Cover Oregon, the troubled state health insurance exchange, recently signed a $70,000 contract with the top technology official responsible for its disastrous launch, the Oregonian reports.
Cover Oregon retained Aaron Karjala to help it gather information as it contemplates litigation against Oracle Corp. over the exchange’s failed launch.
According to the Oregonian:
Cover Oregon has given a $70,000 contract to Aaron Karjala, the health insurance exchange's former top technology official, to assist with litigation against Oracle Corp. […]
The contract calls for Karjala to be paid $160 an hour to provide information to the exchange as well as the Oregon Department of Justice or its hired litigators about the history of the exchange project. He hasn't yet done any work on the contract, exchange officials say.
In March, Democratic Gov. John Kitzhaber urged Karjala’s dismissal, but rules adopted at the recommendation of his own office meant Cover Oregon's board could not fire Karjala. He resigned in late March after facing withering criticism for the exchange’s failures.
