannot get the website to work for them, they can try to find a state certified “navigator” who can supply them with the 28 page long paper application that they can then send in via snail mail.
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