October 3rd, Kim Bimestefer, Executive Director, Colorado Dept. of Health Care Policy & Financing

Our next Denver Medical Study Group meeting offers an insightful presentation from Kim Bimestefer, Executive Director at the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy & Financing. Colorado is a nationally recognized leader in health care transformation, and following this last legislative session, our state is vigorously pursuing numerous paths to lower costs for health care consumers in Colorado.

Among the topics Executive Director Kim Bimestefer will address include updates on Colorado’s Medicaid program, the draft public option and drug importation. She will also discuss health care transparency in Colorado as a result of HB19-1001 and HB19-1320 along with opportunities in the delivery system and cost control priorities.

Join us for an enlightening conversation and opportunity to ask your questions!

Kim Bimestefer was appointed by Governor John Hickenlooper to serve as Executive Director for the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing on Jan. 8, 2018 and was also appointed by Governor Polis to continue in this role.  As Executive Director, Ms. Bimestefer oversees the operations and strategic direction of the Department, $10B or one-third of the state budget, Colorado Medicaid, Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) and other Safety Net Programs.  These programs serve about 1.3 million Coloradans or about 22% of the state’s population. Ms. Bimestefer also helps frame and implement Healthcare policy for the state.

Ms. Bimestefer has been a senior healthcare executive for more than 25 years in not-for-profit, publicly-traded and sole-proprietorship organizations. She was the local Board Chair, President & General Manager for Cigna Mountain States (CO, WY, NM, UT), responsible for strategy, customer satisfaction, care management, provider contracting, growth and earnings. Prior to that role, she founded and built a $10 billion division inside Cigna to serve more than 1.3 million members across the country.

Ms. Bimestefer has received numerous industry awards for leadership in business and industry: Forbes Women Leaders Issue, one of seven western region leaders recognized for exemplary business leadership, June 2016; Colorado’s 25 Most Powerful Women in Business, Colorado Women’s Chamber, 2016; Outstanding Women in Business/Healthcare, Denver Business Journal, 2015; Women of Distinction, Girl Scouts of America, 2015.

Ms. Bimestefer is a Board member of Connect for Health, Prime Health, and the American Heart Association, and an Advisory Board member of Regis University Rueckert-Hartman College for Health Professionals and a Precious Child. In her current position, she appoints the Advisory Committee and the Administrator of the state’s All-Payer-Claim-Database. She is a popular expert keynote speaker and panelist on evolving health care topics, and an active supporter of healthcare entrepreneurs and innovators.   Ms. Bimestefer earned her bachelor’s degree cum-laude from Towson State University and her MBA cum laude from Loyola College of Maryland. She is also a graduate of the Wright Management Group and Darden School of Business, Executive Leadership Programs.