Republicans intensified criticism of the state's fledgling health insurance exchange Monday as Minnesota consumers are one week from the MNsure enrollment deadline to receive health coverage next year.
At a Capitol news conference, Republicans called on DFL Gov. Mark Dayton to provide stronger leadership on the issue.
"Obamacare in Minnesota is Governor Dayton and Democrats' responsibility and they need to be held accountable," said Senate Minority Leader David Hann, R-Eden Prairie.
The success or failure of the insurance exchange could have political consequences locally and nationally, as Republicans hammer on missteps in President Obama's health care overhaul. Minnesota's implementation has gone more smoothly than that of other states, but still has been marked by numerous technical glitches, delays and frustrated consumers.
"Governor Dayton has been very clear that the current state of the exchange is unacceptable, which is something he has expressed clearly to the board and to the public," Dayton spokesman Matt Swenson said. "In the final analysis, tens of thousands of Minnesotans are in the process of getting covered under MNsure, with the lowest health insurance rates in the country."
Delays aren't the only criticism being leveled at the agency.
MNsure Executive Director April Todd-Malmlov is under fire following revelations that she took a nearly two-week tropical vacation with state Medicaid Director James Golden in late November, even as the insurance marketplace was swamped with problems and only weeks after Golden had been named to his post.
The two have worked closely on the implementation of the new health insurance exchange.
