Counihan Named Federal HIX Head
By Christine Kern, contributing writer
Connecticut’s HIX leader chosen to serve as CEO of HealthCare.gov.
The Department of Health and Human Services has announced that the head of Connecticut’s state-run exchange, Kevin Counihan, has been selected to serve as CEO of HealthCare.gov, the federal government’s health care exchange.
As CEO of the federal exchange, Counihan will assume responsibility for the HealthCare.gov insurance marketplace, a crucial piece of the Affordable Care Act that is used to enroll people in coverage in nearly three dozen states. The federal exchange's launch last fall was considered disastrous, and Counihan's appointment comes less than three months before the November 15 start of the second open enrollment period for private insurance.
Counihan will take his new position in the next few weeks and will be responsible and accountable for leading the federal Marketplace, managing relationships with state marketplaces, and running the Center for Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight, which regulates health insurance at the federal level, CMS said. He will report to CMS Administrator Marilyn Tavenner.
The agency says the creation of this role is due in part from lessons learned from the first open enrollment period to have a single point of contact when decisions need to be made.
Counihan oversaw the successful launch of Connecticut's health insurance exchange, Access Health CT, which was the first state marketplace to surpass enrollment targets by signing up nearly 260,000 people. Federal and state officials have credited Counihan's leadership with helping to cut Connecticut's uninsured rate to 4.0 percent, from 7.9 percent since 2012.
Connecticut was one of 14 states that chose to operate their own health insurance marketplaces under the Affordable Care Act. But some state-run operations, including those in Oregon and Maryland, encountered major problems. Nine states have since contacted Connecticut about using its technology, according to officials.
"He ran one of the most successful exchanges by understanding what could be done, and what could not be done, in a very short time," said Topher Spiro, healthcare analyst at the Center for American Progress.
“When I arrived at the Department, I committed to retain, develop and recruit the best talent available, and that’s what we are doing,” Secretary Burwell said. “We are building strong teams with the focus and know-how necessary to advance our mission and deliver impact for the people we serve. We are committed to instilling ongoing accountability for reaching milestones, measuring results and ensuring a successful open enrollment period. I’m particularly pleased to welcome Kevin Counihan to the new Marketplace CEO role. He brings additional operational and technological expertise to the position and will be a clear, single point of contact for streamlined decision-making.”
The administration has also announced the creation of a new chief technology officer post that would oversee the HealthCare.gov website and report to Counihan. The agency has announced that Tim Hughey, an executive with Accenture PLC, the lead contractor for HealthCare.gov, would fill the role of CTO through the next open enrollment period, which ends February 15, 2015. An official said the administration is still looking for a permanent CTO.
"I think this is going to be a very challenging thing," Counihan said of his new post. "I believe there is an opportunity to do some good."