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Health Policy Commission sworn in new board, adopts updated bylaws and reappoints Marty Cohen as vice chair
Summary
At its Sept. 18 meeting, the Health Policy Commission swore in newly appointed members, approved updated bylaws incorporating recent statutory changes, and reappointed Commissioner Marty Cohen as vice chair. The bylaws clarify contract authority and commissioner stipends under new law.
The Health Policy Commission convened on Sept. 18 for the first meeting of its newly reconstituted board and completed several organizational actions, including adoption of updated bylaws and the reappointment of Commissioner Marty Cohen as vice chair.
“This is an important day for us since it's the first meeting of the new board term,” the chair said, opening the session and thanking the governor and attorney general for the recent appointments. The meeting began with swearing-in of commissioners and roll-call introductions, providing the board a mix of new and returning members with experience across hospitals, insurers, academia and community health.
Lois Johnson, the commission’s general counsel, presented the revised bylaws, which staff said align the commission’s internal rules with recent statutory changes. Johnson told commissioners the updates incorporate the agency mission, authorize a commissioner stipend required by the new law, and formalize confidentiality and data-security requirements consistent with the agency’s information-security program. The bylaws also allow the executive director to sign contracts up to $500,000 annually with notice to the chair; contracts above that threshold require board approval.
After discussion, the board moved and voted to adopt the bylaws as presented.
The chair then nominated Commissioner Marty Cohen to remain vice chair for another one-year term; Cohen, who serves the behavioral-health seat, was first appointed to the commission years earlier and had served as vice chair since 2019. The board voted to appoint Cohen; the record shows at least one abstention was registered during that vote.
The session included a fuller orientation on the HPC’s 2025 priorities, staffing of new offices, and statutory responsibilities under two laws enacted earlier in the year (Chapters 342 and 343), but commissioners reserved detailed policy debate for follow-up meetings and the commission’s November cost‑trends hearing.
The board scheduled future meetings for Oct. 23 (virtual) and Dec. 11, and adjourned the Sept. 18 session.
