Joel Ario

Joel Ario is a managing director of Manatt Health Solutions, an interdisciplinary policy and business advisory practice of Manatt, Phelps & Phillips, LLP. Mr. Ario provides strategic consulting and policy analysis in his work with federal agencies, state governments, health plans, hospitals, foundations, and others with a stake in understanding and navigating the fast-changing health reform landscape at the state and federal level. Mr. Ario was the first director of the Office of Health Insurance Exchanges at the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services (HHS), where he led efforts to establish the regulatory framework for the Exchange Marketplaces. Prior to his federal service, Mr. Ario was Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner from 2007 to 2010 and Oregon Insurance Commissioner from 2000 to 2007. Mr. Ario served on the executive committee of the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) for a decade and was elected three times to serve as an NAIC officer. Mr. Ario received his B.A. from St. Olaf College, M.Div. from Harvard Divinity School, and J.D. from Harvard Law School.