Standing Advisory Board (SAB) - Appointees with expertise in health care, health advocacy, and policy analysis will assist HBX in establishing a vibrant health exchange.
Pursuant to the Health Benefit Exchange Establishment Act of 2011 (DC Law 19-94), the Board is directed to appoint members to a Standing Advisory, for which the Board shall solicit recommendations, and consult on insurance standards, covered benefits, premiums, plan, technology system development, and any other policy or operational issues within the executive board’s discretion.
The Standing Advisory Board consist of District residents who have expertise related to at least one of the following categories:
(1) Health professionals;
(2) Health insurance consumers;
(3) Disease and demographic-specific advocacy groups;
(4) Commercial sector health plans;
(5) Public sector health plans;
(6) Health insurance brokers;
(7) Health care consumer interest advocacy;
(8) Health care foundations;
(9) Exchange consumers; or
(10) such other interests considered necessary.
The appointees are:
Chris Gardiner, Chair – Chris Gardiner is the founder of GKA, P.C., a minority-owned certified public accounting and management consulting firm domiciled in the District of Columbia and has served as its chairman for the past 25 years. Mr. Gardiner previously served on the Board of Directors of United Medical Center, the District of Columbia’s not-for-profit hospital corporation, and also previously served on the Board of Directors of Howard University Hospital. Mr. Gardiner was chosen to satisfy categories 2 and 9, health insurance and Exchange consumers. His current term expires in November 2024.
Claire McAndrew, Vice Chair – Claire McAndrew is an independent voice for health care consumers with expertise in wide-ranging state and federal health policy issues. For twelve years, Claire served in multiple roles at Families USA, the leading national, non-partisan advocacy organization for health care consumers, including as Director of Campaigns and Partnerships and Private Insurance Program Director. Prior to joining Families USA, Claire held positions in mental health and children’s health advocacy organizations. Claire has extensive knowledge and expertise in the health policy and health advocacy fields including the Affordable Care Act, surprise billing and network adequacy issues, and prescription drug policy. In addition to serving as Vice-Chair of the Standing Advisory Board to the District of Columbia Health Benefit Exchange, she is a consumer representative to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC). Claire has been featured frequently in print, radio, and television media outlets including the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Chicago Tribune, NPR, and on C-SPAN Washington Journal. McAndrew holds an M.P.H. in Health Policy from the University of Michigan and a B.A. in Public Health from Johns Hopkins University. Her current term expires in November 2024.
Dave Chandrasekaran is a Health Care Consultant specializing in health policy and advocacy. He is also a volunteer Certified Application Counselor (CAC) with Northern Virginia Family Services. Mr. Chandrasekaran spent nearly 5 years as a Senior Policy Analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities where he supported state and national efforts to implement the Affordable Care Act, with a focus on Health Insurance Marketplaces. He formerly served in DC government in the Fenty Administration in the Office of the City Administrator, Department of Health, and Department of Health Care Finance, and has worked on local health care access issues for over a decade. As a self-employed DC resident, Mr. Chandrasekaran receives his health coverage via DC Health Link. He fills the categories of health care consumer advocacy and exchange customers. His current term expires November 2024.
Dock G. Winston, MD MPH – Dock G. Winston, MD MPH is an Urologist with the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group and serves as the Physician Site Lead for the Kaiser Permanente Largo Medical Center. Dr. Winston has extensive experience developing and implementing various community health and patient advocacy initiatives. He serves on the Board of Directors of the Medical Society of the District of Columbia. He fills the qualifications of health professional and exchange consumer. His current term expires November 2026.
Margarita Dilone – Margarita Dilone is the founder of a Crystal Insurance Group, Inc. a minority & woman owned independent insurance agency domiciled in the District of Columbia and has served as its CEO & President since 1984. Ms. Dilone currently serves on the Mayor’s Commission for Latino Economic Development as well as the Board of Directors of Housing Counseling Services, Inc., the Greater Washington Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Metro DC Hispanic Contractors Association & the Metropolitan Washington Independent Insurance Agents Association. As an Insurance Broker, consumer, business owner & community activist Ms. Dilone is passionate about providing access to the best health care available to all who reside in the District of Columbia and the Metropolitan Region regardless of their income, race, national origin, immigration status, gender identity or religion – every human being deserves access to health care to reach their fullest potential. She fills the qualifications of health insurance broker and exchange consumer. Her current term expires November 2027.
Rebecca Barson – Rebecca Barson is the founder of RDB Strategies, a boutique consulting firm focusing on policy and advocacy strategies to protect and expand access to reproductive and maternal health. Rebecca has 20 years of policy, political, and program experience in women's and reproductive health, including several years at the intersection of policy and service delivery. She has worked at the national and affiliate levels of Planned Parenthood; the Association of Maternal and Child Health Programs; and the National Family Planning & Reproductive Health Association. As a self-employed business owner, Rebecca receives her health insurance through DC Health Link and fills the category of Exchange customer. Her current term expires in November 2027.
Claire Heyison – Claire Heyison is Senior Policy Analyst for Health Insurance and Marketplace Policy at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. In this position, Claire serves as an expert on and advocates for Affordable Care Act (ACA) marketplace policies aimed at increasing enrollment, improving affordability, and reducing administrative burden for consumers. Her written work focuses on explaining complex, technical issues in a way that is understandable to policymakers, consumer advocates, and the media. Claire educates navigators and assisters on topics such as Special Enrollment Periods, plan design, and the impact of legislative and regulatory changes on Marketplace operations. She has worked at the Milken Institute School of Public Health in the Department of Health Policy and Management at The George Washington University. Claire fills the categories of health care consumer interest advocacy and health insurance consumer. Her term will expire January 2028.
Jennifer Valentine – Jennifer Valentine is the Interim Chief Financial Officer for Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States. Jennifer has almost 20 years of experience in hospitals and health plans, and is a leader in finance, strategic planning, capital planning, and business development. She works closely with Kaiser Permanente’s Health Care Reform team, which monitors HBX initiatives including policies and operations that impact Kaiser Permanente’s Individual and Small Group membership such as eligibility and enrollment policies, standardized benefit plan designs, health equity initiatives, and HealthCare4ChildCare program administration. Jennifer serves as the President of the Board of Trustees for the Society for the Prevention of Blindness of Metropolitan Washington. Jennifer is an expert in commercial sector health plans and fills the category of health insurance consumer. Her term will expire January 2028.