Behind Healthcare.gov: How Washington Is Drawing Inspiration From Silicon Valley, Twitter

"We were working 24/7, working in very, very rapid cycles, with very, very short deadlines and milestones. We were working in a very, very nimble hyper consumer focused way...all fused in this kind of maelstrom of pizza, Mountain Dew, and all nighters, and you know idealism." That may sound like the caffeine-fueled, sleep-deprived rant of a typical Silicon Valley entrepreneur. Except it's not--- try Todd Park, the buttoned-up CTO of the US Department of Health and Human Services (HHS). He's talking about his latest project, Healthcare.gov , a consumer-friendly site that helps users find and compare private and public insurance options and learn about the new health reform law. According to Park, it's the single largest online repository for public and private insurance information. If the site's story and design seems more akin to a tech startup than the product of legislation, it's no coincidence, Park and Macon Phillips, the White House Director of New Media drew inspiration from the companies of Silicon Valley and even used Twitter to find talent. Video ahead.