R.I. Gov. Carcieri Nominates Medicaid-HMO Exec Koller as State’s First Health Insurance Chief

Rhode Island Gov. Don Carcieri has nominated Christopher Koller, chief executive officer of an HMO that serves primarily Medicaid recipients, to serve as the state’s first health insurance commissioner.

The General Assembly created the position last year amid its probe of the benefits that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Rhode Island was giving its chief executive officer and its board of directors.

The commissioner, who wil be paid $134,000, can make recommendations on rates and other matters, such as regulations, reserves and operations, but cannot set rates.

Koller has headed the Neighborhood Health Plan for the last eight years. His nomination mus be confirmed by the Senate.

“We must begin to address Rhode Island’s health care crisis, and Chris Koller is the person to lead that effort,” Carcieri said. “The job … is new and it will allow us to challenge the system like never before.

Koller is a graduate Dartmouth College in 1983, Yale Divinity School and Yale School of Organization and Management.