The Board of Directors of Kentucky Health Cooperative, Inc. (KYHC) today announced that Janie Miller of Shelbyville, KY, has been named CEO of the Louisville, KY based non-profit member corporation, which has been awarded Start-up and Solvency loans of more than $58 million in June 2012 by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The loans, created by the Affordable Care Act, are to establish and operate a Consumer Oriented and Operated Plan, or CO-OP, a consumer-governed health insurance company in Kentucky. Startup loans must be repaid in five years and solvency loans paid back within 15 years.

KYHC, which will operate statewide, is currently working with the Kentucky Department of Insurance to obtain approval to operate as an insurer in the Commonwealth and plans to enroll members for health plans starting January 1, 2014.

In announcing the selection of Miller for the organization's chief executive position, Joseph E. Smith, Chairman of the KYHC formation Board of Directors said, "The Board selected Janie based upon her proven leadership skills, exceptional insurance industry experience, and involvement in health coverage initiatives". Smith added "On a personal note, I have known and worked with Janie for some 35 years. She has always shown commitment and excellence in her work. Her work history shows that the Cooperative is going to be in good hands during its formative years. I look forward to more years of working with Janie." Smith is the Executive Director of the Kentucky Primary Care Association, based in Frankfort, KY.

Miller, who becomes CEO effectively immediately, said, "I am excited to be selected by the Board to serve in an executive leadership position for the Kentucky Health Cooperative. Once operational, the CO-OP will be governed and run by its members and will provide individuals and small businesses a viable alternative for quality, affordable health insurance coverage. Unlike traditional insurance, however, any profits earned by the CO-OP must be used to improve benefits or lower premiums."

Miller served as the insurance commissioner of Kentucky from 2001-2003 and has been very involved in health coverage initiatives. She is a past chair of the Health Insurance and Managed Care Committee of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. Miller implemented program changes that resulted in thousands of Kentucky children enrolling in the Kentucky Children's Health Insurance Program, and also helped implement Kentucky Access, a high-risk pool designed to provide access to health insurance coverage to uninsurable Kentuckians. Miller co-chaired Governor Beshear's Early Childhood Task Force and served as Secretary of the Cabinet for Health and Family Services. She has served on the United Way of Kentucky Board and now serves on the Board of Regents of Eastern Kentucky University.

In addition to Smith, other members of the KYHC formation Board of Directors are: James Dietz, a partner of the law firm of Dressman Benzinger Lavelle, with offices located in Cincinnati, OH and Crestview Hills, KY; Chris Goddard, CEO of HealthPoint Family Care, Covington, KY; and David Worthy, MD, Medical Director of Baptist Regional Memorial Hospital, Corbin, KY. KYHC continues to seek additional Board members throughout the Commonwealth and individuals and small groups who purchase insurance coverage from the Cooperative will be responsible for electing all of its Directors.

KYHC will target individuals, the working uninsured and small groups using a variety of benefit designs designed to promote access to a network of quality participating providers, and will offer health insurance through the Health Insurance Exchange as well as offer products outside the exchange. KYHC intends to work cooperatively with local health care delivery systems in each region of Kentucky to deliver coordinated health care services to the members of the Cooperative.

KYHC anticipates accepting applications for enrollment with effective dates of coverage as of January 1, 2014. The business plan projects enrollment will reach more than 62,000 over the time period loans will be outstanding and more than 50 Kentuckians will be hired during 2012 and 2013. Job seekers are encouraged to review job descriptions and apply for positions at [email protected]. The website for KYHC is https://www.mykyhc.org/.

KYHC is a member of the National Alliance of State Health Cooperatives (NASHCO), based in Washington, DC. NASHCO's website is www.nashco.coop.

 

Additional Information:

THE MISSION OF THE KENTUCKY HEALTH COOPERATIVE

The Kentucky Health Cooperative exists to engage and serve our Members by promoting and supporting the worthwhile delivery of integrated health care in each of our products and services.

The Cooperative Mission encompasses outreach to all eligible individuals and groups with a particular focus on population segments previously ignored by other health insurance organizations. Commonly known as the working uninsured, the Cooperate will intensely pursue those individuals who need health insurance coverage, but are not eligible for public assistance in other forms. As the Cooperative Mission will operate as a statewide organization in Kentucky, the Cooperative will devote equal effort to promote coverage of individuals and small groups in rural as well as urban settings. A particular focus for the Cooperative is the unique challenge provided by the health care environment of the Appalachian region of Kentucky.