"Mass., Vt. halt payments to firm behind health sites"

Mass., Vt. halt payments to firm behind health sites

By Tracy Jan at the Boston Globe

http://www.bostonglobe.com/news/nation/2013/12/26/states-weigh-legal-options-against-contractor-for-malfunctioning-health-insurance-websites/gNml5qwOtQPiR3qoFINjsN/story.html

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WASHINGTON — Even as President Obama’s health insurance website limps to recovery, at least two states that used the same contractor and are still plagued with malfunctions — Massachusetts and Vermont — are taking preliminary steps to recoup taxpayer dollars.

Massachusetts officials are reviewing legal options against CGI Group, a Montreal-based information technology company, and will make recommendations on how to seek financial redress at a Jan. 9 meeting.

So far, the state has paid $11 million of its $69 million contract with CGI. It will not pay a penny more until a functioning website has been delivered, said Jason Lefferts, spokesman for the Commonwealth Health Connector, the state’s insurance marketplace.

“CGI has consistently underperformed, which is frustrating and a serious concern,” Lefferts said. “We are holding the vendor accountable for its underperformance and will continue to apply nonstop pressure to work to fix defects and improve performance.”



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