2013 -- S 0935

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LC02627

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STATE OF RHODE ISLAND

IN GENERAL ASSEMBLY

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

     

     

     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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S0935