Yesterday, the Washington Health Benefit Exchange Board held a meeting to discuss the progress of our state’s version of Obamacare. According to the Seattle Times, “a lack of transparency in describing and fixing technical problems” quickly became the primary topic of conversation with board members demanding answers from Exchange staff.
Board member Teresa Mosqueda, demanding transparency, asked for a no-nonsense number on how many enrollees are affected by ongoing technical problems. The answer “appeared to stun some board members.” According to associate operations director Brad Finnegan, “glitches and technical problems have affected as many as 28,000 people trying to buy health insurance through the Washington Healthplanfinder online marketplace.”
That means that one out of every five enrollees has had or is experiencing a problem with their plan.
The lack of transparency and accountability with the Exchange certainly astounded Board member and former GOP Rep. Bill Hinkle. He demanded that staff stop patting each other on the back and making “excuses for the problems still plaguing thousands of accounts.” Via the Seattle Times,
“C’mon you guys, let’s quit blowing smoke here,” Hinkle said. “I’m tired of patting people on the back….We’re not doing great yet.”
Hinkle went on to say, “It’s a culture of transparency I need… I want people to be accountable.”
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