Leavitt Partners Announces Premier Team to Advise Clients on Health Insurance Exchanges

Health insurance exchange team lead by former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary and seasoned health policy experts

June 16, 2010

Leavitt Partners today announced a seasoned team to advise vendors, insurance carriers, brokers and states on the process, policies, politics and people necessary to design and implement health insurance exchanges.

The new national health reform law (Affordable Care Act) requires states that do not want a federally-run exchange to have functioning state or regional exchanges by January 1, 2014. Leavitt Partners offers an experienced, broad-based and knowledgeable team led by former HHS Secretary and three-term governor Michael O. Leavitt and supported by seasoned health policy experts who have directed the federal Medicaid program, administered insurance benefits, helped guide pharmaceutical companies, led business associations and assisted with the implementation of one of only two health insurance exchanges in the country.

"Designing and implementing successful health insurance exchanges in time to meet federal deadlines will require innovation, ingenuity, and a keen sense of the interplay between government and business," said Leavitt. "We have the people, we know the issues and we are prepared to advise senior executive teams on the strategic issues involved."

Leavitt Partners will offer a range of advisory services to clients interested in health insurance exchanges, including:

• Advising clients about the process, policies, politics and people involved in creating exchanges;
• Providing timely and in depth analysis of state, federal and marketplace exchange activity;
  
• Assisting with the due diligence necessary to bid successfully on projects and help develop business plans; and
• Providing customized guidance to states on how to move carefully and cost-effectively to best serve their citizens.

"We have assembled a team that knows the issues and can help businesses and states structure health insurance exchanges in a way that meets unique needs," said Leavitt. "Every state faces different challenges and so will the creation of every exchange. We can anticipate the issues, help reach major milestones and improve the quality of services offered to customers and taxpayers."

Health Insurance Exchange Team

The Leavitt Partners Health Insurance Exchange team includes the following principals:

Michael O. Leavitt - The team will be led by former HHS Secretary and three-term governor Michael O. Leavitt. Governor Leavitt understands state and federal issues exceptionally well, having presided over Medicaid and other health care issues at the state level for nearly 12 years and serving as secretary of HHS. As Secretary he signed the Medicaid waiver renewal for the Massachusetts Health Care Reform law. Prior to his public service, Leavitt was the president and CEO of one of the nation's largest insurance brokerage firms.

Dennis G. Smith - Dennis G. Smith brings to the team one of the most knowledgeable health care policy minds in the country. His 25 years of experience in health care policy includes nearly eight years as the Director of Medicaid State Operations and service as a state Medicaid director. His career includes health policy staff support for both the U.S. Senate and the U.S. House of Representatives. He has played a policy role in the passage and implementation of nearly every significant health policy of our nation for the past 15 years.

Rich McKeown - Rich McKeown brings seasoned leadership to the team having served as Chief of Staff at the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and in a governor's office. He is intimately familiar with the people involved in health policy at the federal level and knows how it works at the state level. As an attorney who specializes in collaborative problem-solving, he brings the team a rich knowledge about collaborative practices as it applies to health care.

Brett Graham - Brett Graham brings c-suite experience as a leader of a self-funded benefit plan administrator, as a member of the strategy team for Meritain Health and as a Vice President with a large insurance carrier. His knowledge of health insurance practices and strategies provides valuable expertise to the Leavitt Partners team in the areas of health care policy, regulations, employer benefits and corporate practices. He holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from Harvard University.

Andrew Croshaw - Andrew Croshaw brings valuable public and private sector leadership to the team. He was the project leader of the Value-Driven Healthcare Initiative, sponsored by HHS. He has held leadership roles in private industry with Novartis Pharmaceuticals Corporation and Eli Lilly and Company. He holds a Master's degree in Business Administration from Harvard University where he specialized in health care innovation and leadership.

Natalie Gochnour - Natalie Gochnour brings practical knowledge about the creation and implementation of a health insurance exchange, having served as a business leader guiding Utah's health reform efforts. She was the co-chair of the United Way of Salt Lake's Financial Stability Council, which was the forbearer to the Utah Health Insurance Exchange, and served as the COO of Utah's largest business association. As a representative of the business community, she worked with the Utah governor's office, Legislature, insurance carriers, brokers and hospitals to lay the foundation for Utah's innovative approach to health system reform. She holds a Master's degree in Economics from the University of Utah.

About Leavitt Partners

Leavitt Partners advises clients in the areas of health care, health insurance exchanges and food safety. Its team includes individuals with deep experience in health care restructuring, health care public policies and domestic and international food safety. The firm applies its experience, knowledge and a network of global relationships to supplement the thinking of senior executive teams, facilitate connections, solve problems, create value and deliver results. For more information visit LeavittPartners.com or call 801.538.5082.

Help others find this information: