We at CHIR are excited to announce the arrival of two new colleagues who will be helping us navigate the world of health insurance and the new health insurance marketplaces. They have only been with us a few days but they’re already demonstrating their worth – for example, before he’d even gotten his business cards, David Cusano was asked to appear on NBC News to comment on Affordable Care Act (ACA) implementation in New York. It’s a true pleasure to introduce our new colleagues – we are sure that CHIRblog followers will be benefiting from their research, writing, and health insurance market savvy in the days and weeks ahead.

David Cusano, a health care attorney, brings us deep health insurance experience from his stints as in-house counsel for Coventry Health Care, Inc., and as a health insurance specialist at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Center on Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (CCIIO). While working at Coventry, David advised the company in its efforts to comply with the ACA’s new requirements for health insurers and on day-to-day health plan operations. At CCIIO, he provided guidance to states for implementing the requirements under the ACA and assisted with the drafting of the proposed federal rate review regulation. In addition, David has represented health care providers on various corporate and regulatory matters, and practiced as a registered nurse. Now that he’s joined CHIR, David will primarily work through the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s State Health Reform Assistance Network (State Network) to provide technical assistance to state officials on implementation of the ACA.

Justin Giovannelli is an experienced attorney who recently completed a stint at the National Partnership for Women & Families working on ACA implementation, while at the same time completing a Masters in Public Policy at Georgetown. Prior to his return to graduate studies, Justin practiced law for seven years with the law firm Cahill Gordon & Reindel LLP and served as a law clerk for a U.S. District Court judge. Justin will be working with the CHIR team to monitor and evaluate federal and state implementation of the ACA’s insurance reforms and the development of the new health insurance marketplaces.

Please join us in welcoming these new additions to our team. With their help we’re ramping up and ready for “crunch” time for the roll out of the ACA.