Sen. Fasano Asks For Meeting To Discuss ‘Problems’ At Health Exchange [Hartford Courant]

By MATTHEW STURDEVANT | The Hartford Courant

State Sen. Leonard Fasano is asking for a summer meeting of Connecticut’s health insurance exchange to address what he said are problems that have come to light in recent weeks.
Fasano, R-North Haven, sent a letter Tuesday to Lt. Gov. Nancy Wyman, who chairs Connecticut’s Health Insurance Exchange Board of Directors. The exchange, Access Health CT, is an online platform to buy health insurance. It was created as part of the Affordable Care Act, often called Obamacare.

“I understand that you have decided to cancel the remaining summer Exchange Board meetings,” Fasano wrote in a letter dated July 22. “At this time, I would like to request that you reconsider that decision.”

Fasano said he believes a meeting is necessary to discuss three issues:

— A faulty computer system at Access Health CT that incorrectly calculated tax credits, or subsidies, for thousands of customers. The problem was temporarily fixed July 7 and a permanent fix was scheduled to be in place by July 18, Access Health CT CEO Kevin Counihan has said.

— An Access Health CT call center employee’s backpack that was found outside a Hartford deli. The backpack had a notepad with personal information of Access Health CT customers. Hartford police are still investigating the matter.

— A federal audit that found deficiencies in internal controls used by insurance exchanges in Connecticut, California and the federal government. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office of Inspector General audited the exchanges.

Wyman’s spokeswoman, Juliet Manalan, said Tuesday, “While the Access Health Board is not meeting in July, they are rescheduling their August meeting. In the interim, Access Health is providing updates to Board members, and, as always, Lieutenant Governor Wyman is in regular contact with CEO Kevin Counihan and Access Health leadership.”