PROVIDENCE – R.I. Health Insurance Commissioner Christopher F. Koller will continue to serve in that role as a member of Gov. Lincoln D. Chafee’s team, the Chafee administration announced last week.
“Chris is a tremendously qualified, capable and knowledgeable individual with a long and successful career in the health care industry,” Chafee said. “He has brought that experience to his work as health insurance commissioner, a role where he has made significant strides. He will be key in assisting myself and Lt. Gov. [Elizabeth H.] Roberts in making Rhode Island a national leader in terms of preparing for and implementing federal health care reform.”
Seifert Systems Invests in Energy Efficiency to Strengthen Operations
For manufacturers, energy is more than just another operating expense. It plays a critical role…
Learn More
Koller said he looked forward to the opportunity to serve under the Chafee administration. “I appreciate the opportunity to serve and to be a part of Gov. Chafee’s team,” he said. With the resources of federal health care reform, he continued, “state government leaders such as Lt. Gov. Roberts and [Health and Human Services Secretary Steven M.] Constantino, [along with] local clinical leaders, we have a great opportunity to improve the health of Rhode Islanders, improve their experience of care and moderate cost increases.”
In the coming months, Koller will continue to be at the center of dialogue around the issue of transparency in health care costs, particularly in contracts between hospitals and health insurance providers.
In November 2010, his office was sued by Care New England over four conditions placed on future contracts in July 2010, seeking to control costs. At that time, Care New England called the commissioner’s application of future contract conditions “rogue actions.”
An out-of-court settlement was reached Dec. 13 creating a one-time waiver of those conditions for the contract then under negotiation between Care New England and UnitedHealthcare of New England. A new contract agreement was reached on Dec. 31. A separate, unresolved part of that lawsuit is expected to be heard in the near future before Superior Court Judge Michael A. Silverstein.
In addition, a R.I. Senate commission chaired by Sen. Joshua Miller, D-Cranston, looking into hospital costs in Rhode Island, is expected to produce new legislation that will seek to increase the transparency of hospital costs and contracts.
