Months before any of us knew that healthcare.gov would crash or that technology for state-based health exchanges like Oregon’s would be seriously flawed, I began reporting extensively on potential technology problems that could hobble Colorado’s health exchange. I learned that the design of Colorado’s system was problematic since lawmakers set up the exchange outside of state government. Despite obstruction from exchange managers, I obtained records showing that exchange managers and state Medicaid managers were fighting behind the scenes. I reported that the conflicts were so serious that the two entities needed an outside mediator. Ultimately, they failed to build a unified sign-up system for customers. As a result, Colorado’s complex system has slowed sign-ups and customers have had to deal with a system that one exchange board member called “odious and embarrassing.”
