Maryland Terminates Health Exchange Contract

Maryland this week terminated its health exchange contract with Noridian Healthcare Solutions, after a mounting series of problems leading up to the site’s opening day crash Oct. 1. Continuing technical issues resulted in a total of only about 30,000 signups by Feb 15 -- one fifth of the state's target.

In addition, the state abandoned work on a site for small business health care, also contracted to Noridian, according to media reports.

Optum/QSSI, the same company brought in to fix the federal HealthCare.Gov site, will now become prime contractor for the Maryland site, and Noridian will assist in the transition.

In a written statement, Noridian President and CEO Tom McGraw said his company complied with its contractual obligations "under tremendous pressure and constant changes by the state." He went on to say that as prime contractor, Noridian implemented 163 infrastructure fixes and 445 enhancements and bug fixes.

State officials have reportedly considered having Marylanders sign up on the federal site until open enrollment ends March 31.