Joan Henneberry
Joan Henneberry, Executive Director, Department of Health Care Policy and Financing, leads the agency responsible for managing public health insurance programs including Medicaid and CHP+, serving almost 800,000 residents of Colorado. She is a senior health policy advisor to the Governor, developing and implementing health reform policies and initiatives. Prior to the cabinet appointment, she worked in the private sector after spending seven years at the National Governors Association providing consultation to states on health care services and financing, cost containment, and emerging policy issues. Joan spent 13 years at the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment, and now chairs the board of the Colorado Regional Health Information Organization, and serves on the Executive Committee for the National Academy for State Health Policy. She has a master’s degree in management, and completed the Senior Executives in State and Local Government Program at the Harvard University, Kennedy School of Government in 2008. Joan is a member of the American College of Healthcare Executives.
For individuals living with complex, often chronic conditions, and their families, palliative care can provide relief from symptoms, improve satisfaction and outcomes, and help address critical mental and spiritual needs during difficult times. Now more than ever, there is growing recognition of the importance of palliative care services for individuals with serious illness, such as advance care planning, pain and symptom management, care coordination, and team-based, multi-disciplinary support. These services can help patients and families cope with the symptoms and stressors of disease, better anticipate and avoid crises, and reduce unnecessary and/or unwanted care. While this model is grounded in evidence that demonstrates improved quality of life, better outcomes, and reduced cost for patients, only a fraction of individuals who could benefit from palliative care receive it. 
