Statement from Rep. Harris on the Maryland Exchange Decision

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

April 1, 2014

Statement from Rep. Harris on the Maryland Exchange Decision

Rep. Harris Appears on National Media Talking About Failed MD Exchange

Washington, D.C. – Congressman Andy Harris, M.D., released the following statement after the Maryland Health Benefit Exchange Board of Trustees met this evening in Hanover, Md. During the meeting, the board voted on a plan to replace Maryland's troubled health insurance exchange website with technology from Connecticut's exchange.

“This evening, the board of the Maryland health exchange voted to abandon the state’s failed online exchange and to adopt the technology used in Connecticut’s exchange, instead of joining the federal exchange. The board also decided to hire Deloitte, the contractor that built Connecticut’s website. Connecticut has had one of the more successful health care exchange rollouts in the country, while Maryland has had one of the worst. The board was right to stop throwing away even more taxpayer dollars on a system that does not work. Regrettably, as opposed to joining the federal exchange, going with the Connecticut technology will still cost Marylanders tens of millions of dollars more. Plus, there is no assurance it will work in Maryland given the short time until the new open enrollment period this November.”

Congressman Harris appeared on national news outlets ahead of this evening’s vote to discuss the fate of the Maryland exchange. This morning, he appeared on Fox News’ America’s Newsroom. A link to the interview can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RQKA4kbMYVU&feature=youtu.be

The Congressman was also interviewed for a story on Fox News’ Special Report with Bret Baier, which aired yesterday evening. You can watch the interview here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SAvnGzrUVf0&feature=youtu.be

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