MassHealth Restructuring

The following is an EOHHS press release dated April 17 on personnel changes at MassHealth. Special congratulations to Robin Callahan for a well-deserved promotion!

MassHealth Restructured To Improve Care, Rein In Costs

BOSTON The Massachusetts Executive Office of Health and Human Services (EOHHS) today announced changes to the MassHealth organization that will restructure the program and support the move toward a more patient-centered and accountable system of health care.

"This is an important step to creating a sustainable Medicaid program and improving how we serve the stateâ€'s most vulnerable residents," said Marylou Sudders, Secretary of EOHHS. â"These changes will put the emphasis on improving the effectiveness and quality of care provided."€

The updated structure brings in new talent to MassHealth and creates greater organizational emphasis on customer service and better integration of behavioral health and other supportive care. It also creates a new unit within MassHealth that will lead a shift for the MassHealth program away from the current payment system based on the number of services provided into new payment models focused on keeping people healthy and lowering overall costs.

"Our top priorities for MassHealth include improving customer service, moving towards more accountable and coordinated care for patients, better integrating behavioral health and other supportive care, and finding ways to better manage our existing programs," said Dan Tsai, Assistant Secretary and Director of MassHealth.

Administrative Changes Include

• Scott Taberner, most recently the Chief Financial Officer at the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership, will take on the newly created role of Chief of Behavioral Health and Supportive Care. In his new position, Taberner will lead reforms to better coordinate and integrate care for behavioral health, physical health and long-term services and supports for elders and persons with disabilities.
• Matthew Klitus, a principal at Boston-based CBDI and an experienced healthcare investor, has been named Chief Financial and Strategy Officer for MassHealth. In his new role, Klitus will oversee MassHealth's strategic direction and performance and will have responsibility for improving the overall efficiency and management of the MassHealth program.
• Ipek Demirsoy, Policy Director for Accountable Care at the Health Policy Commission, has been appointed to lead MassHealth'€™s care delivery and payment reform work. Demirsoy will have responsibility for launching new payment models, including Accountable Care Organizations, that improve care coordination, cost and quality of care for MassHealth members.
• Robin Callahan, currently the Deputy Medicaid Director of Policy & Programs for MassHealth, will be promoted to overall Deputy Medicaid Director and will have increased responsibility for MassHealth day-to-day operations, including improving MassHealth's customer service and other operational and programmatic capabilities.

The work to reform MassHealth began in January, 2015 as part of the FY16 budget process, which significantly curbed spending growth. Expenditures were expected to increase 16 percent over FY15 numbers to $16.9 billion. By maximizing new revenue opportunities, addressing gaps in eligibility processes and finding administrative efficiencies, the FY16 budget caps spending growth at 5.6 percent to a total of 15.3 billion.

• About Scott Taberner: Taberner most recently served as the Chief Financial Officer at the Massachusetts Behavioral Health Partnership, and served as Chief Executive Officer from 2006 through 2008. Prior to joining MBHP in 2002, Taberner worked in state government for 20 years in a variety of roles, including at the Department of Youth Services, where he spent five years as an Assistant Commissioner, as well as at the Parole Board and the Senate Committee on Ways and Means.
• About Matthew Klitus: Prior to joining MassHealth, Klitus was a Principal at CBDI Partners, a portfolio company of General Catalyst Partners, where he evaluated potential investments for CBDI in healthcare services and healthcare technology. While at CBDI, Klitus worked closely with the executive team of Oceans Healthcare, serving as interim CFO and advising on operations, finance, strategy and M&A. Klitus also worked at Bain Capital, focused on healthcare services investments.
• About Ipek Demirsoy: Demirsoy comes to MassHealth from the Health Policy Commission, where she led policy development to advance accountable care in the Commonwealth, in partnership with leaders in the payer, provider and advocacy communities, as well as across state government. Demirsoy’s previous experience also includes working with health systems and academic medical centers on health care transformation at McKinsey & Company.
• About Robin Callahan: Callahan is a 28-year veteran of state government, with most of that time in the MassHealth program. Callahan has served in many leadership roles in MassHealth across eligibility operations, policy, IT and program development, and stakeholder relations.