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Independent Audit Outlines Problems At Cover Oregon

Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber called the audit of Cover Oregon a ' sobering critique' of the state's health insurance exchange.
Office of the Governor
Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber called the audit of Cover Oregon a ' sobering critique' of the state's health insurance exchange.

According to a scathing audit from an independent consultant, Oregon's health insurance exchange was riddled with internal conflict and unrealistic expectations.

Governor John Kitzhaber announced the findings and said among other things, the director of the Oregon Health Authority will be resigning.

Oregon Governor John Kitzhaber says the report by First Data outlines a fundamental breakdown of leadership at Cover Oregon. The health insurance exchange still isn't fully functional, nearly six months after it was supposed to be.

Kitzhaber called the analysis a "credible and sobering critique" of the exchange’s fumbled rollout.

"I am angry and I am disappointed by the roll-out of Cover Oregon and the ongoing technical problems that have created delays, uncertainty, confusion and frustration among Oregonians who need and deserve health care."

Kitzhaber said he's pushing the federal government to extend the deadline for when Oregonians can sign up for health insurance.

The governor also said the Oregon Department of Justice is exploring possible legal options against Oracle, the tech firm in charge of building the Cover Oregon website.

Copyright 2014 Northwest News Network

Chris Lehman
Chris Lehman graduated from Temple University with a journalism degree in 1997. He landed his first job less than a month later, producing arts stories for Red River Public Radio in Shreveport, Louisiana. Three years later he headed north to DeKalb, Illinois, where he worked as a reporter and announcer for NPR–affiliate WNIJ–FM. In 2006 he headed west to become the Salem Correspondent for the Northwest News Network.