U.S. House panel reviewing rollout of Obamacare exchanges in R.I., other states

March 26--PROVIDENCE, R.I. -- The U.S. House of Representatives' oversight committee is asking Rhode Island to provide a wide range of documents related to the development and launch of HealthSource RI, its Obamacare-mandated health insurance website, as the panel seeks to review whether personal information was potentially exposed to identity theft.

The letter, dated March 25 and addressed to Gov. Chafee, states that the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, in 2013, concluded that there was a "high risk" of personal information being stolen if Rhode Island's exchange, which allows individuals and businesses to compare and purchase healthcare plans online, was allowed to connect to federal databases.

"Despite the high risk, CMS allowed Rhode Island's exchange to connect to the data hub on October 1, 2013," the committee says in its letter.

Ten states and the District of Columbia were sent similar letters this week, according to the House Committee on Oversight and Government Reform, which is chaired by U.S. Rep. Darrell Issa, R-California.

The other states are Hawaii, Colorado, California, Minnesota, Oregon, Connecticut, Maryland, Massachusetts and Nevada.

The committee is requesting the following information be submitted by April 8:

- "All documents and communications between any employees, contractors, or agents of the State of Rhode Island and any employees, contractors or agents for the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, including but not limited to any employees, contractors or agents of the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services, referring or relating to the Rhode Island exchange or the federal data services hub between May 1, 2013, and the present."

- "All documents and communications between any employees, contractors, or agents of the State of Rhode Island and any employees, contractors or agents of the White House, including but not limited to the Executive Office of the President, referring or relating to the Rhode Island exchange or the federal data services hub between May 1, 2013, and the present."

- "All assessments of audits of the Rhode Island exchange's development, readiness, or security between July 1, 2012, and the present."

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