WASHINGTON, Oct. 21, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The board of directors of Medicaid Health Plans of America (MHPA), the leading trade association representing the Medicaid managed care industry, today announced government affairs veteran Jeff Myers as its new president and chief executive officer. Myers will succeed Joe Moser, MHPA's interim executive director and director of government affairs, who was recently appointed Medicaid Director for the state of Indiana.
"Jeff brings a wealth of health care and leadership experience to MHPA and I am confident that he has what it takes to guide our organization and our industry through the complicated legislative and regulatory landscape that we face," said Michael Rashid, president and CEO of The AmeriHealth Caritas Family of Companies and chairman of MHPA's board of directors. "We're fortunate to have him as a fervent advocate of sound policies that affect our member companies and their Medicaid enrollees."
Myers began his career in government relations and health care in Congress working for U.S. Representatives Don Sundquist and Alex McMillan, leading McMillan's health staff during the attempt at health reform in 1994. From there he served as Representative Fred Upton's legislative director and health staff for the Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee.
"I'm excited to join MHPA at a time when Medicaid is undergoing such momentous changes," said Myers. "Decisions by the states on whether and how to expand, new opportunities to bring integrated health care to the disabled and the elderly, and the looming health insurance tax which, if not repealed, will divert resources better spent on beneficiaries, will have a profound effect on this vital program." Myers continued, "Joe Moser and the rest of the MHPA staff, along with our member plans, have successfully ensured that we have a strong platform to address these challenges and opportunities. I'm looking forward to overseeing MHPA's continued growth and increasingly prominent leadership role in the industry as we educate more decision makers on the value Medicaid health plans bring to low-income Americans and taxpayers."
Myers comes to MHPA via health care executive search firm Furst Group, which took notice of his experience as senior vice president of policy and government relations at the American Health Care Association (AHCA). His government relations work prior to AHCA includes representing Cephalon, Biogen Idec, Pharmacia, and Hoffman-LaRoche before the legislative and executive branches.
Myers received his MBA from the Fuqua School of Business at Duke and his bachelor's degree from Rhodes College in Memphis. He lives in McLean, Virginia with his wife and three children.
About MHPA
Medicaid Health Plans of America (MHPA) is the leading national trade association solely focused on representing the universe of Medicaid health plans. Specifically, MHPA works on the behalf of over 120 for-profit and non-profit member health plans that serve over 15 million lives. MHPA provides advocacy, research and organized forums that support the development of policy solutions to enhance the delivery of quality health care to Americans in need. For more information, visit Medicaid Health Plans of America at http://www.mhpa.org.
Contact: Joe Reblando
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202-857-5722
SOURCE Medicaid Health Plans of America