Mila Kofman, J.D.

Mila Kofman, J.D., an assistant research professor at the Georgetown University Health Policy Institute, conducts a range of studies on the uninsured and underinsured, focusing on private market reforms, regulation, access, affordability, adequacy of job-based and individual health coverage, cost shifting, and financing strategies, including health savings accounts, association health plans and other multiple employer arrangements, and discount medical cards.

In a HCFO-funded study, Kofman has been examining the dynamics of pooled purchasing arrangements. Pooled purchasing arrangements involve several groups seeking to achieve cost savings by combining their purchasing power to negotiate rates lower than each could otherwise get from an insurance company or HMO. Some states have introduced legislation to help small businesses create pooled purchasing arrangements, as pooled purchasing arrangements are seen as a good opportunity to expand coverage. Kofman is identifying and describing different types of associations and pooled purchasing arrangements. In addition, she is examining how states and the federal government regulate such arrangements. She is focusing on key market reforms and consumer protections as well as applicable federal standards, providing estimates on the prevalence of such arrangements, summarizing how self-insured arrangements are regulated, identifying weaknesses in the law, discussing recent insolvencies, and identifying successful oversight approaches. Finally, Kofman is discussing market failures focusing on the recent influx in health insurance scams promoted through pooled purchasing arrangements (for example, som e unscrupulous individuals have attempted and succeeded in defrauding employers and their workers by marketing non-existent health insurance through well-established associations or by establishing phony ones).

The objective of this study is to inform state and federal policy discussions on expanding the role of association health plans and other pooled purchasing arrangements. Through this research, Kofman hopes to help policymakers address how to protect consumers while encouraging the growth of GPAs, thus helping small employers offer insurance. Kofman says, "as policymakers consider ways to improve options for millions of Americans who rely on private health insurance, it is important to identify regulatory loopholes that have caused consumers to lose their health insurance. If we don't fix these, then we'll be building on a broken system."

In 2002, Ms. Kofman was appointed to the National Association of Insurance Commissioners (NAIC) Consumer Participation Board of Trustees, and she also serves on the Board of Directors for URAC, a health care accreditation firm. Prior to joining Georgetown University, she was a federal regulator at the U.S. Department of Labor, and Counsel for Health Policy and Regulation at the Institute for Health Policy Solutions. She has published in the Journal of Insurance Regulation and Policy, Politics & Nursing Practice, and has produced issue briefs for RWJF's State Coverage Initiatives program, The Commonwealth Fund, and the California HealthCare Foundation. Ms. Kofman holds a law degree from the Georgetown University Law Center and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Government and Politics from the University of Maryland, College Park ( summa cum laude).

Selected Publications

Kofman, Mila, Eliza Bangit, and Kevin Lucia, "Multiple Employer Arrangements: Another Piece of a Puzzle, Analysis of Form M-1 Filings, Journal of Insurance Regulation 63 (Dec 2004)

Kofman, Mila, Issue Brief: "HSAs: Issues and Implementation Decisions for States," State Coverage Initiatives Vol. V No. 3 Sept 2004.

Kofman, Mila and Karl Polzer, "Federal Association Health Plans - Will this Proposal Remedy the Health Insurance Crisis?" Policy, Politics and Nursing Practice 167 (Aug 2004)

Kofman, Mila, Eliza Bangit, Kevin Lucia, MEWAs: The Threat of Plan Insolvency and Other Challenges, Commonwealth Fund, March 2004.

Kofman, Mila, Kevin Lucia, and Eliza Bangit, Issue Brief: Health Insurance Scams: How Government is Responding and What Further Steps are Necessary, Commonwealth Fund, August 2003.

Kofman, Mila, "Issue Brief: Group Purchasing Arrangments: Isues for States," State Coverage Initiatives, Vol. IV No. 3, Sept. 2002.