Democrats: PPACA exchanges are working

Democrats fired back today at a hearing on the performance of the applicant eligibility screening system at the public exchanges run by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS).

See also: GAO: Federal PPACA exchanges are open to fake people

Investigators at the U.S. Government Accountability Office (GAO) reported that, when they tested the HHS exchange qualified health plan (QHP) eligibility screening system, they were able to get full coverage for one of 12 fake applicants and provisional coverage for 10.

The House Ways and Means oversight subcommittee held a hearing on the report. Rep. Charles Boustany, R-La., chairman of the subcommittee, said the report shows the HHS Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA) exchanges have problems with their internal controls.

Rep. John Lewis, D-Ga., said Republicans are trying to find fault with the eligibility verification system to distract people from the overall success of the exchange program. ”Many of my colleagues on the other side of the aisle said that no one would sign up for the Affordable Care Act,” Lewis said. “Instead, 8 million people enrolled.”