Dive Brief:
- Oregon is in the process of choosing a company to provide a new software platform for the state's health insurance marketplace, the Portland Tribune reports.
- The state has used the federal platform since 2013 and it will continue to be free for residents until 2017 when HHS will charge companies a fee of 1.5% of premiums to use HealthCare.gov.
- The state also charges insurers $9.66 per insurance plan member each month, which goes towards exchange costs including publicity, technology services, and legal costs.
Dive Insight:
Oregon's state exchange, Cover Oregon, failed to launch in 2013 and the state has used the federal platform, HealthCare.gov, since then. Lisa Morawski, public information and communications director for the Oregon Department of Consumer and Business Services told the Portland Tribune the state will be using Healthcare.gov through next year.
The four companies that submitted proposals to provide the state's platform include hCentive, Vimo Inc., Softheon Inc., and New Fields Technologies LLC. State employees are reviewing the proposals.
Morawski said there is no deadline to decide whether to stay with the federal exchange or contract with one of the vendors, which would require legislative budget approval.