DENVER - On August 20, Colorado Insurance Commissioner Michael Conway was honored as one of the recipients of One Colorado’s 2022 Prism Awards.
One Colorado is the state’s leading advocacy organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer (LGBTQ+) Coloradans and their families. The Prism Awards reflect One Colorado’s efforts to amplify inclusive and intersectional work, advancing equality for all LGBTQ+ Coloradans and their families.
Commissioner Conway was honored for the key role he played in getting the Biden-Harris Administration and Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services to approve gender-affirming care as part of Colorado’s Essential Health Benefit benchmark plan. That approval was made in 2021 and plans have to start using the new benchmark with its expanded set of benefits in 2023. Colorado is the first state in the country to explicitly include comprehensive gender-affirming care for transgender Coloradans as a required essential health benefit in commercial health insurance plans.
“I am deeply honored to receive this award. Including gender-affirming care as part of Essential Health Benefits will improve the lives of Colorado’s LGBTQ+ community, and will actually save lives,” said Commissioner Conway. “However, this award is truly a recognition of the amazing work from the team at the Division of Insurance. This was the epitome of a team effort and the award is truly a team award.”
Formerly known as the Ally Awards, One Colorado’s Prism Awards recognize individuals who have made an impact on the lives of LGBTQ Coloradans and their families. This year’s award ceremony took place on August 20 at the Denver Art Museum. Other recipients of this year’s Prism Award were Barb Cardell, Amayas Gonzalez and Goddess Tyescha.
For more information on the 2022 Prism Awards, see One Colorado’s news release.