Sebelius Calls for HealthCare.gov Investigation

She thinks HHS needs to improve how it handles contracts
By Kevin Spak,  Newser Staff
Posted Dec 11, 2013 7:45 AM CST
Sebelius Calls for HealthCare.gov Investigation
Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius sits in the audience before President Barack Obama arrives to speak about the new health care law, Dec. 3, 2013.   (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster)

Many in Washington are calling for an investigation into HealthCare.gov's disastrous debut—and now, that includes the woman who was in charge of it. In a blog post today, Kathleen Sebelius announced that she has asked Health and Human Services' inspector general to look into the website's development, including issues related to how the contract was awarded, and how the program was managed. "The launch of HealthCare.gov was flawed and simply unacceptable," she wrote. "I strongly believe in the need for accountability."

Sebelius also announced the establishment of a new Chief Risk Officer position for Medicare and Medicaid. The announcement comes as Sebelius gets ready for another grilling before the House Energy and Commerce Committee today, the AP points out, adding that the "unusual" announcement "indicates that she realizes she has some explaining to do." But committee Republicans plan to focus less on the website, and more on the underlying program, the Washington Post reports. (More Kathleen Sebelius stories.)

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