Joel S. Ario Esq.

Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP
Ario, Joel

Joel S. Ario, a Managing Director at Manatt Health Solutions, has 30 years of experience helping to shape and implement public policy, including two decades devoted to leading health insurance reform efforts at the state and federal government levels. He provides strategic consulting and policy analysis to assist state governments, health plans, hospitals, foundations and other stakeholders in preparing for the broad implications of healthcare reform, with a particular emphasis on planning for and implementing the exchange-based marketplaces.

Mr. Ario previously served as Director of the Office of Health Insurance Exchanges at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), where he worked closely with states and other stakeholders in leading HHS efforts to develop the regulatory framework for exchanges, including the rights and responsibilities of the states in establishing exchanges and preserving their authority over the private insurance marketplace.

Prior to his federal service, Mr. Ario was Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner and Oregon Insurance Commissioner. Mr. Ario served on the Executive Committee of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) for a decade and was an NAIC officer.

He received his B.A. from Saint Olaf College, his M. Div., cum laude, from Harvard Divinity School, and his J.D., cum laude, from Harvard Law School.

Mr. Ario is co-author of the Bloomberg BNA Health Law & Business Portfolio Series No. 2350, Affordable Care Act Implementation: Regulations, Models and Implications.