Joel S. Ario, JD

With 30 years of experience shaping and implementing public health policy at the state and federal levels, Joel Ario provides strategic consulting and analysis on health care policies and institutions, with an emphasis on the evolving role of health insurers in delivering public and commercial coverage under various regulatory frameworks. He represents state governments, health plans, hospitals, foundations and other entities.

Joel’s experience includes two decades of leading health insurance reform efforts for state and federal governments. As director of the Office of Health Insurance Exchanges at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, he worked closely with states and other stakeholders to develop the regulatory framework for exchanges, including the rights and responsibilities of states and the federal government in expanding coverage.

On the state level, Joel served as Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner and Oregon Insurance Commissioner. He also served on the executive committee of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners and was an NAIC officer.

The author of several articles on health care reform, Joel serves as an advisor to the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in support of its work with states and has written extensively on 1332 state innovation waivers. Joel is based in Manatt's Albany office