Advisory Committees

Advisory Task Force

The MNsure Advisory Task Force provides guidance on issues related to the development of a marketplace/exchange for Minnesota. The task force consists of 15 members who represent a balance of interests, including consumers, employers, labor, health care providers, health insurers, Medicaid, agents and those with experience navigating health plan enrollment, agents/brokers, and experts in public and private health care markets and public health improvement. 

The Advisory Task Force was created under authority granted in Minnesota Statutes §15.014 in September 2011 and works in coordination with the Governor’s Health Care Reform Task Force. 

Members

Commissioner James Schowalter, Minnesota Management and Budget (ex-officio/CHAIR)  
Commissioner Ed Ehlinger, Minnesota Department of Health (ex-officio) 
Commissioner Lucinda Jesson, Minnesota Department of Human Services (ex-officio) 
Commissioner Carolyn Parnell, MN.IT Services (ex-officio)  
Commissioner Mike Rothman, Minnesota Department of Commerce (ex-officio)  
Sue Abderholden, Executive Director of the Minnesota Alliance on Mental Illness (St. Paul) 
Representative Joe Atkins, District 39B,  Minnesota House of Representatives 
Dannette Coleman, Vice President/General Manager, Individual and Family Business, Medica (Minnetonka) 
Phillip Cryan, Health Policy Specialist and Organizing Director, SEIU (St. Paul) 
Mary Foarde, Attorney,FriedemannFoarde Health Care Law (Minneapolis)  
Robert Hanlon, Founder and President of Corporate Health Systems (Chaska) 
Representative Tom Huntley, District 7A, Minnesota House of Representatives 
Alfred Babington-Johnson, CEO, Stairstep Foundation (Minneapolis)  
Roger Kathol, Owner, Cartesian Solutions, Inc. (Burnsville) 
Senator Tony Lourey, District 8, Minnesota State Senate 
Phil Norrgard, Director of Human Services, Fond du Lac Indian Tribe (Cloquet) 
Stephanie Radtke Deputy Director, Community Services Division, Dakota County (West St. Paul) 
Senator Ann Rest, District 45, Minnesota State Senate 
Daniel Schmidt, Vice President, Great River Office Products (St. Paul) 
Stella Whitney-West, Chief Executive Officer, NorthPoint Health & Wellness Center (Minneapolis)

Technical Work Groups

Technical Work Groups develop, discuss, and provide technical assistance on options to the MNsure Advisory Task Force. One MNsure staff member and one stakeholder co-lead each technical work group.

  • Adverse Selection and Encouraging Market Competition/Value

    Focus: options to avoid adverse selection between the MNsure marketplace and the outside market for individuals and small employers and employees, and provide options for incentives for encouraging market competition and value. 

    Members:

    Roger Kathol, Cartesian Solutions, Inc. (co-lead)  
    April Todd-Malmlov, MNsure (co-lead)  
    Jean Abraham, University of Minnesota  
    Tina Armstrong, Department of Commerce  
    Katie Burns, MNsure    
    Phillip Cryan, SEIU Minnesota  
    Robert Cumming,  HealthPartners  
    Kirby Erickson, MCHA  
    Irene Goldman, Department of Health  
    Mark Hudson, Department of Human Services  
    Representative Thomas Huntley, Minnesota House of Representatives  
    Tammie Lindquist, Allina  
    Senator Tony Lourey, Minnesota State Senate  
    Tim Luy, Federated Insurance  
    Jennifer McGill, Cargill  
    Beth Monsrud, UCare  
    Representative Erin Murphy, Minnesota House of Representatives  
    Nancy Nelson, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota  
    Phil Norrgard, Fond du Lac Tribe


  • Finance

    Focus: options related to on-going financing. 

    Members

    Barb Juelich, MNsure (co-lead)  
    Kurt Kaiser, University of Minnesota Physician Group (co-lead)  
    Lisa Carlson, Sanford Health  
    Elaine Cunningham, Children’s Defense Fund  
    Philip Cryan, SEIU Minnesota  
    Dave Dziuk, HealthPartners  
    Stefan Gildemeister, Department of Health   
    Jim Golden, Department of Human Services  
    Dave Greeman, Department of Human Services   
    Kate Johansen, Minnesota Chamber of Commerce  
    Chuck Johnson, Department of Human Services  
    Margaret LeClair, , LeClair Insurance  
    Senator Tony Lourey, Minnesota State Senate  
    Andy McCoy, Fairview  
    Abigail Read, Department of Health  
    Matt Schafer, American Cancer Society  
    Angela Vogt, Minnesota Management and Budget


  • Governance

    Focus: potential options for long-term governance. 

    Members: 

    Mary Foarde, Former General Counsel, Allina (co-lead)  
    Emily Johnson Piper, Department of Commerce (co-lead)  
    David Fisher, Larkin Hoffman Daly & Lindgren  
    Amy Holzman, JD  
    Representative Thomas Huntley, Minnesota House of Representatives  
    Scott Leitz, Department of Human Services  
    Representative Diane Loeffler, Minnesota House of Representatives  
    Thomas Lopez, Mille Lacs County Attorney’s Office  
    Senator Tony Lourey, Minnesota State Senate  
    Maureen Maly, Faegre  Benson  
    Thomas Pursell, Linquist & Vennum  
    Abigail Read, Department of Health  
    April Todd-Malmlov, MNsure


  • Individual Eligibility

    Focus: options for criteria, functions, processes, and assistance to support streamlined individual eligibility determinations for public and private coverage through MNsure. 

    Members: 

    Stephanie Radtke, Dakota County (co-lead)  
    Karen Gibson, Department of Human Services (co-lead)  
    Robert Paulsen, MNsure (co-lead)  
    Matt Anderson, Minnesota Hospital Association  
    Amy Banker, Insurance Professional   
    Bryan Cole, HealthPartners  
    Scott Donahue, small employer   
    Brian Grady, U of M Joint Degree School of Public Health and Law   
    Sarah Greenfield, TakeAction Minnesota  
    Connie Harju, Bois Forte Band of Chippewa   
    Matt Magnuson, PrimeWest  
    Bruce Morgart, consumer   
    Michele Palomaki, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe   
    Karen Parkos, Allina  
    Anne Quincy, Legal Aid of Minnesota  
    David Schultz, Maslon, Edelman, Boman and Brand  
    Stephanie Schwartz, UCare


  • IT and Operations

    Focus: to address multiple technology and operational issues 

    Members: 

    Work group members will be called upon to lend their expertise at appropriate points during development.


  • Measurement and Reporting

    Focus: options for the reporting of cost, quality and satisfaction for health insurers, benefit plans, and providers through MNsure. 

    Members: 

    Dannette Coleman, Medica (co-lead)  
    Katie Burns, MNsure (co-lead)  
    Chandra Breen, Department of Human Services  
    Jamie Carsello, UCare  
    Dann Chapman, University of Minnesota   
    Jim Chase, Minnesota Community Measurement  
    Allie Coronis, Allina Health system  
    Phillip Cryan, SEIU Healthcare Minnesota  
    Stefan Gildemeister, Department of Health  
    Glenn Gruenhagen, Minnesota House of Representatives  
    Kurt Hoppe, MD, Mayo Clinic  
    Alfred Babington-Johnson, CEO, Stairstep Foundation (Minneapolis)   
    Sue Knudson, HealthPartners  
    Jim Naessens, Sc.D  
    Peter Nelson, Center for the American Experiment  
    Robert Otos, The ALARIS Group, Inc  
    Cheryl Powers, The Research Edge  
    Robin Roatch, Mille Lacs Band Corporate Commission 
    Karen Schirle, Department of Human Services


  • Navigators and Agents/Brokers

    Focus: options for navigators and agents/brokers to assist individuals and small employers and employees seeking coverage through MNsure. 

    Members:

    Robert Hanlon, Corporate Health Systems, Inc. (co-lead)  
    Bob Paulsen, MNsure (co-lead)  
    Tina Armstrong, Department of Commerce  
    Thomas Aslesen, Accord Benefit Resources, Inc.  
    Joan Cleary, Minnesota Community Health Worker Alliance  
    Robert Commodore, Department of Commerce  
    Tom Devine, David Agency, Inc.  
    Jen Ditlevson, Department of Human Services  
    Liz Doyle, TakeAction MN   
    Mark Herting, PreferredOne  
    Deb Holmgren, Portico Healthnet  
    Alfred Babington-Johnson, Stairstep Foundation  
    Kate Lerner, Department of Human Services  
    Matt Marek, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota  
    Ben Peltier, Minnesota Hospital Association  
    Stephanie Radtke, Dakota County  
    Daniel Schmidt, Great River Office Products  
    Chris Schneeman, SevenHills Benefit Partners, Inc.  
    Mat Spaan, Department of Health  
    Ginger Weyaus, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe


  • Outreach, Communications and Marketing

    Focus: options related to outreach, marketing, and communication. 

    Members: 

    Sue Abderholden, Minnesota Alliance on Mental Illness (co-lead)  
    Mary Sienko, MNsure (co-lead)  
    Carley Barber, MNsure    
    Andy Cook, Regions Hospital Foundation  
    Angela Dahl, National Marrow Donor Program  
    Pamela Daniels, Department of Human Services   
    Kathleen Davis, Legal Aid Society of Minnesota  
    Mitchell Davis, Jr., Minneapolis Urban League   
    Lauren Gilchrist, Health Reform Minnesota  
    Kerri Gordon, Allina Hospitals & Clinics  
    Sammy Gueringer, Ear, Nose and Throat Clinic and Hearing Center  
    Annie Halland, Minnesota Public Health Assn  
    Jessica Hayssen, Minnesota AFL-CIO  
    Ben Hill, Department of Commerce  
    Carol Hernandez, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe  
    Al Kruse   
    Liz Kuoppala, Minnesota Coalition for the Homeless  
    Shawn Leighton, Best Buy  
    Matt Malloy, Blue Cross Blue Shield  
    Patrick O'Leary, Citizen's League  
    Joe Pederson, Lakes and Prairies Community Action Partnership  
    Greg Sailer, Sailer Benefit Services   
    Benjamin Schierer, Communicating for America  
    Akhmiri Sekhr-Ra, Cultural Wellness Center  
    Scott Smith, Minnesota Department of Health  
    Peter Sorensen, Sorenson Flexible Benefit


  • Plan Certification

    Focus: to discuss options related to developing Minnesota’s criteria for carrier participation standards and for certifying qualified health plans (QHPs). 

    Members: 

    Katie Burns, MNsure (co-lead)  
    Matt Anderson, Minnesota Hospital Association  
    Tina Armstrong, Department of Commerce  
    Bryan Cole, HealthPartners  
    Phillip Cryan, SEIU Healthcare Minnesota  
    Irene Goldman, Department of Health  
    Michelle Harrington, Business & Estate Advantages   
    Rick Lassow, Blue Cross Blue Shield  
    Representative Tina Liebling, Minnesota House of Representatives   
    Jennifer McGill, Cargill  
    Beth Monsrud, UCare  
    Phil Norrgard, Fond du Lac Indian Tribe  
    Dr. Marilyn Peitso, CentraCare 


  • Small Employers and Employees

    Focus: options for coverage choices, services, processes, and assistance for small employers and employees. 

    Members: 

    Dan Schmidt, Great River Office Products (co-lead)  
    April Todd-Malmlov, MNsure (co-lead)  
    Tina Armstrong, Department of Commerce  
    Margo Brownell, Maslon, Edelman, Boman & Brand  
    William Colopoulos Jr., Next Generation Benefits Solutions   
    Dennis Dahlman, Dennis Dahlman Consulting  
    Greg Dattilo, Minnesota Association of Health Underwriters  
    Kathryn Frommer, Aurora Henna Company   
    Kathryn Helmke, Trusight Inc.  
    Nate Hierlmaier, Department of Health  
    Linnea House, NARAL Pro Choice Minnesota  
    Dean Howard, TAB Twin Cities  
    Scott Keefer, Blue Cross Blue Shield  
    Mary Krinkie, Minnesota Hospital Association  
    Timothy Luy, Federated Insurance  
    Peter Obermeyer, Arbeider, Inc.  
    Ed Oliver, insurance agent/former legislator  
    Susan Olsen, The Minneapolis Foundation  
    Steve Overholser, Great Clips Inc.  
    John Pratt, Minnesota Council of Nonprofits  
    Shirley Spraguer, Insurance Advisors, Inc.  
    Rick Varco, SEIU


  • Tribal Consultation

    Focus: to address issues for American Indians in the design and development of MNsure. 

    Members:  Tribal leaders and their representatives, other Indian health providers, and state agency staff are represented on the workgroup. Current participants include: 

    Cyrilla Bauer, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe 
    Oran Beaulieu, Red Lake Band of Chippewa  
    Linda Bedeau, Indian Health Service Bemidji Area Office  
    Ellen Benavides, Minnesota Department of Health 
    Pat Butler, White Earth Nation  
    Dawn Chosa, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe  
    Deanna Dick, Indian Health Service 
    Jason Douglas, Indian Health Service  
    Chuck Ells, Fond du Lake Band of Chippewa  
    Monte Fox, Minnesota Department of Human Service 
    Lauren Gilchrist, Health Reform Minnesota 
    Marilyn Grover – Fond du Lake Band of Chippewa  
    Connie Harju, Bois Forte Band of Chippewa  
    Carol Hernandez – Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe 
    Jenny Jenkins, Indian Health Service Bemidji Area Office 
    Vern LaPlante, Minnesota Department of Human Service Tribal Liaison 
    Angelene Losh, Leech Lake Band  
    Phil Norrgard, Fond du Lac Band of Chippewa  
    Bryce Redgrave, Indian Health Service  
    Salina Rizvi, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe 
    April Todd-Malmlov, MNsure  
    Kathy Vanderwall, Minnesota Department of Human Service 
    Ginger Weyaus, Mille Lacs Band of Ojibwe