Annie H. Lee, JD, Leads Colorado Access as New President and CEO

 

Officially taking lead February 14, 2022, Annie H. Lee, JD, entered the role of president and CEO of Colorado Access after Marshall Thomas, MD, who recently retired and led the company for 16 years (of its near 30-year history).

Lee has extensive experience working in Colorado’s Medicaid landscape, as the Executive Director of Community Health and Medicaid Strategies at Children’s Hospital Colorado; and having served as Senior Director of Medicaid and Charitable Coverage Programs at Kaiser Permanente Colorado, and working at the Colorado Department of Health Care Policy and Financing.

Annie H. Lee, JD, joined Colorado Access as its fourth president and CEO, and the company’s first female president and person of color to lead the role.

Planning and projects are already underway for Lee to lead Colorado Access and the 625,000 members located throughout the state.

“During these unsettling times, it is essential to appreciate the sacred space that healthcare organizations occupy in the service industry,” said Annie H. Lee, JD.

Lee explained, “The policies, practices and culture of these organizations are of heightened importance not only to the individuals within them, but to the communities they serve. The decisions that Colorado Access and similar organizations make, for instance, to ensure safety and prevent the spread of COVID-19, set an example for others while demonstrating their values.”

Simon Smith, chair of the CEO search committee and vice chair of the Colorado Access board of directors, said, “After conducting a national search, we were pleased to find our next president and CEO right here in Denver, Colorado. Lee is a strong leader who brings a wealth of knowledge of the Colorado Medicaid environment. We look forward to working with her and building upon the momentum and success Colorado Access has achieved under the steadfast leadership of Marshall Thomas, MD.”

Lee is Korean-American, daughter of Korean immigrants, and stems from a military family background. Living most her life in Colorado and calling Denver her home, Lee enjoys everything from reading to hiking and traveling. Lee received her Juris Doctor degree (J.D.) from the University of Denver Sturm College of Law and her Undergraduate Degree in Political Science from the University of Colorado Boulder.

“I am excited and humbled to be selected as the next president and CEO of Colorado Access,” said Lee. “The mission, values and history of the organization make it uniquely positioned to optimize how Coloradans access affordable, quality health care. I look forward to building lasting relationships with the employees, members, providers and community partners as we forge reforms that improve healthcare in Colorado.”

 

(photo courtesy of: Colorado Access)

About Colorado Access
As the largest and most experienced public sector health plan in the state, Colorado Access is a nonprofit organization that works beyond just navigating health services. The company focuses on meeting members’ unique needs by partnering with providers and community organizations to provide better personalized care through measurable results. Their broad and deep view of regional and local systems allows them to stay focused on our members’ care while collaborating on measurable and economically sustainable systems that serve them better. Learn more at: Colorado Access.