Sasse Continues to Press HHS for CO-OP Answers

 

        "These questions are not going away and we will ask them for another six months if that is what it takes."

Tonight, U.S. Senator Ben Sasse (R-NE) announced his intent to continue blocking fast-tracked consideration and confirmation of HHS nominees until the Administration gives a complete and transparent accounting of the systemic failures of the Affordable Care Act’s CO-OP program. Last night, after months of silence, HHS sent a letter which was non-responsive to the Senator's request. Sasse issued the following statement:

"HHS sending a letter is not the same as providing real answers. These questions are not going away and we will ask them for another six months if that is what it takes. After 12 failed CO-OPs, six months, and numerous letters and press inquiries to HHS, families who lost their insurance plans still do not know what went wrong. HHS has not yet answered the most important question: why did it give $1.2 billion to 12 failed CO-OPs? We know that HHS relied upon so-called ‘milestone’ or ‘performance’ reviews to give out loans, but that information has not seen the light of day. Until HHS produces a full accounting, which must include these milestone reviews, they remain non-responsive to the core of our request. Families who lost their plans and taxpayers who paid the bill still deserve answers."