Dan Maynard: It's exchange testing time

One difference, however, is that the exchange front-end systems must fit together with many other big, new systems, Maynard said.

For typical projects, he said, Connecture simply must plug a new front-end system into existing systems.

The creators of some of the other new systems, such as the eligibility verification systems, are simply updating existing systems to fit in the new exchange environment, but creators of other systems, such as the billing and reconciliation systems, have to trod on less familiar ground, Maynard said.

The lack of ability to plug into legacy systems "creates a level of uncertainty that makes [the exchange work] unique," Maynard said.

But the level of systems knowledge at state and federal agencies is much better than it was three to six months ago, Maynard said.

"When there are gaps, certainly people are filling them," Maynard said. 

In the states Connecture serves, "it's been a very positive experience," Maynard said.

Because states understand how much time pressure they and vendors face, they have been good about trying to be realistic about the keeping the scope of their projects realistic and minimizing the number of requests for changes, he said.

See also:

• PPACA strategist: IT companies need specs
• CCIIO posts exchange progress update, funding guidance
• On the Third Hand: Time