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Success - Delayed, not Dead
Author: BobR    Date: 2013-10-24 10:57:21

After the budget showdown and the government shutdown, it was pretty clear to everyone that the already shabby Republican reputation took another big hit. It was a personal double-whammy for them, not only being hated even more, but also not succeeding in making President Obama a failure (or - more accurately - not preventing him from succeeding). They failed to prevent the ACA from being enacted, they failed to repeal it (42 times), they failed to get the Supreme Court to overturn it, and they failed to defund (well - sort of, but more on that later). All they've got left now is to wax indignant about the perceived failures of the website, and extrapolate the mostly anecdotal evidence across the entire program, crow that it's already a failure, and demand investigations, explanations, and resignations.

At the center is an admittedly poorly designed and implemented web site (as the designer and coder of this site, I can speak with a modicum of knowledge on this subject). Let's look at the problems that the site faces:

  1. The original plan was for all 50 states to manage their own exchanges. There have been 26 states which signed on. The remaining states are letting the Federal government manage the exchanges for their states. That means the Federal website has to handle registrations for way more people than was originally intended.

  2. The website collects a ton of data from users, and then must verify it against multiple disparate government systems that were never intended to communicate with one another, including the IRS, SSA, DHS, etc. Part of the reason for all of this is to verify eligibility to prevent fraud. Remember that the Republicans wanted the verifications strengthened? This is what that entails.

  3. The website was cobbled together with limited funds because the Republicans blocked funding to the HHS Dept that were required to build it correctly. Now they want her to resign or appear before an investigative panel. Are they sure about that? She can tell them point blank that they succeeded in gimping the system.

  4. This is a fairly typical rollout. When Social Security and then later Medicare were implemented, there were implementation problems at first. That also goes for the Medicare Part D roll out, which was defended by some of the same people critical of this rollout.

  5. The "controversy" over CGI (the developer of the Healthcare Exchange website) notes that they were fired by Canada for problems with that country's healthcare website. The timeline is carefully neglected however. The US government contracted with them in 2011; they weren't fired by Canada until 2012. And let's be honest - if cost overruns or delivery problems means heads should roll, we should have had an avalanche of skulls from the Iraq War contracting nightmare.


As Raine mentioned in her blog yesterday, there is still a phone number you can call if you're having web problems, or if you have no access to a computer (or aren't comfortable with one). Also - there is still a month and half to go in the sign up period. There's no reason that these website glitches needs to be a showstopper for the ACA-decreed programs, despite what hysterics and propagandists might lead you to believe.
 

85 comments (Latest Comment: 10/25/2013 00:22:32 by Raine)
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Comment by Raine on 10/24/2013 13:01:59
good morning!

Comment by trojanrabbit on 10/24/2013 13:13:20
Good morning.

Visiting Mrs. Rabbit today. I think I'll go to work tomorrow, I'm checking emails in case anyone needs me. Expecting my mother and sister to visit soon.

She seems to be a little better. Me, I need some sleep.....

Comment by Mondobubba on 10/24/2013 13:15:59
Comment by Mondobubba on 10/24/2013 13:16:34
Good morning. So the Red Sox still suck?

Comment by Raine on 10/24/2013 13:19:29
I also would like to add that people will still be able to sign up for the exchanges until march -- however in order to get insurance as of JAnuary 1 the deadline is in December.

Comment by clintster on 10/24/2013 13:27:04
Just saw where one of my Facebook RWLMs posted about the option to register to vote on healthcare.gov, adding "Yeah, those go together." Somehow I have a suspicion that this is going to be a talking point, as in "Ermagerd, Obama's registering the poors to vote Democrat". Watch for it.

Comment by Raine on 10/24/2013 13:29:42
Quote by clintster:
Just saw where one of my Facebook RWLMs posted about the option to register to vote on healthcare.gov, adding "Yeah, those go together." Somehow I have a suspicion that this is going to be a talking point, as in "Ermagerd, Obama's registering the poors to vote Democrat". Watch for it.
No doubt about it.

Ermergerd, you can register your car and vote at the same time!


Comment by Raine on 10/24/2013 13:31:27
Comment by trojanrabbit on 10/24/2013 13:33:00
Quote by Mondobubba:
Good morning. So the Red Sox still suck?


If they lose tonight, yes. It will be gloom and doom because the next 3 games are away.

Comment by wickedpam on 10/24/2013 13:35:41
Morning

Comment by clintster on 10/24/2013 13:41:34
BTW, you might want to check this out:

http://acasuccessstories.tumblr.com/

Comment by Raine on 10/24/2013 13:42:28
Libertarian Caller being libertarian dumbass.

Comment by Mondobubba on 10/24/2013 13:42:37
Quote by trojanrabbit:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Good morning. So the Red Sox still suck?


If they lose tonight, yes. It will be gloom and doom because the next 3 games are away.


I am trying to think like a native New Englander.


Comment by Raine on 10/24/2013 13:43:58
Quote by clintster:
BTW, you might want to check this out:

http://acasuccessstories.tumblr.com/
This is great! thanks for it, Clint!


Comment by wickedpam on 10/24/2013 13:44:25
Final straw with the neighbor kids last night - they messed with my property too many times now, came home to find one of my fence posts broken and lying in the middle of my sidewalk. Our HOA has employed what we call an HOA Cop, had to contact them and there are now restraining orders against the 2 youngest.

I didn't want it to come to this but I'm 10000% done with them.

I feel like the mean old lady on the block and should probably go out can get about 10 cats.

Comment by TriSec on 10/24/2013 13:47:36
Morning, comrades.

Much like Bob and coding, I can address the timelines for various implementation of things throughout the healthcare industry.

Right now, we're working on the wholesale coding change of moving from ICD-9 to ICD-10. Of course, industry lobbyists have delayed the date multiple times, but we're on-course now for October 1, 2014. This has been a multiple-year project, and we're expecting folks will still not be ready for it next year.

The previous world-shifting change was moving to ANSIX12 back about 2003. This was mandated by HIPAA in 1996....the original date was 1999, then it was postponned four times. We finally went through with it, but it took almost 18 months before it was running smoothly and everybody understood what they were doing.

ACA and the national exchanges - it's of similar magnitude, since it affects every state and every carrier. I'd anticipate that this won't really be running smoothly until January of 2015, but that's just me.


Comment by Raine on 10/24/2013 13:51:25
Quote by wickedpam:
Final straw with the neighbor kids last night - they messed with my property too many times now, came home to find one of my fence posts broken and lying in the middle of my sidewalk. Our HOA has employed what we call an HOA Cop, had to contact them and there are now restraining orders against the 2 youngest.

I didn't want it to come to this but I'm 10000% done with them.

I feel like the mean old lady on the block and should probably go out can get about 10 cats.
I think it's time you got an electric fence, but that's just me...

Don;t feel badly about it Mala -- you have been going through this crap for far too many years.

How old are these kids, now?


Comment by Raine on 10/24/2013 13:52:19
Quote by TriSec:
Morning, comrades.

Much like Bob and coding, I can address the timelines for various implementation of things throughout the healthcare industry.

Right now, we're working on the wholesale coding change of moving from ICD-9 to ICD-10. Of course, industry lobbyists have delayed the date multiple times, but we're on-course now for October 1, 2014. This has been a multiple-year project, and we're expecting folks will still not be ready for it next year.

The previous world-shifting change was moving to ANSIX12 back about 2003. This was mandated by HIPAA in 1996....the original date was 1999, then it was postponned four times. We finally went through with it, but it took almost 18 months before it was running smoothly and everybody understood what they were doing.

ACA and the national exchanges - it's of similar magnitude, since it affects every state and every carrier. I'd anticipate that this won't really be running smoothly until January of 2015, but that's just me.
I love the wealth of knowledge that we have on this blog.




Comment by TriSec on 10/24/2013 13:54:18
Quote by wickedpam:
Final straw with the neighbor kids last night - they messed with my property too many times now, came home to find one of my fence posts broken and lying in the middle of my sidewalk. Our HOA has employed what we call an HOA Cop, had to contact them and there are now restraining orders against the 2 youngest.

I didn't want it to come to this but I'm 10000% done with them.

I feel like the mean old lady on the block and should probably go out can get about 10 cats.


Don't you pay attention to the NRA? That is absolutely SCREAMING for an AR-15!!!



Comment by Mondobubba on 10/24/2013 13:55:35
Quote by wickedpam:
Final straw with the neighbor kids last night - they messed with my property too many times now, came home to find one of my fence posts broken and lying in the middle of my sidewalk. Our HOA has employed what we call an HOA Cop, had to contact them and there are now restraining orders against the 2 youngest.

I didn't want it to come to this but I'm 10000% done with them.

I feel like the mean old lady on the block and should probably go out can get about 10 cats.



No, you have every right to be pissed off. These kids are jerks. Their parents are jerks too. Do we need to show up there for a

Comment by wickedpam on 10/24/2013 13:56:01
Quote by Raine:
Quote by wickedpam:
Final straw with the neighbor kids last night - they messed with my property too many times now, came home to find one of my fence posts broken and lying in the middle of my sidewalk. Our HOA has employed what we call an HOA Cop, had to contact them and there are now restraining orders against the 2 youngest.

I didn't want it to come to this but I'm 10000% done with them.

I feel like the mean old lady on the block and should probably go out can get about 10 cats.
I think it's time you got an electric fence, but that's just me...

Don;t feel badly about it Mala -- you have been going through this crap for far too many years.

How old are these kids, now?



Thanks. I think the youngest is like 8 or 9 - she's ringleader to a bunch of kids who are older then her.

I know that I've probably handled the situation over time badly, I guess I kind of went off how my neighbors growing up would react to us kids both positively and negatively. Apparently that doesn't work these days.

Comment by wickedpam on 10/24/2013 13:56:30
Quote by TriSec:
Quote by wickedpam:
Final straw with the neighbor kids last night - they messed with my property too many times now, came home to find one of my fence posts broken and lying in the middle of my sidewalk. Our HOA has employed what we call an HOA Cop, had to contact them and there are now restraining orders against the 2 youngest.

I didn't want it to come to this but I'm 10000% done with them.

I feel like the mean old lady on the block and should probably go out can get about 10 cats.


Don't you pay attention to the NRA? That is absolutely SCREAMING for an AR-15!!!




there are days

Comment by Raine on 10/24/2013 13:57:30
Dear Caller -- it's because the GOP wouldn't approve the funding!

Comment by wickedpam on 10/24/2013 14:03:23
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Final straw with the neighbor kids last night - they messed with my property too many times now, came home to find one of my fence posts broken and lying in the middle of my sidewalk. Our HOA has employed what we call an HOA Cop, had to contact them and there are now restraining orders against the 2 youngest.

I didn't want it to come to this but I'm 10000% done with them.

I feel like the mean old lady on the block and should probably go out can get about 10 cats.



No, you have every right to be pissed off. These kids are jerks. Their parents are jerks too. Do we need to show up there for a :modbat:


I'll keep you posted. Their mother doesn't care about anything but herself


Comment by TriSec on 10/24/2013 14:06:55
The Red Sox are always one loss away from total collapse.

Come with me for a moment....

The Date: October 27, 2004

The Scene: St. Louis....Sox leading late in Game 4.

In that dark place where 1986 still lives, my mind tells me: "You know, they could still blow this."

Or:
Ninth inning, two down.
The ball rolls fair down the line.
It still rolls today.


Comment by Scoopster on 10/24/2013 14:08:14
Mornin' all.. <- first cup of coffee today was at 9:30am. I'm hurtin'!
And my boss decided to dump 3 days of work on my desk today and wants it done by Noon.

Comment by Mondobubba on 10/24/2013 14:09:55
Quote by TriSec:
The Red Sox are always one loss away from total collapse.

Come with me for a moment....

The Date: October 27, 2004

The Scene: St. Louis....Sox leading late in Game 4.

In that dark place where 1986 still lives, my mind tells me: "You know, they could still blow this."

Or:
Ninth inning, two down.
The ball rolls fair down the line.
It still rolls today.



Liverpool is always I mean always is a game away from complete chaos. Suarez could bit another guy and get suspended for 10 more games.

Comment by Mondobubba on 10/24/2013 14:13:52
I haven't looked this in ages, the Spam-ku archive.

Here is a little slice of goodness:

What is more awful
than the sound of squishing SPAM?
a Kenny G tune

Comment by Raine on 10/24/2013 14:20:35
Tri, Rabbit -- tell me about talk radio WRKO AM680?

Comment by Mondobubba on 10/24/2013 14:21:14
Bob, there is an error in blog, " There have been 26 states which signed on." It is 16 states.

Comment by TriSec on 10/24/2013 14:23:56
Quote by Raine:
Tri, Rabbit -- tell me about talk radio WRKO AM680?



Boston's Right-Wing assknob station; Home of Howie Carr and Rush.

All you need to know.



Comment by wickedpam on 10/24/2013 14:35:41
Mondo - finally watch TWD last night, what was I supposed to be looking for? Carl got his gun back and Carol kind of gone crazy - I'm scared!

Comment by Raine on 10/24/2013 14:38:26
Quote by TriSec:
Quote by Raine:
Tri, Rabbit -- tell me about talk radio WRKO AM680?



Boston's Right-Wing assknob station; Home of Howie Carr and Rush.

All you need to know.

That's what I suspected. Thank you. I ask becuase I am trying to get to the meme we talked about yesterday. Specifically this:
Jonathan Wu is co-founder of Valuepenguin.com, a consumer finance website focusing on the impact of health care reform. His company has built a tool that provides quotes for plans on the federal exchange. He said it's "incredibly misleading for people that are trying to get a sense of what they're paying."

Prices for everyone in the 49-or-under group are based on what a 27-year-old would pay. In the 50-or-older group, prices are based on what a 50-year-old would pay.
I googled the guy, and got this audio crapfest from last July. HE was giving talking points all over the place.




Bold face mine, How can that be? Is it wrong that I smell an agenda, perhaps a misleading one?



Comment by trojanrabbit on 10/24/2013 14:39:04
Quote by TriSec:
Quote by Raine:
Tri, Rabbit -- tell me about talk radio WRKO AM680?



Boston's Right-Wing assknob station; Home of Howie Carr and Rush.

All you need to know.



I'm close enough to it that sometimes it interferes with measurements.

But, yeah, what Tri said. Rush used to be on 'RKO until the failed Rush Radio experiment, then he ended back on 'RKO. Howie tried to jump ship to WTKK and got rebuked. WTKK got format changed anyway.

Comment by Raine on 10/24/2013 14:42:23
Two of the founding members of Value penguin worked here.

Comment by Mondobubba on 10/24/2013 14:42:24
Quote by wickedpam:
Mondo - finally watch TWD last night, what was I supposed to be looking for? Carl got his gun back and Carol kind of gone crazy - I'm scared!



Zombies like the nerd kid. Flu. Killer flu. Those zombies have blood streaking down from their eye sockets. Rick broke out the chrome magnum as well. No more farmer Rick.



Comment by trojanrabbit on 10/24/2013 14:42:55
One thing I'm missing is being able to go to the snack room whenever I want for free stuff. Had to head to the cafeteria because all of a sudden I think my blood sugar dropped. I usually have something by now.

Comment by Raine on 10/24/2013 14:46:53
From Value Penguin website:

Healthcare
Read about the impending healthcare policy changes scheduled to be implemented under the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act come January 2014. Health insurance companies are currently submitting medical insurance rate filings to state departments of insurance for approval, and we've created a few tools that preview the proposed rates under consideration on these health insurance exchanges. Get an estimate of what health insurance you can expect, along with subsidies, if any, on a state-by-state basis for an under the PPACA. Read more about how subsidies are calculated.
How does that work? How can they have a tool for this?

Comment by Mondobubba on 10/24/2013 14:49:40
Quote by Raine:
From Value Penguin website:

Healthcare
Read about the impending healthcare policy changes scheduled to be implemented under the Patient Protection & Affordable Care Act come January 2014. Health insurance companies are currently submitting medical insurance rate filings to state departments of insurance for approval, and we've created a few tools that preview the proposed rates under consideration on these health insurance exchanges. Get an estimate of what health insurance you can expect, along with subsidies, if any, on a state-by-state basis for an under the PPACA. Read more about how subsidies are calculated.
How does that work? How can they have a tool for this?


I would think that the rates are a mater of public record with each state's insurance commissioner.

Comment by wickedpam on 10/24/2013 14:53:10
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Mondo - finally watch TWD last night, what was I supposed to be looking for? Carl got his gun back and Carol kind of gone crazy - I'm scared!



Zombies like the nerd kid. Flu. Killer flu. Those zombies have blood streaking down from their eye sockets.




Oh yes, that one "doctor" was saying that what probably killed them initially was something people used to get treated for but since the break down of society they don't have that anymore. Sounds like an antibiotic run next week.

So am I the only one who thinks Michonne lost a child that's why she freaked out with Judith?

Comment by wickedpam on 10/24/2013 14:54:13
Quote by Raine:
Quote by TriSec:
Quote by Raine:
Tri, Rabbit -- tell me about talk radio WRKO AM680?



Boston's Right-Wing assknob station; Home of Howie Carr and Rush.

All you need to know.

That's what I suspected. Thank you. I ask becuase I am trying to get to the meme we talked about yesterday. Specifically this:
Jonathan Wu is co-founder of Valuepenguin.com, a consumer finance website focusing on the impact of health care reform. His company has built a tool that provides quotes for plans on the federal exchange. He said it's "incredibly misleading for people that are trying to get a sense of what they're paying."

Prices for everyone in the 49-or-under group are based on what a 27-year-old would pay. In the 50-or-older group, prices are based on what a 50-year-old would pay.
I googled the guy, and got this audio crapfest from last July. HE was giving talking points all over the place.




Bold face mine, How can that be? Is it wrong that I smell an agenda, perhaps a misleading one?




where have I heard Valuepenguin before? Sounds like a coupon site.

Comment by Mondobubba on 10/24/2013 14:56:42
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Mondo - finally watch TWD last night, what was I supposed to be looking for? Carl got his gun back and Carol kind of gone crazy - I'm scared!



Zombies like the nerd kid. Flu. Killer flu. Those zombies have blood streaking down from their eye sockets.




Oh yes, that one "doctor" was saying that what probably killed them initially was something people used to get treated for but since the break down of society they don't have that anymore. Sounds like an antibiotic run next week.

So am I the only one who thinks Michonne lost a child that's why she freaked out with Judith?


Antibiotics don't treat flu.

Totally, Michonne has lots of issues.

Comment by Raine on 10/24/2013 15:14:04
Here we go:

I clicked on Virginia and I got this helpful hone number:


(855) 592-1044
Need Help? Call to receive help with health insurance enrollment


That doesn't look like 800-318-2596 .....


Comment by wickedpam on 10/24/2013 15:15:18
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Mondo - finally watch TWD last night, what was I supposed to be looking for? Carl got his gun back and Carol kind of gone crazy - I'm scared!



Zombies like the nerd kid. Flu. Killer flu. Those zombies have blood streaking down from their eye sockets.




Oh yes, that one "doctor" was saying that what probably killed them initially was something people used to get treated for but since the break down of society they don't have that anymore. Sounds like an antibiotic run next week.

So am I the only one who thinks Michonne lost a child that's why she freaked out with Judith?


Antibiotics don't treat flu.

Totally, Michonne has lots of issues.


I have not idea, as of this point in my life, I have not had the flu

Yes, yes she does.

Oh, oh and Beth!! Hello crushing on Daryl!


Comment by Mondobubba on 10/24/2013 15:24:46
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Mondo - finally watch TWD last night, what was I supposed to be looking for? Carl got his gun back and Carol kind of gone crazy - I'm scared!



Zombies like the nerd kid. Flu. Killer flu. Those zombies have blood streaking down from their eye sockets.




Oh yes, that one "doctor" was saying that what probably killed them initially was something people used to get treated for but since the break down of society they don't have that anymore. Sounds like an antibiotic run next week.

So am I the only one who thinks Michonne lost a child that's why she freaked out with Judith?


Antibiotics don't treat flu.

Totally, Michonne has lots of issues.


I have not idea, as of this point in my life, I have not had the flu

Yes, yes she does.

Oh, oh and Beth!! Hello crushing on Daryl!



Yuup! She is isn't she?

Comment by Mondobubba on 10/24/2013 15:26:06
Quote by Raine:
Here we go:

I clicked on Virginia and I got this helpful hone number:


(855) 592-1044
Need Help? Call to receive help with health insurance enrollment


That doesn't look like 800-318-2596 .....



Did you Google it? It has ValuePenguin's name all over it.


Comment by wickedpam on 10/24/2013 15:27:43
How did Jim never see Ruthless People?

Comment by Mondobubba on 10/24/2013 15:29:22
Quote by wickedpam:
How did Jim never see Ruthless People?



Jim! Seriously?

Comment by wickedpam on 10/24/2013 15:35:44
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Quote by Mondobubba:
Quote by wickedpam:
Mondo - finally watch TWD last night, what was I supposed to be looking for? Carl got his gun back and Carol kind of gone crazy - I'm scared!



Zombies like the nerd kid. Flu. Killer flu. Those zombies have blood streaking down from their eye sockets.




Oh yes, that one "doctor" was saying that what probably killed them initially was something people used to get treated for but since the break down of society they don't have that anymore. Sounds like an antibiotic run next week.

So am I the only one who thinks Michonne lost a child that's why she freaked out with Judith?


Antibiotics don't treat flu.

Totally, Michonne has lots of issues.


I have not idea, as of this point in my life, I have not had the flu

Yes, yes she does.

Oh, oh and Beth!! Hello crushing on Daryl!



Yuup! She is isn't she?


the really awkward hug was a dead give away - and hysterical


Comment by BobR on 10/24/2013 15:36:55
Quote by wickedpam:
the really awkward hug was a dead give away - and hysterical

"Dead" giveaway?