Health website passed security testing

Associated Press

WASHINGTON

Cybersecurity concerns over President Barack Obama’s health care website have been cleared up through testing, a government security professional who initially had qualms about the system assured lawmakers Thursday.

But a congressional hearing featuring three senior technology experts from within the Health and Human Services Department also revealed a broader internal debate before the hapless launch of HealthCare.gov last fall.

One of the witnesses, HHS Chief Information Officer Frank Baitman, said he personally brought security issues to the attention of the department’s second-in-command, Bill Corr, as well as another senior official. It’s unclear what, if anything, Secretary Kathleen Sebelius and White House officials were told.

Republicans on the House Oversight and Government Reform Committee are trying to build a case that the administration recklessly ignored security concerns to meet a self-imposed Oct. 1 deadline for flipping the switch. The administration — and Democratic lawmakers— say all issues were addressed through special vigilance instituted just before the launch.

Though Republicans have raised questions, they have yet to find a smoking gun.