GAO Announces Appointments to CO-OP Advisory Board

News Type:

News Article

June 24, 2010

Issue Areas:

Coverage, Insurance, Policy Implementation

Fulfilling one of its duties under the recently passed Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Government Accountability Office (GAO) appointed 15 members to the Advisory Board of the Consumer Operated and Oriented Plan (CO-OP) program. Unlike private plans, CO-OP plans will be owned and run by the consumers who use them. The program was primarily sponsored by Senator Kent Conrad (D- ND) as a compromise to provide consumers with an alternative to private, for profit health insurance while avoiding a government sponsored public health care option. In concept, they avoid the need for a government-run insurance option by allowing individuals and small businesses to band together into co-operatives that would compete with private insurers.

The newly appointed members come from a diverse professional background. The ACA however, mandates that none of the board members have a significant interest in the insurance industry. The Advisory Board is charged with providing grants and loans to provide startup capital for new CO-OP plans by July 1, 2013.

To read GAO’s press release on the appointments and to view Board Member bios click here

To read Senator Kent Conrad’s FAQs about the CO-OP program click here

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