Executive Director Appointed for Georgia Access

ATLANTA – GA Insurance and Safety Fire Commissioner has named the executive director of the Georgia-based healthcare exchange.

Release:

Insurance and Safety Commissioner John F. King announced that he has named Cheryl S. Gardner to the position of executive director of the Georgia-based healthcare exchange, also known as name of Georgia Access.

“Our office has worked tirelessly over the past few years to ensure that Georgia no longer depends on the federal government to provide health care to our citizens,” said Commissioner King. “With today’s hiring of Cheryl Gardner to oversee our new exchange, we are one step closer to increasing competition and innovation in Georgia’s healthcare market and reducing the number of uninsured Georgians. .”

Ms. Gardner is the founder of Gardner Strategies, a health policy and strategy firm that advises government agencies, legislative entities, technology companies and policy shops across the country. Previously, she served as Managing Director of beWellnm (the New Mexico Health Insurance Exchange), Executive Director of the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace, and Director of Policy and Strategy at the Utah Health Exchange. .

“I am grateful to Commissioner King for appointing me to this position and I look forward to this new challenge,” said Ms. Gardner. “Georgia has proven to be at the forefront of health care reform and I am proud to bring to Georgia Access my unique experience overseeing and advising health care exchanges across the country.”

Georgia Access, created with Governor Kemp’s signing of Senate Bill 65, is a new state-based health care exchange that Georgians can use to purchase health insurance in the individual market from home. year of the 2024 plan. As executive director, Ms. Gardner will be responsible for day-to-day operations, hiring staff and overseeing Georgia’s transition away from the federal exchange in time for open enrollment in November. .

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