FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

STATE REGULATORS MEET WITH
PRESIDENT OBAMA AND CABINET LEADERS
Health Reform Implementation Focus of White House Meeting

WASHINGTON, D.C. (Sept. 22, 2010) — Thirty four members of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) met with President Obama today to discuss implementation of the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (PPACA). 

“We appreciate the opportunity to discuss what is happening ‘on the ground’ in the states as health care reform becomes a reality,” said Jane L. Cline, NAIC President and West Virginia Insurance Commissioner. “It is our shared goal that consumers have access to affordable and adequate coverage, with minimal disruption to the marketplace.”

The meeting also included Secretary of Health and Human Services Kathleen Sebelius and Secretary of Labor Hilda Solis as well as top Administration advisors from the White House, including Stephanie Cutter, Assistant to the President for Special Projects and Nancy-Ann DeParle, Counselor to the President and Director of the Office of Health Reform. 

During the meeting, the President stressed the need for consumers to have adequate information on changes as they occur. He acknowledged the important role of state regulators in implementing reform and educating the public.

September 23 marks the six-month anniversary of the signing of PPACA, and an important milestone as early provisions of the legislation start to take effect. The recent NAIC Consumer Alert: Additional Health Care Reform Provisions Kick In details what these early provisions mean for consumers.

Regulators from the following states and jurisdictions were at today’s White House meeting: Alaska, Arizona, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Florida, Guam, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, Missouri, Montana, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Rhode Island, South Carolina, South Dakota, Tennessee, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia and Wisconsin.

About the NAIC

Formed in 1871, the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) is a voluntary organization of the chief insurance regulatory officials of the 50 states, the District of Columbia and five U.S. territories. The NAIC has three offices: Executive Office, Washington, D.C.; Central Office, Kansas City, Mo.; and Securities Valuation Office, New York City. The NAIC serves the needs of consumers and the industry, with an overriding objective of supporting state insurance regulators as they protect consumers and maintain the financial stability of the insurance marketplace. For more information, visit www.naic.org.

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