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 over 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. He satisfies the categories of (2) Health insurance consumers and (9) Exchange consumers. His current term expires November 2028.
Claire McAndrew, Vice Chair – Claire McAndrew is Senior Vice President of the Health Practice at Waxman Strategies. Claire brings 15 years of strategic health policy and advocacy experience to Waxman Strategies. She oversees work on health care costs and access in service of the firm’s commitment to a health care system that drives better and more equitable outcomes. Her portfolio includes prescription drug pricing and other reforms to address the rising costs that put health care out of reach for millions across America. Previously, Claire served as Director of Campaigns and Partnerships and Director of the Private Insurance Program at the leading consumer health advocacy organization Families USA. There she oversaw winning campaigns to enact and prevent repeal of the Affordable Care Act, ban surprise medical bills, and lower drug prices. She authored numerous publications on issues relating to health care costs, private insurance regulation, and health insurance marketplaces and frequently served as an expert source of health policy information for policymakers and the media. She satisfies category (7) Health care consumer interest advocacy. Her current term expires November 2028.
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. Rebecca satisfies the category of (9) Exchange customer. Her current term expires November 2027.
Sarah Candler – Sarah Candler is a physician with CuraCapitol Primary Care, Washington, D.C. caring for adult patients with a broad payor mix, including Medicare, Medicaid, and uninsured. Sarah is also an independent consultant. Sarah serves on national physician organizations monitoring and guiding policies on health care payment, coverage, and equitable care. She currently serves on the HBX Basic Health Plan Advisory Council and Alliance Transition Advisory Council representing the Medical Society of DC and interests of physicians and our patients as these plans are optimized and implemented. Sarah has followed and participated in implementation and transition plans to ensure the changes to coverage and transitions to new plans are consistent with on-the-ground workflows, structural needs, and clinical expectations of practicing physicians and our patients in the community. Sarah satisfies the category of (1) Health professional. Her current term expires November 2029.
Dave Chandrasekaran – Dave Chandrasekaran is Executive Director of the Voter Empowerment Project, which provides pro bono technical assistance to small state and local voting rights organizations in historically disenfranchised communities. Dave also runs a consulting practice supporting nonprofit and other mission aligned clients. Prior to this, Dave served in several think tanks focused on voting rights, health care, and other social impact causes, including as the Vice President of Advocacy and Campaigns at the Center for American Progress and Senior Policy Analyst at the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities. Dave's career in DC began as a policy staffer with the DC Primary Care Association before spending four years in the DC Mayor Fenty's Administration in the Office of the City Administrator, Department of Health, and Department of Health Care Finance. Leading up to 2014, Dave participated in the working groups comprised of government, industry, small business, and community members that supported the creation of DC Health Link. He has assisted low-income families in accessing coverage as a volunteer Certified Application Counselor. Dave also has personal experience as an Exchange consumer, having obtained coverage through DC Health Link for many years while working as an independent consultant without access to employer-sponsored coverage. Dave has supported HBX and SAB by serving on working groups including the Standard Plans Working Group. He fills the categories (7) Health care consumer interest advocacy and (9) Exchange consumers. His current term expires November 2028.
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 (6) Health insurance broker and (9) Exchange consumer. Her current term expires 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 satisfies the categories of (7) Health care consumer interest advocacy and (2) Health insurance consumer. Her current term expires January 2028.
William “Bill” Wiechman – Bill Wiechman is Vice President and Regional Counsel, Kaiser Permanente Mid-Atlantic States Market and serves on the Market’s Senior Leadership team as the Market’s general counsel and strategic thought partner. His work covers strategic planning to develop operational plans and long-term strategy; growth and market expansion opportunities (e.g., product and network development, distribution channels, strategic alliances; development and negotiation of strategic arrangements with third parties, including investment in community-based initiatives; ongoing regulatory, coverage, transactional, and care delivery issues. Outside of his role at KP, Bill serves as the Vice Chair of the Board and Co-Chair of the Government relations Committee of the Montgomery County Chamber of Commerce (MCCC) with members from across the greater Washington, D.C. metropolitan area. Through programs, events, and advocacy, MCCC links thought leaders from the private, public, and non-profit sectors with the market-based resources and helps shape and advocate for policies that help grow business and the community. Bill satisfies the categories of (4) Commercial sector health plans and (5) Public sector health plans. His current term expires January 2028.
Dock G. Winston – Dock Winston is a urologist with the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group and serves as the Physician Site Lead for the Kaiser Permanente Largo Medical Center. Dock 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. Dock satisfies the categories of (1) Health professional and (9) Exchange consumer. His current term expires November 2026.