Gov. Hickenlooper announces Board and Commission appointments

Gov. John Hickenlooper today announced appointments to various Boards and Commissions. The appointments were made to the Hospital Provider Fee Oversight and Advisory Board, the CoverColorado Board of Directors, the Colorado HIV/AIDS Care and Prevention Coalition, the Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education and the Coal Mine Board of Examiners.

The Hospital Provider Fee Oversight and Advisory Board is responsible for working with the Department of Healthcare Policy and Financing and the Medical Services Board to develop the hospital provider fee model, monitor implementation of House Bill 09-1293, help with preparation of annual reports on the program and ensure that the Medicaid and CHP+ eligibility expansions are implemented as intended. The new members are:

Peggy Jordan Burnette of Denver to serve as an employee of a hospital in Colorado, with a term expiring May 15, 2012.
Michelle Lynn Joy of Sterling to serve as an employee of a rural hospital in Colorado, with a term expiring May 15, 2015.

The CoverColorado Board of Directors works to provide access to health insurance to approximately 2,500 Coloradans through the CoverColorado program. Recipients are considered “high-risk” and not covered by other insurance companies due to pre-existing health conditions. The members appointed are:

Gary S. Carolson of Castle Rock representing individuals who are currently insured under the program, reappointed with a term expiring July 1, 2015.
Carrie S. Etherton of Denver to serve as an individual who is currently insured or who has been insured under the program, with a term expiring July 1, 2015.
Christopher Jon Miller of Denver to serve as a representative of an insurance carrier, with a term expiring July 1, 2013.
Keith Evans of Lonetree to serve as a representative of insurance carriers, with a term expiring July 1, 2014.

The Colorado HIV/AIDS Care and Prevention Coalition serves as an expert resource for providing advice and information to the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment on issues, trends, needs and resources pertaining to HIV/AIDS in the promotion of effective HIV prevention and care programs. The Coalition will advise CDPHE on both scientific and policy issues, including those related to treatment and access to medical care for persons in Colorado living with HIV/AIDS. The Coalition replaced the Colorado Advisory Council on AIDS, which expired at the end of 2008. Members appointed with terms expiring Feb. 27, 2014:

Analee T. Beck of Pueblo.
Carroll Avon Watkins Ali of Denver.
Carolyn T. Lease of Denver, reappointed.
Roseann Grace Prieto of Aurora, reappointed.
Peter L. Ralin of Denver, reappointed.
Mary Beth Luedtke of Grand Junction, reappointed.

The Western Interstate Commission on Higher Education is composed of three members each from 13 Western states. The commission studies the needs of professional and graduate educational facilities in the region, the resources for meeting such needs and the long-range effects of the commission’s findings on higher education. Each state’s commissioners submit a report to their Governor and General Assembly. The new members are:

Demetri E. “Rico” Munn of Denver, with a term expiring March 28, 2013.
Lt. Gov. Joseph A. Garcia of Pueblo to serve as a representative of educators engaged in the field of higher education, with a term expiring March 28, 2014.
Dr. Dene Kay Thomas of Durango, with a term expiring March 28, 2015.

The Coal Mine Board of Examiners prepares and conducts examinations for all applicants to positions in coal mines that require certification under federal law. The Board also provides assistance in developing curricula for coal miner training programs. Appointed with a term expiring July 1, 2012:

Richard Clair Chermak of Hotchkiss to serve as a coal mine owner, operator or other mine official actively engaged in underground mining.