This month, the Colorado Health Benefits Exchange Board and Legislative Health Benefits Exchange Implementation Review Committee have made progress toward establishing an exchange that works for Coloradans. When established in 2013, the Colorado Health Benefits Exchange will be a competitive insurance marketplace that offers easy-to-understand information to help Colorado’s small businesses and families choose quality and affordable health insurance plans.
On Wednesday, December 7 the legislative committee approved the COHBE board’s nomination of Patty Fontneau as executive director of the exchange. Fontneau was formerly the CEO of the Denver law firm of Holme Roberts & Owen and served on the transition teams for Governor Bill Ritter, Governor John Hickenlooper and Mayor Michael Hancock. The Board formally hired Fontneau on Monday December 12th and she immediately began work.
On Thursday, December 15 the legislative committee voted 9-1 to approve the state’s application for a level one grant made available by provisions in the Affordable Care Act. The grant application, which requested $18 million in federal funding, will help Colorado have the resources to begin building its exchange. For more information on the exchange, you can visit the new exchange website: www.getcoveredco.org. You can also follow COHBE on Twitter @COHBE.
We are continuing to monitor COHBE’s activities and encourage your participation. We live-tweet all of the board and committee meetings @cchipolicy. You can join the conversation by using the hashtag #COHBELive. With the voice of CCHI and our members, partners and supporters, the exchange will be a competitive insurance marketplace that Coloradans get the coverage they need when they need it.