If Minnesota wants to run a better state-based public health insurance exchange this fall, it needs to name an exchange information technology (IT) manager, consultants told the exchange board.
MNsure, the exchange, also needs to hire a testing manager, improve communications between the different people working on the project, and establish a clear, consistent list of priorities, the consultants said.
The consultants, from Deloitte, described their concerns about MNsure in a report included in a MNsure board meeting packet. Minnesota gave MNsure enthusiastic support. The Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) exchange has succeeded at enrolling 52,233 people in private qualified health plan (QHP) coverage through the exchange. The exchange also has enrolled 152,662 people in Minnesota’s Medicaid program and 52,154 people in a program aimed at moderate-income resident.
In October 2013, when the individual QHP open enrollment period was just starting, exchange officials said they hoped to use the exchange to enroll about 80,000 people in individual or group QHP coverage during the open enrollment period and about 39,000 people in QHP coverage during the rest of the year. But IT problems hampered enrollment, and, in their report, the Deloitte consultants say that IT management weaknesses remain.
See also: PPACA exchanges seek Web help