Mass Almanac

Your Government Guidebook

Portrait of Nancy K. Ryan

Ryan, Nancy K.

Director, Office of Patient ProtectionIndependent & Quasi-Public Agencies
  • Agency Independent & Quasi-Public Agencies
  • Division Massachusetts Health Policy Commission
  • Title Director, Office of Patient Protection
  • Address 50 Milk St. 8th Floor
    Boston, MA 2109
  • Phone 617-979-1400

Official Record

  • Year Started Current Position 2016
  • Years in Current Position 11
  • Years in State Service 12
  • Job Description Office of Patient Protection (OPP) safeguards important rights of health insurance consumers. Implementing certain provisions of M.G.L. Chapter 176O, OPP regulates the internal grievance process for consumers who wish to challenge denials of coverage by health plans and regulates and administers the external review process for consumers who seek further review of adverse determinations by health plans based on medical necessity. OPP is also charged with regulating similar internal and external review processes for patients of Risk Bearing Provider Organizations and HPC-certified ACOs. OPP also administers and grants enrollment waivers to eligible individuals who seek to purchase non-group insurance when open enrollment is closed. Additionally, OPP assists consumers with general questions or concerns relating to health insurance.

Personal Information

Nothing on file.

Education & Career

  • Education
    • College of the Holy Cross
    • J.D. and M. P.H., dual-degree program, Northeastern University School of Law and Tufts University School of Medicine
  • Previous Employment
    • Health Policy Commission, Associate Counsel
    • Staff Attorney, Health Law Advocates
    • Interim Policy Analyst, Health Care for All
    • Legal Intern Office of Counsel, Office of Inspector General, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
    • Legal Intern, Health Care Division, Office of the Massachusetts Attorney General