The state health insurance exchange introduced two new board members representing insurance carriers and brokers, and announced three reappointments Monday.
Marc Reece, senior director of state government affairs for Aetna’s Western Region, received his appointment from the Senate president. Jay Norris, a northern Colorado health insurance broker, was named by the House speaker. The two replaced outgoing board members Arnold Salazar and Dr. Mike Fallon, who had been the board’s most consistently vocal critic of exchange problems.
Both had completed four-year terms.
Fallon said he did not reapply for the position. The trip from Steamboat Springs, where he lives, was too grueling. Fallon said he felt he left on good terms and hopes someone else will ask the tough questions he asked.
Three Connect for Health Colorado board members were reappointed to four-year terms: governor’s appointee Adela Flores-Brennan, executive director of the Colorado Consumer Health Initiative; House minority lead appointee Steve ErkenBrack, president and chief executive of Grand-Junction-based Rocky Mountain Health Plans; and, Senate minority leader appointee Nathan Wilkes, founder and principal consultant at Headstorms Inc., an IT consulting firm.
The new board unanimously voted on a tightened procurement policy, for which it recently hired a new manager to maintain better documentation of contracts.
The board discussed strengthening the oversight and compliance program to ensure the exchange follows state and federal rules and to bolster exchange financial controls that have been criticized by state and independent auditors as too lax.
The board also heard information and recommendations on the possible use of 1332 waivers, or Innovation Waivers, an Affordable Care Act provision that allows state government tocustomize health care reforms rather than strictly follow ACA rules.
“There are going to be a lot of ideas when it comes to 1332 waivers,” exchange CEO Kevin Patterson said.
Staff recommended the exchange build on current investments to improve the eligibility process and online for enrollment by examining how to use the 1332 waivers to “enhance the consumer experience and satisfaction, reduce gaps in coverage and lessen administrative complexity.”
“There are a million different ways we can get after this,” said ex-officio board member, Sue Birch, director of state Health Care Policy and Financing, which administers Medicaid in Colorado.
Date: July 13, 2015