Maryland's health insurance benefits exchange website is set to be redone, and the state is asking the federal government for approval to spend its remaining marketplace budget how it wants. However, an analysis of recently released documents found the exchange may not have used its funding appropriately in the first place.
According to Government Technology, Maryland is looking to use its remaining federal funds - about $61 million - toward buying the technology that built Connecticut's marketplace. The news source noted this technology may cost more than $50 million, but this is still less than the $66 million it would take to reconstruct the site.
Maryland originally received $180 million from the federal government to develop its exchange, Government Technology reported.
Yet an investigation into documents showcasing how the state used taxpayer money discovered money may not have been used effectively. For instance, a proposal for training navigators gave these professionals earnings as high as $367 an hour, Fox affiliate WBFF reported.
Maryland may be able to fix its many issues by purchasing technology from Connecticut that has already been found to be successful.