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Office of Health Insurance

Main phone: (225) 219-4770        Toll Free: (800) 259-5301       Fax: (225) 342-5711
Mailing address: P.O. Box 94214, Baton Rouge, LA 70804

The Office of Health Insurance was created in 1998 to consolidate the regulations of state and federal requirements applicable to commercial and government operated health benefit plans. This Office provides protection to Louisiana consumers, assures continued viability of health benefit plans and determines whether enhancements or modifications are necessary to assure continued compliance. There are five divisions in operation.

Executive Staff

Karen Reiners Winfrey, Deputy Commissioner
Phone: (225) 342-1355
kwinfrey@ldi.state.la.us
Vacant, Assistant Commissioner
Barbara Lillie, Administrative Assistant
Phone: (225)342-1355
blillie@ldi.state.la.us
Debra Prejean, Administrative Assistant
Phone: (225) 219-4770
dprejean@ldi.state.la.us

 

Louisiana Health Care Commission (LHCC)

The Louisiana Health Care Commission (LHCC) is a fifty (50) member advisory board to the Commissioner of Insurance on health care issues. The commission examines all health policy developed by the Department of Insurance. The commission makes recommendations to the Commissioner of Insurance on all such policy, as well as makes recommendations for reform of the health care and health insurance systems in Louisiana.

Alison Jones, Executive Director
(225) 342-4311
ajones@ldi.state.la.us
Thomas Clemons, Assistant Director
(225) 219-4772
tclemons@ldi.state.la.us
Karen Krumholt, Compliance Examiner
(225) 219-9343
kkrumholt@ldi.state.la.us
Vanessa Vince, Compliance Examiner
(225) 342-5075
vvince@ldi.state.la.us

 

Quality Assurance Division

The Quality Assurance Division assures compliance by Medical Necessity Review Organizations by requiring uniform standards for such organizations, specifically internal and external grievance procedures to appeal adverse medical necessity determinations, so that all health plans follow the same standards in resolving disputes. This division also assures compliance by all health insurance issuers in following procedures and timeframes for the payment of health services, standards for the credentialing of providers by health insurance issuers, as well as standards regarding notices and disclosures outlined in the Health Care Consumer Billing and Disclosure Protection Act of 2003.

Vacant, Director
Cheryl Gordon, Assistant Director
(225) 219-9524
cgordon@ldi.state.la.us
Rhonda King, Compliance Examiner
(225) 219-8769
rking@ldi.state.la.us
Cindy Gehling, Compliance Examiner
(225) 219-8799
cgehling@ldi.state.la.us
Rachael Lundy, Compliance Examiner
(225) 219-9804
rlundy@ldi.state.la.us

 

Senior Health Insurance Information Program

The Senior Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP) offers specialized services to senior citizens and Medicare beneficiaries. SHIIP offers a wide range of information and materials through the Department of Insurance's toll-free telephone line. To request information, counseling, publications, a speaker for a group or information on becoming a sponsor, you may call (800) 259-5301 to reach a staff person or e-mail aheumann@ldi.state.la.us. To request a publication online, click here.

Vicki Dufrene, Director
(225) 219-7731
vdufrene@ldi.state.la.us
Gwen Wilcox, Assistant Director
(225) 342-0825
gwilcox@ldi.state.la.us
Monica St. Cyr, Trainer/Coordinator/Counselor
(225) 219-7732
mcstcyr@ldi.state.la.us
Barbara Armstead, Trainer/Coordinator/Counselor
(225) 219-7732
barmstead@ldi.state.la.us
Hollye Travasos, Trainer/Coordinator/Counselor
(225) 219-6725
htravasos@ldi.state.la.us

 

HIPAA Quality Management Division

The HIPAA Quality Management Division administers the operational functions of commercial and government operated health benefit plans in Louisiana.

Quality Management Consumers Affairs Unit

The Quality Management Consumer Affairs Unit provides direct assistance and protection to consumers and health care providers regarding issues which impact health insurance, through complaint investigations and consumer inquires, as well as interaction with federal and state agencies. These issues include benefit coverage, payment of claims and refunds, advertising, marketing, underwriting, changes in coverage, access to managed care providers and covered services, contractual terms and provisions, and policyholder service to assure compliance with all applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations. Our regulatory authority extends to those major medical health plans, which are fully insured that are delivered and issued by an insurer licensed in this state.

Vacant, Director Vacant, Assistant Director
Peggy Myers, Compliance Examiner
(225) 219-9692
pmyers@ldi.state.la.us
Desi Rheams, Compliance Examiner
(225) 219-4623
drheams@ldi.state.la.us
Jennifer Furlow, Compliance Examiner
(225) 219-4717
jfurlow@ldi.state.la.us
Tangela Ayo, Compliance Examiner
(225) 219-4773
tayo1@ldi.state.la.us

Quality Management Insurance Contracts and Forms Unit

The Quality Management Insurance Contracts and Forms Unit is responsible for performing detailed analysis and reviews of all health benefit plan filings to assure compliance with all applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations. Examiners of this unit can assist you with the interpretation of statutes, rules and regulations, filing procedures and fees, and status requests on pending filings. This unit also performs annual surveys and audits to determine the appropriate amount of accident and health insurance premiums subject to HIPAA assessment.

Tom Portier, Director
(225) 219-4771
tportier@ldi.state.la.us
Ricky Shields, Assistant Director
(225) 219-9339
sshields@ldi.state.la.us
Joelle Craft, Compliance Examiner
(225) 219-5818
jcraft@ldi.state.la.us
Carolyn Schwendimann, Compliance Examiner
(225) 219-9344
cschwendimann@ldi.state.la.us
Shad Price, Compliance Examiner
(225) 219-9527
sprice@ldi.state.la.us
Alecia Johnson, Compliance Examiner
(225) 219-4775
ajohnson2@ldi.state.la.us

 

Supplemental Health Products Division

The Supplemental Health Products Division is responsible for performing detailed analysis and review of all Medicare supplemental benefit plan filings to assure compliance with all applicable state and federal laws, rules and regulations. This division is also responsible for the review and approval of all limited benefit plan filings to assure compliance with all state filing procedures. Examiners assist with the interpretation of statutes, rules and regulations, filing procedures and fees, status requests on pending filings as well as answer inquires and conduct investigations of consumer complaints relative to limited benefit and supplemental health insurance products. These include but are not limited to the following:

  • Cancer/Dread Disease Policies
  • Champus Supplements
  • Dental Policies
  • Hospital Indemnity
  • Medicare Advantage (HMOs)
  • Medicare Select
  • Medicare Supplements
  • Short-Term and Long-Term Disability Insurance
  • Vision Policies
Crystal Campbell, Director
(225) 219-9433
ccampbell@ldi.state.la.us
Carmen Breaux, Assistant Director
(225) 219-4778
cbreaux@ldi.state.la.us
Jenny Hall, Compliance Examiner
(225) 219-4777
jhall@ldi.state.la.us
Cindy Rankin, Compliance Examiner
(225) 219-9526
crankin@ldi.state.la.us
Jason Sloper, Compliance Examiner
(225) 219-9926
jsloper@ldi.state.la.us
Janet Lovette, Technician
(225) 342-6342
jlovette@ldi.state.la.us
Mary Chester, Technician (Medicare Supplement)
(225) 219-9342
mchester@ldi.state.la.us