Hammer joins HCPF as Medicaid director

Thursday, January 01, 2015 11:39 AM

Gretchen Hammer joined the Department of Health Care Policy and Financing (HCPF) as Colorado’s Medicaid Director effective Jan. 5, 2015. In her new role she will oversee the Department’s Health Programs Office, which administers public health insurance programs for low-income Coloradans, including Medicaid and Child Health Plan Plus.

“Gretchen’s expertise in community advocacy, public and private insurance coverage and her zeal for solving complex problems will be an enormous asset for the department,” said Sue Birch, executive director of HCPF, in a press release. “Medicaid’s new opportunity to serve as a redesigned platform will move Colorado closer to being the healthiest state in the nation.”

Hammer previously served as executive director of the Colorado Coalition for the Medically Underserved and as past chair of the board of directors for Connect for Health Colorado. It was for her work with Connect for Health Colorado that CMS awarded Hammer its Breakthrough Award in 2013.

CMS President Tamaan Osbourne-Roberts, MD, said, “CMS extends its sincere congratulations to Gretchen and HCPF. Her persistence and skilled leadership have served her well in her previous work and will greatly benefit the department. We look forward to our continued collaboration.”