GOV. RITTER NAMES MEMBERS TO RURAL HEALTH COUNCIL AND OTHER STATE PANELS

GOV. RITTER NAMES MEMBERS TO RURAL

HEALTH COUNCIL AND OTHER STATE PANELS

 

Gov. Bill Ritter announced today that he has named 12 members to the Colorado Rural Health Care Grant Council as well as members to several other important state boards and commissions.

 

UnitedHealth Group is providing $7.5 million over six years to fund the rural health care grant program. Gov. Ritter issued an executive order creating the 12-member grant council in August.

 

The council will establish criteria for awarding grants to improve health care services in rural Colorado, review grant applications, award grant funding, and evaluate the impact and effectiveness of the grant program through measurable outcome assessments.

 

Those interested in obtaining more information about the grant application process should contact Cody Belzley at 303.866.5800 or cody.belzley@state.co.us.

 

The appointees announced today are:

 

Cody Belzley, health care policy analyst, Governor's Office of Policy and Initiatives

Robert J. Brooke of Lamar, executive director, High Plains Community Health Center

Dr. Ned Calonge, Colorado chief medical officer

Lydia DeLaRosa, senior case manager, Mesa County Dept. of Human Services

Denise Denton, health consultant, former director of Colorado Rural Health Center

Andrea L. Kawulok of Berthoud, program coordinator, Colorado Coalition for the Homeless

Marcy Morrison, Colorado state insurance commissioner

Khanh T.T. Nguyen, program officer, Colorado Health Foundation

Kathleen Rogers, vice president of development, San Luis Valley Regional Medical Center

Dr. Jacqueline Stiff, vice president/chief medical officer, UnitedHealthcare Colorado

Christopher Underwood, division director, Colo. Dept. of Health Care Policy and Financing

Charles Unseld, deputy director, Colorado Department of Local Affairs.

 

Terms are at the pleasure of the Governor.

 

Gov. Ritter also has named the following people to other boards and commissions:

 

• Allison A. Brittsan of Denver to the Juvenile Parole Board for a term expiring at the pleasure of the Governor. Gov. Ritter also appointed current board member Dean J. Conder to serve as chairman.

 

• Arapahoe County Coroner Michael J. Dobersen to the Colorado Coroners Standards and Training Board for a term expiring on March 1, 2010.

 

• James B. Haass of Greenwood Village, Giovanni "Gino" V. Greco of Lakewood and Richard J. Dalton of Englewood to the CollegeInvest Board of Directors for terms expiring on July 31, 2010. The Governor also re-appointed Steven J. Schwartz of Durango for a term expiring on July 31, 2011.

 

• Christine L. Murphy, John Parvensky and Richard A. De Blasio, all of Denver, to the Colorado Community and Interagency Council on Homelessness for terms expiring at the pleasure of the Governor.