John Ramey Named Executive Director for Local Health Plans of California

SACRAMENTO, Calif. (Business Wire EON) March 24, 2008 -- Ramey, highly respected for his work on health programs for the uninsured, served from 2006 until recently as the senior health policy consultant for the Office of Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger. Since 1996 he has worked in the private sector, serving as principal and partner with Ramey, Macomber & Associates. Ramey was the founding executive director for the California Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board (MRMIB) from 1990 to 1996 and deputy secretary for the Health and Welfare Agency from 1986 to 1990.

"LHPC is fortunate to have John's vast experience in health policy," said Ingrid Lamirault, LHPC Board Chair and CEO for Alameda Alliance for Health, one of the eight local plans represented by the association. "John's state-level involvement in health policy, including his tenure as the first director of the Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board (MRMIB) that administers the Healthy Families program, will serve the association well during this critical juncture in health care. He is the ideal person to represent our mission of providing low-cost, affordable care to lower income residents and to make sure that the 'value story' of local health initiatives gets heard and understood."

Ramey's role will be to educate policy makers and the public about the unique and vital contributions of California's local health plans as a way to deliver high quality, cost effective care for the underserved in the community.

"I am deeply impressed by the efficient business models, use of available resources and the unique community connection of our local health plans," said Ramey. "In the sea of health care changes and funding issues, local health plans have proven that they work exceptionally well. It will be my job to make sure that as the inevitable competition for health care resources continues that our local initiatives have a voice at the health policy table."

Among his accomplishments, Ramey is a recipient of the National Governor's Association Award for "Distinguished Service to State Government" for his work on health programs for the uninsured. He has been involved in California state health policy development for 25 years. Ramey received his BA degree in political science from South Dakota State University in 1972.

About LHPC

Local Health Plans of California (LHPC) www.lhpc.org represents eight local, not-for-profit, publicly governed managed health care plans throughout the state. These plans are also known as local initiatives. LHPC advocates on behalf of local initiatives in their mission to effectively serve California residents, including Medi-Cal beneficiaries and other low-income, vulnerable Californians. Local initiatives assure the delivery of quality, cost-effective, culturally appropriate health care in a manner that is most responsive to the needs and concerns of the health plan members, providers, and the community.

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