3 health care questions with Cheryl Smith Gardner

As executive director of the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace, Cheryl Smith Gardner is responsible for developing Arkansas’ state-based insurance exchange, the online marketplace for individuals and employees of small businesses to purchase Affordable Care Act-compliant health insurance.

Since the introduction of that act, those Arkansans have been purchasing health insurance through the federally operated healthcare.gov.

AHIM’s Small Business Health Options Program, or SHOP, for employees of small businesses began operations Nov. 1. However, Gov. Asa Hutchinson has questioned the need for a state exchange for individuals and has asked AHIM to pause its operations pending a release of recommendations by the state’s Health Reform Legislative Task Force due by the end of the year. 

Gardner has years of experience in health care policy as a senior practitioner at Deloitte Consulting, as a director in the Health Insurance Exchange practice at Leavitt Partners, and as director of policy and strategy of the Utah health exchange office.

She recently responded to questions from Talk Business & Politics.

TB&P: You’ve been hired to lead Arkansas’ efforts in building a state-run health insurance exchange. The SHOP is moving full-steam ahead. The chairman of the legislative committee that oversees you, Sen. David Sanders, R-Little Rock, supports a state-run exchange. Gov. Asa Hutchinson (R) has questioned the need for an exchange for individuals and asked you to pause your efforts. What do you think Arkansas should do?

Gardner: “Arkansas’ SHOP is really in a class by itself. Not only did it launch on time and on budget, it launched early and, to date, is the least expensive SHOP in the country. We at the Arkansas Health Insurance Marketplace (AHIM) are very proud of that.

“With respect to the individual exchange, I think it’s prudent for the state to pause and consider what our needs are – now and for the future. If it turns out that the executive and legislative branches decide that the state needs a system that allows more customization and control than we are currently getting through the nationalized system, then I am confident AHIM will be able to do our part to successfully execute that policy.”

TB&P: You’re a conservative who has worked in health care policy for many years. What are your thoughts about the way conservatives have participated in the health care reform discussion? 

Gardner: “My position as the AHIM executive director is strictly apolitical and, as a creature of the state legislature, it’s important that AHIM remain politically neutral. That said, over the years the thing that has impressed me the most – from those on both the left and the right – is the acknowledgement that health care reform is first and foremost an economic development issue. I think that once you begin to understand the economic implications for individuals, families, and businesses, you have more of an appreciation for why this is a critical issue for our state and for our nation. It’s certainly an issue begging for innovative solutions.”

TB&P: Would you have anything positive to say about the Affordable Care Act, otherwise known as Obamacare?

Gardner: “For all of its flaws (and there are many, indeed) the Affordable Care Act has successfully made health care reform a front burner issue.”