Oregon moves closer to suit against Oracle over health exchange 'fiasco'

Jun 18 2014

Meanwhile, news outlets report on how nearby Washington state, which had a much less troubled launch and operation of its online insurance marketplace, still faces challenges.

The Oregonian: With Legal Demands And $2-Million Pact, Oregon Moves Closer To Suing Oracle Over Health Exchange Fiasco
Weeks after inking a $2-million contract with a private law firm to assist with litigation against Oracle Corp over the Cover Oregon health insurance exchange fiasco, the state of Oregon on Monday issued its first legal demands for documents in the case, suggesting that a lawsuit may be imminent. An Oregon Department of Justice spokeswoman confirmed the department has sent out multiple investigative demands for documents. However, she declined to release details of who received them, so the targets – be they individuals, contractors, or Oracle itself -- remain unclear (Budnick, 6/16).

The Washington Post's Wonkblog: Obamacare Struggles, Even When It's Succeeding
One of the early ironies that emerged from Obamacare's first year of expanded coverage is how much some of the states most enthusiastic about the law failed miserably. Washington state, which was one of the first to embrace a state-run exchange, isn't one of those states -; but it's experienced its share of frustrations putting the Affordable Care Act into place (Millman, 6/16).

Politico Pro: Challenges Lurk Behind Washington State's Successful Health Exchange
Washington state nailed its Obamacare launch, enrolling hundreds of thousands of people and earning accolades for its exchange. But the state is still grappling with "back end" problems on its enrollment website, questions about the exchange's budget and crowded clinics. Even the most hardcore proponents of the Affordable Care Act are nervous about the second enrollment season as they confront a long list of technical shortcomings, provider shortages and questions about financial sustainability (Cheney, 6/16).

Also, in news about states and Medicaid expansion -

Kansas Health Institute News Service: KC Legislature Says Missouri Lawmakers Nearly Reached Medicaid Expansion Deal
A last-minute deal to expand Medicaid eligibility in Missouri almost materialized in the waning days of this year's legislative session, briefly breathing life into an issue that had seemed all but doomed. Missouri State Sen. Ryan Silvey, a Kansas City Republican, provided a behind-the-scenes look at high-level negotiations that occurred just before the session ended without an agreement (Sherry, 6/16). 

New Orleans Times Picayune: David Vitter Talks Medicaid Expansion, Common Core, Levee Board Lawsuit And TOPS
[U.S. Sen. David Vitter, R-La.] -- who is running for governor in 2015 -- couldn't help but take not-so-subtle shots at [Gov. Bobby] Jindal while speaking to the Baton Rouge Press Club luncheon Monday. ... Vitter is likely to approach Louisiana's health care needs differently than Jindal, he said. For example, the senator isn't ruling out accepting federal funding to expand the Medicaid program in Louisiana. Vitter would want to overhaul and change the way Medicaid works in the state before agreeing to the expansion. He doesn't want to provide a "disincentive" for able-bodied adults to find work. But Vitter might be willing to take federal money to enroll more people in the government-run health care program, he said (O'Donoghue, 6/16).