Sunday, August 11, 2013

The State Auditor Reviewed Covered California: You'r talkin' a lot, but you're not sayin' anything

What happens in when you pay one set of bureaucrats to audit another?

A noncommittal pile of consulteese that says almost nothing other than the entirely obvious and takes 47 pages to do so (link to report).

This reminds me of the Talking Heads lyrics from Psycho Killer:

You're talkin' a lot, but you're not sayin' anything.
When I have nothing to say, my lips are sealed.
Say something once, why say it again?


Here are some of my favorite portions with their appropriate translations:

  1. The future solvency of its health insurance exchange remains uncertain and thus, we are adding Covered California’s operations to our list of high‐risk issues that the State faces.  
    • [Comment: Yeah, that is a good call.  You can set it right there next to the Bullet Train Snail Rail.]
  2. The Exchange is facing hiring challenges that could delay implementation of service centers.  
  3. In addition to establishing its own procurement policy, Covered California has unique authority to keep details of its individual contracts confidential.  
    • [Translation: Politicians have been given the legal authority to hide any kickbacks to supporters from you.]  
  4. In fiscal year 2012–13, Covered California’s budget for marketing and outreach was $89 million, representing about 24 percent of its total budget.  
    • [Comment: $360 Million is so that bureaucrats can tell us how wonderful ObamaCare is.  Are you kidding me?]  
  5. And the worst yet - After January 2015, when the federal government will award no additional Affordable Care Act grants, Covered California myopically anticipates that revenues from the participation fees assessed on plans offered through the exchange will pay for its operations.  Anyone willing to bet the farm on this one?