Hearing Description: CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner testified in front of the Ways and Means Committee to update members of Congress on the status of Healthcare.gov fixes and to answer their questions about Obamacare.
Hearing Date: October 29th, 2013
Hearing Summary: Prepared for AAPS by the Market Institute
The Ways and Means Committee held a hearing on 10/29/2013 to examine the problems Healthcare.gov has been experiencing since it’s launch on October 1st. The committee called Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Administrator Marilyn Tavenner to testify. Chairman Dave Camp (R-Mich.) said in his opening statement the White House was not forthcoming with the status of the website in past updates. The problems with Obamacare go well beyond the website though. He has heard from many businesses and individuals concerned about their health coverage. The Chairman hopes to ultimately see a delay in the individual mandate and fears a catastrophic collapse of the health insurance market if nothing is done.
Ranking member Sandy Levin (D-Mich.) said in his opening statement that Obamacare was being targeted by Republicans, who are hoping it fails. It is working in states that run their own exchanges.
The lone witness, CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner testified in her opening statement that CMS is aware consumers are having trouble access the marketplaces online, but the Affordable Care Act is not limited to just a website. The law creates competition where competition did not previously exist. Ms. Tavenner apologized to the committee members for the website not working as well as it should and assured Healthcare.gov would be working smoothly soon. 90% of users are now able to create accounts on the site, when at launch, very few could. The Federal Data Hub is working extremely well and as it should. The government has brought in Jeffrey Zients to consult on how to quickly and effectively fix the website.
In response to questioning, Marilyn Tavenner said:
- The number of people that have enrolled will not be available until mid-November
- The number of applications that have been filled out totals 700,000
- 250 issuers are offering 3,000 plans in the federal marketplaces
- She did not personally enroll in health coverage through the federal marketplace; she is covered through employer sponsored coverage
- When faced with higher premiums, It is important to remember there are many consumer protections mandated by the ACA that were not present before the law
- There were two main problems with the launch, capacity and front end account creation
- The SHOP application and Spanish language website will be fully implemented by the end of November
- Premiums are down 18% from Congressional Budget Office estimates
Hearing Website – http://waysandmeans.house.gov/calendar/eventsingle.aspx?EventID=356079
Link to Testimony:
Marilyn Tavenner, CMS Administrator –
