Governor Polis Thanks Executive Director Kim Bimestefer’s Service to the State of Colorado and Leadership in Health Care for Coloradans

DENVER - Today, Governor Polis announced that Department of Health Care Policy and Financing Executive Director Kim Bimestefer is moving on from her position in state government. Bimestefer has served in this role since January 2018, under Governors Hickenlooper and Polis. Bimestefer is the longest serving HCPF Executive Director, in her 9th year. April 10 will be her last day.

"Kim has been leading on health care in Colorado for decades and has committed her career to serving her fellow Coloradans. I am incredibly grateful for her passion and commitment to making our state a better place for everyone, and for her unrelenting quest to really move the needle on health care costs and efficiency. At my direction, Kim expanded HCPF's mission to save Coloradans money on health care. In her tenure, Colorado has taken major steps to increase price transparency, reduce hospital and prescription drug costs, and hold the health care industry accountable. Her legacy is one we hope to build on moving forward, and know that she will continue having an important impact on health care and serving her state in her next chapter," said Governor Jared Polis.

From a Medicaid oversight perspective, Bimestefer increased member network access by more than 50%, drove member and provider service metrics to historic satisfaction rates, built cost trend systems to help inform tough budget decisions, and assisted in the COVID pandemic response to protect those covered by Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program and the providers who care for them.

"It has been a true blessing to serve the State of Colorado as the Executive Director of HCPF, as a member of Governor Polis' Cabinet and Lt. Governor Primavera's Health Cabinet. Across my career, this public service chapter has proven to be the most important and meaningful, and I am honored to have had this opportunity. I have had the privilege of advancing systems that help Coloradans - often in the most difficult times in their lives - get the care and support they need to rise and thrive. Working alongside HCPF leaders, staff and stakeholders, we have navigated one unprecedented challenge after another for over 8 years to protect the state's most vulnerable, with this current chapter proving to be incredibly difficult. Under the Governor's and the Lt. Governor's leadership, I am confident that my successor, in collaboration with HCPF's outstanding leaders and staff, will continue to successfully navigate the challenging terrain ahead," said Executive Director Kim Bimestefer.

Executive Director Bimestefer has been a health care CEO or President for more than 20 years, across not-for-profit, publicly-traded and sole-proprietorship organizations. Previous to taking the helm at HCPF overseeing Medicaid and the Children's Health Insurance Program, she was the local Board Chair, President and General Manager for Cigna Mountain States. Before that, she founded and built a $10 billion segment inside Cigna overseeing strategy, growth, earnings, and product development serving the Taft-Hartley and Federal Employee Health Plan niche markets. Bimestefer has 3 successful start-ups and 5 organizational turnarounds to her credit and has received numerous industry awards and recognition, such as The 25 Most Powerful Women in Business (Women's Chamber), Outstanding Women In Business (Healthcare Winner, DBJ) and Forbes Outstanding Women Leaders (Western Region).

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