2013 -- S 0935 | |
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LC02627 | |
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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
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IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY | |
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JANUARY SESSION, A.D. 2013 | |
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S E N A T E R E S O L U T I O N | |
HONORING CHRISTOPHER F. KOLLER FOR HIS DEDICATED SERVICE TO THE | |
PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF RHODE ISLAND | |
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     Introduced By: Senator Maryellen Goodwin | |
     Date Introduced: May 15, 2013 | |
     Referred To: Placed on the Senate Consent Calendar | |
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     WHEREAS, The position of Health Insurance Commissioner was one of the reform |
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efforts legislatively enacted in 2004 to restructure and transform Rhode Island’s health insurance |
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industry; and |
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     WHEREAS, To the immense good fortune of the people of the State of Rhode Island, |
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Christopher F. Koller became our state’s first health insurance commissioner in January of 2005; |
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and |
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     WHEREAS, Mr. Koller graduated summa cum laude from Dartmouth College with a |
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degree in mathematics/economics. He later earned his master's degrees from Yale Divinity |
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School, in social ethics, and the Yale School of Organization and Management, in public and |
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private management; and |
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     WHEREAS, During his tenure as Rhode Island’s Health Insurance Commissioner, Mr. |
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Koller devoted his considerable talents and energy to making healthcare more accessible and |
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affordable for Rhode Island employers and individuals. He has reviewed and often reduced the |
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premium increases that insurers propose, to the ultimate benefit of thousands of Rhode Islanders; |
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and |
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     WHEREAS, Highly regarded among his peers, Mr. Koller attained national prominence |
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in health policy circles for his healthcare reform efforts in Rhode Island; and |
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     WHEREAS, Since the adoption of President Obama’s new healthcare laws, Mr. Koller |
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has had a key role in the state's efforts to carry them out, serving on the Health Benefits Exchange |
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advisory board. He is also co-chairman of a new council working on a statewide plan for health |
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services; and |
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     WHEREAS, Prior to his appointment as Commissioner, Mr. Koller was the Chief |
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Executive Officer of Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island (NHPRI), a 73,000 member |
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HMO founded in 1994 by Rhode Island’s Community Health Centers; and |
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     WHEREAS, Mr. Koller is stepping down after eight years as Commissioner to take a |
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position as President of the New York City-based Milbank Memorial Fund, a national health |
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policy foundation. He leaves Rhode Island with a legacy of commitment to the people of this |
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state and to quality and affordable health insurance that is imminently worthy of our emulation |
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and admiration; now, therefore be it |
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     RESOLVED, That this Senate of the State of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations |
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hereby recognizes and thanks Christopher F. Koller for eight years of dedicated service as Rhode |
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Island’s Health Insurance Commissioner. We moreover wish him good health, fulfillment, and |
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much success in his future endeavors; and be it further |
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     RESOLVED, That the Secretary of State be and hereby is authorized and directed to |
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transmit a duly certified copy of this resolution to Mr. Christopher F. Koller. |
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LC02627 | |
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