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Health and Human Services (HHS) Secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell met with leading health insurance executives on Wednesday to discuss ObamaCare's second open enrollment period. Twelve executives met with Burwell, including two representatives of the industry's trade association, America's Health Insurance Plans, the department said. The healthcare law's exchanges are scheduled to open for sign-ups in less than three weeks, and the Obama administration is intent on avoiding technical fumbles like those that plagued the system last year. Both sides are hoping to present a united front. (Viebeck, 10/29)

Alastair “Al” Fitzpayne, a top Treasury Department aide with extensive contacts on Capitol Hill, will be the next chief of staff at the Department of Health and Human Services, working with secretary Sylvia Mathews Burwell. In selecting Mr. Fitzpayne, Ms. Burwell tapped a well-connected administration aide who has worked on some of the most high-stakes fiscal battles in recent years but has relatively little health care experience. (Paletta, 10/ 29)