In a "readiness" report, 7 states have identified the data hub as a major obstacle to getting the market place (formerly know as the exchange) up and running by October 1.
If you know what a data hub is, you will understand. If you are clueless like me, someone will have to explain it.
So here goes . . .
The data hub -- in laymen's terms, a huge digital warehouse capable of sending information to other online servers -- plays a crucial role in the exchanges, which are websites that will allow the uninsured to shop for health coverage and access federal tax subsidies to help them purchase it. The tax subsidies, for example, are supposed to be based on a person’s income; the lower your income, the higher your subsidy.
The exchange is supposed to transmit the income information entered by an applicant to the hub, which will then verify the information with the Internal Revenue Service. That verification is then transmitted back to the exchange, so the person can access their subsidy. The hub will also relay information between the exchanges and other federal agencies, such as the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Service and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
It sounds simple, but it’s a significant headache for the 17 states that, so far, are building their own exchanges. For starters, the hub hasn’t been completely built yet, nor have the rules that will govern its use been finalized.GovTech
OK, but other than that, do you anticipate any problems?
Don't they have a bunch of geeks with taped glasses and pocket protectors that can fix this?
Come October 1, 2013 I will have my popcorn and beer ready. This is going to be better than anything on TV that day.
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