Connecture Hires Ryan Howells As Vice President, Government Programs

BROOKFIELD, Wis., Dec. 11, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Connecture, Inc., the leading provider of Web-based information systems used to create health insurance marketplaces and exchanges, today announced Ryan Howells will serve as vice president, government programs.  In his role at Connecture, Howells will lead the company's government programs, including related client services, delivery and business development functions.

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Howells joins Connecture after nearly a decade at iHealth Technologies – a national payment policy management company – where he most recently served as vice president, client services.  At iHealth Technologies, Howells was responsible for helping to build the government services team, including leading the federal and state operational teams.  This included work with Medicare Administrative Contractors, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), state Medicaid agencies and the commercial Medicare and Medicaid market.

"We're excited about Ryan's diverse background, especially his familiarity in working with states, as well as CMS and other federal agencies," said Dan Maynard, Connecture president.  "We think his experience will enable him to easily navigate through a complex environment, providing our partners with the expertise and exceptional service they rely upon Connecture to deliver.  Ryan's unique experience working with private and public sector partners will be of great value as we work to take unnecessary cost and friction out of the health insurance purchasing process."

At iHealth Technologies, Howells managed an account that reprocessed inpatient and outpatient claims based upon specific requirements and identified savings associated with those claims in accordance with the CMS Recovery Audit Contract.  The Congressionally-mandated Recovery Audit Contract program took effect in 2010 and identifies Medicare overpayments and underpayments to health care providers and suppliers.  Howells is credited with generating more than $60 million in savings for the Medicare trust fund in little more than two years.

In addition to iHealth Technologies, Howells has held leadership positions at several multi-billion dollar companies. Prior to joining Connecture, he served in leadership roles at Daugherty Business Solutions; Computer Sciences Corporation (formerly First Consulting Group) and Health Net.  In his new role at Connecture, Howells will not only be responsible for business development and client services, but he will also serve as the business executive sponsor for the company's StateAdvantage product suite which has already been contracted by Minnesota and Maryland for their state health insurance exchanges. 

"My role at Connecture provides me an opportunity to continue expanding upon the great work that we've already started to offer state governments with the information systems and expertise they need to make it easier than ever for taxpayers to shop for, choose and purchase the best health insurance," Howells said.  "It also enables us to build new relationships that build on Connecture's reputation as a best of breed Commercial Off-the-Shelf vendor, able to address the public sector's need to rapidly implement solutions required by the ACA regulations."

Howells earned his undergraduate degree at Brigham Young University and a Master of Health Administration from the University of Southern California.

About Connecture
Connecture is the leading provider of Web-based information systems used to create health insurance marketplaces and exchanges. Its industry-proven solutions enable consumers, employers and brokers to more easily shop for, purchase and renew health insurance while minimizing back-office administrative expenses for health plans. Connecture's solutions are provided to health plans, state insurance exchanges, private exchanges and insurance brokers. More than 25 million Americans shop for their health insurance through systems built by Connecture, and more than half of the nation's 20 largest plans rely on them to sell, administer and manage their plans and products effectively. For more information, visit www.connecture.com.

Media Contact:
Ken Phillips
Davies Murphy Group
Ph. 781.418.2437
[email protected]

SOURCE Connecture, Inc.