Koken resigns after 10 years as Pa. regulator

Pennsylvania Governor Edward G. Rendell accepted the resignation of Insurance Commissioner Diane Koken, effective Feb. 19.

Rendell appointed Randolph Rohrbaugh, currently a deputy commissioner, to serve as acting insurance commissioner during the formal search for a permanent successor.

Koken, Pennsylvania’s longest-serving commissioner, will serve as a senior advisor to Rendell before returning to the private sector in mid-March.

Koken has served as commissioner since August 1997 and was first confirmed to the post by the Pennsylvania Senate in 1998. She has served in the administrations of three governors. She has been active in the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and served as the group’s president.

During Koken’s tenure in Pennsylvania, the department conducted more than 7,000 field investigations and market-conduct examinations, which resulted in civil penalties and restitution totaling nearly $317 million. The department also recovered more than $69 million on behalf of consumers as a result of consumer complaints during this period.

Also, under Koken’s leadership, the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) is being expanded to make coverage available to all uninsured children and teens up to age 19 that are not eligible for Medical Assistance. The expansion, known as Cover All Kids, is expected to begin in March.

Koken also oversaw implementation of the Mcare assessment abatement program, which has provided almost $1 billion since 2003 to defray health care providers’ malpractice insurance expenses and has been credited with helping to keep physicians practicing in Pennsylvania.

Topics Pennsylvania