GOP members raise concerns over health law contractor

House Republicans are asking for documents on a contractor that some argue could unfairly boost United Healthcare in the health law's federal insurance exchange.

In a letter released late Tuesday, two members asked the federal Health secretary for information about Quality Software Services (QSSI), a firm that will build a data services hub to help run the law's federal marketplace.

QSSI was recently acquired by UnitedHealth Group, raising concerns about the firm's potential ability to promote its parent company's insurance business, UnitedHealthcare, while constructing exchange infrastructure. 

Tuesday's letter came from House Energy and Commerce Committee Chairman Fred Upton (R-Mich.) and Rep. Cliff Stearns (R-Fla.), who leads the panel's Subcommittee on Oversight and Investigations.

"We write to you today because we believe more information is needed to determine whether QSSI will be able to act effectively in this role in a fair and transparent manner," Upton and Stearns wrote to Health and Human Services Secretary Kathleen Sebelius.

Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-Utah) has also expressed concerns over UnitedHealth Group's purchase of QSSI. Another critic compared the deal to the New York Yankees buying off their umpires in a conversation with The Hill.

A senior executive with Optum, the subsidiary of UnitedHealth Group, which bought QSSI, said his firm and UnitedHealthcare are entirely separate businesses.

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