Unbloodybelievable. Or perhaps not, given that it is a .gov IT project.
Deadline after deadline was missed. The biggest contractor, CGI Federal, was awarded its $94 million contract in December 2011. But the government was so slow in issuing specifications that the firm did not start writing software code until this spring, according to people familiar with the process. As late as the last week of September, officials were still changing features of the Web site, HealthCare.gov, and debating whether consumers should be required to register and create password-protected accounts before they could shop for health plans.
I can't/won't say much more than that I worked on this project, and it's not entirely true that CGI Federal didn't start working on code until this spring. It is true, however, that the vast majority of the requirements were not finalized anywhere near early enough (and even then not truly finalized), causing a significant amount of rewrite and churn.
One highly unusual decision, reached early in the project, proved critical: the Medicare and Medicaid agency assumed the role of project quarterback, responsible for making sure each separately designed database and piece of software worked with the others, instead of assigning that task to a lead contractor.
They seem to have not realized that this is a major engineering task in its own.
I believe the United States should have universal health care. That said, this looks like yet another government technology fiasco. My favorite technology disaster story is the Denver International Airport automated baggage handling system that cost taxpayers hundreds of millions of dollars and never worked. I wish I could have those responsible for building healthcare.gov examine that case study.
Although like we're hearing about last minute rush rush from Cbasedlifeform etc., the Denver fiasco was in part the same sort of thing, after another company was called in because the first had failed so badly.
As I remember, they said "We just might be able to make one that works if you supply X, Y and Z" where X was clean power. Which the airport turned out not to be able to supply, probably along with some of the others.
On the other hand, eventually completely punting like I read Denver did is not an option for Obamacare, short of outright repeal.
Imagine you're an insurer and you get multiple reports of someone enrolling and canceling. If they don't jump on this real hard real soon, a lot of people will end up with no insurance through no fault of their own come Jan 1st....
Deadline after deadline was missed. The biggest contractor, CGI Federal, was awarded its $94 million contract in December 2011. But the government was so slow in issuing specifications that the firm did not start writing software code until this spring, according to people familiar with the process. As late as the last week of September, officials were still changing features of the Web site, HealthCare.gov, and debating whether consumers should be required to register and create password-protected accounts before they could shop for health plans.