Government seeks health website tech help

The government put out a call for businesses that could address concerns at HealthCare.gov, the federal health insurance exchange.

The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services asked small businesses to describe experience that compared in "size, scope and complexity" to the skills needed to create the website. "This appears to signify the possible displeasure with some of the current IT vendors and the hope that CMS will lure in more IT contracting talent," said Scott Amey, general counsel for the Project on Government Oversight. "With the failure of the HealthCare.gov platform, CMS is reaching out to others to supplement the current list of preapproved IT vendors. This is the first step to determine if other vendors, possibly small companies, are interested and capable." The deadline for businesses to submit is Jan 13, 2014. After choosing potential vendors, the CMS plans to conduct an "industry day" to meet with selected vendors.