NU Online News Service, Aug. 9, 4:00 p.m. EDT

Pennsylvania Insurance Commissioner Joel Ario will direct the unit that will develop and oversee the Health Insurance Exchange system, scheduled to go into effect in 2014 as part of the health insurance reform act.

Pennsylvania Governor Edward Rendell made the announcement early this afternoon after NU Online News Service asked the Pennsylvania Insurance Department to confirm the appointment.

Several insurance industry officials in Washington said Commissioner Ario informed them of the appointment early Friday afternoon.

Health and Human Services officials in Washington did not respond to requests for comment.

Pennsylvania Insurance Department spokeswoman Melissa Fox said Commissioner Ario will be leaving at the end of the month, although the exact date has not been set.

Commissioner Ario has held his current post since June 2007. Prior to that, he served as Oregon's chief insurance regulator from 2000 to 2007.

He serves on the National Association of Insurance Commissioners' (NAIC) Executive Committee and is chairman of the Climate Change Task Force and vice chairman of the Health Insurance (B) Committee.

Commissioner Ario will be succeeded as Pennsylvania's top insurance regulator by Robert L. Pratter, currently executive deputy general counsel for litigation with the department's Office of General Counsel. He was appointed to that position by General Counsel Barbara Adams on July 7, 2008.

Mr. Pratter was a partner of the Philadelphia law firm of Duane, Morris & Heckscher, now Duane Morris LLP, for more than 25 years.

He served as senior vice president and general counsel of the PMA Capital Corporation from 1999 to 2008.

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Ario Leaving Pa. Department To Oversee Health Exchange System

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