Press Release- April 23, 2007
OFFICE OF GOV. BILL RITTER, JR.
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
MONDAY, APRIL 23, 2007
Contact:
Evan Dreyer, 720.350.8370
GOV. RITTER NAMES THREE ADDITIONAL MEMBERS TO '208' HEALTH CARE COMMISSION
Gov. Bill Ritter has appointed three additional members to the blue ribbon "208" health care commission for reform. The new members are: Peg Burnette of Denver, Donald L. Kortz of Greenwood Village and Lynn Westberg of Durango.
"More than 770,000 Coloradans ¿ including 180,000 children ¿ currently lack health insurance in Colorado," Gov. Ritter said. "One of my top priorities is to end this crisis, and I¿m pleased that my administration's efforts have been able to dovetail with the 208 commission's work. Adding these three exceptional individuals to the panel will further assist in the process."
The 2006 legislature passed and former Gov. Owens signed into law Senate Bill 208. The measure created a 24-member task force to examine health care issues across Colorado, and establish health-care reform models to expand health care coverage and to decrease health care costs for Colorado residents. Through Senate Bill 07-104, Gov. Ritter will appoint three additional members to the commission:
- Peg Burnette of Denver. Burnett has served as chief financial officer for Denver Health and Hospital Authority since 2004. She also has served as the authority's associate CFO/controller and assistant CFO. Prior to that, she was a Medicare coordinator for Kaiser Permanente and director of budget, reimbursement and cost accounting for National Jewish Research and Medical Center.
- Donald L. Kortz of Greenwood Village. Kortz is chairman of Fuller Real Estate Company. He has served as president and CEO of Rose Community Foundation, chair of the Children's Hospital board, a member of the National Jewish board, chair of the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce and chair of the Colorado Children's Health Foundation.
- Lynn Westberg of Durango. Westberg has served as director of the San Juan Basin Health Department since 1986. She has worked at the department since 1972 in a variety of capacities, including as R.N. coordinator for the department's Children's Developmental Evaluation Clinic, home health care supervisor, and director of nursing.