Governor Bill Ritter appointed Joan Henneberry as the Executive Director for the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (the Department) on January 9, 2007. As executive director, Joan oversees programs for low-income, elderly and disabled populations. The Department serves almost 700,000 Coloradans with a budget of over $3.7 billion with a staff of over 270 professionals. The Department¿s mission is to provide cost-effective, quality health care services for Coloradans.

Joan was Senior Vice-President for Policy Studies, Inc's Government Health Services Division prior to her appointment to the Department. She oversaw business development in the public health insurance arena, including design and execution of strategic and marketing plans.

As a member of Governor Ritter's cabinet, Joan plays an integral part in planning for health care reform in Colorado. She serves as the senior health policy advisor to the Governor and is leading efforts to improve existing public health insurance programs including Medicaid and CHP+.

Prior to the cabinet appointment, Joan worked in the private sector after spending seven years at the National Governors Association providing consultation to states on health care services and financing, cost containment, and emerging policy issues.

Joan spent 13 years at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, chairs the board of the Colorado Regional Health Information Organization, and serves on the Executive Committee for the National Academy for State Health Policy.  She has a master's degree in management, and completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government program at the Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government in 2008.

Notes from Joan

January 15, 2009

July 22, 2008