Robert Imes Email & Phone Number

Washington, Dc, Us

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Developed positions related to the Affordable Care Act (ACA), market regulation, Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program, Federal Employee Health Benefits Program, the Employee Retiree Income and Security Act (ERISA), prescription drugs, and federal tax rules. Drove the identification of HCSC’s advocacy goals. Developed alternatives to proposed regulations and legislation working closely with internal stakeholders. Ensured consistent policies across lines of business.Coordinated internal workflow, including research, consensus building, authorizations, and stakeholder communication. Supervised executive director-level policy staff. Oversaw and controlled budget for outside legal work and policy/economic research. Leveraged relationships with federal regulators to position HCSC as a trusted partner, obtain product and rate approvals, and negotiate mutually satisfactory solutions to compliance challenges. Prepared and accompanied the CEO and other HCSC executives to meetings with the Center for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) Administrator. Represented HCSC before Department of Labor and Office of Personnel Management officials.Provided support to HCSC lobbyists, including white papers, data, and talking points. Accompanied lobbyists to discussions with Congressional staff on technical and complex issues.Shaped the advocacy priorities of America’s Health Insurance Plans and the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) to incorporate HCSC’s views. Connected with other insurers, academics, think tanks, and consumer advocates to flag shared concerns and build coalitions. Delivered government relations feedback on corporate strategy, risk mitigation, and financial reporting.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Acting Associate Deputy Director, Policy and Regulations (2014)Acting Director, Oversight Group (2014)Senior Policy Advisor (2012 – 2014)Public Health Analyst (2010 – 2012)Managed the CCIIO Oversight Group, comprised of 35 staff across 4 divisions handling form and rate review, medical loss ratios, and administration of the ACA market reforms as the direct regulator in 5 states and by supporting efforts by state departments of insurance in 45 states. Oversaw and coordinated dozens of regulation writers across 6 CCIIO groups working jointly on novel and economically significant federal rules. Managed the CCIIO policy development workflow.Briefed and obtained final clearance for CCIIO regulations and guidance from CMS and Department of Health and Human Services legislative, economic, and legal leadership, DOL, Department of the Treasury, the Office of Personnel Management, the Office of Management and Budget, and White House Domestic Policy Council (DPC) to ensure policies reflected government-wide consensus and were released on schedule. Drafted and reviewed ACA-related regulations and guidance, such as the Exchange issuer letter, eligibility/enrollment, market reforms, preventive services, student health insurance, and rate review. Addressed politically sensitive issues on behalf of the CCIIO director with outside stakeholders.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Assessed the business impact of federal legislation and regulations, interacting with 30+ Blue Plans, and spanning multiple functional areas to gain insights. Developed BCBSA positions related to the ACA, the Health Insurance and Accountability Act (HIPAA), the Employee Retirement Income Security Act (ERISA), health care cost reductions, state insurance reforms, benefit design, high risk pools, antitrust, tax, and the uninsured.Provided policy direction that supported the development of BCSBA’s first comprehensive economic simulation model looking at different health care reform options.Wrote legislative amendments, specifications, summaries, comment letters, and white papers. Managed a staff of policy analysts. Briefed senior BCBSA and Blue Plan executives on legislative and regulatory developments. Collaborated with other trade associations, health sector entities, and stakeholder groups to coordinate strategies.

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Counseled employers, insurers, Taft Hartley funds, and trade associations concerning insurance, health care, ERISA, tax, administrative, and corporate laws. Drafted federal agency comment letters and client memoranda on health topics. Monitored and analyzed state and federal health care legislation and regulations.(Started as a summer associate in 2001, and joined the firm as an associate after graduation in 2002.)

Washington D.C. Metro Area

Wrote guides on health insurance, patient protection, and managed care laws for 20+ states. Interviewed state insurance regulators on health coverage access..

Juris Doctor, Cum Laude

Activities and Societies: Associate Editor, Georgetown Law Journal

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Spanish And Portuguese, Summa Cum Laude

Activities and Societies: Summer Language Program, University of Coimbra, Portugal