FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2011

Network Health Appoints Director of Strategic Planning and Public Policy

MEDFORD, Mass. — Network Health, a Massachusetts health plan that provides high-quality health care coverage to more than 170,000 Massachusetts residents with low and moderate incomes, announced today that it has appointed Paula Huston as its director of strategic planning and public policy. Huston will oversee Network Health’s policy advocacy and strategic planning efforts by ensuring the integration of effective business strategy with health policy issues at the state and federal level.

“Paula’s keen understanding of the relationship between public policy and corporate strategy has been a tremendous asset to Network Health’s strategic planning success,” said Leanne Berge, Network Health chief legal counsel and vice president of strategic and governmental affairs. “Paula’s strategic problem solving and results-driven implementation skills will continue to further Network Health’s position as an innovative health plan excelling in clinical quality and cost structure.”

Huston previously served as Network Health manager of strategic planning and development. In that role, Huston led Network Health’s efforts to create a multi-year corporate strategic business plan, introducing the use of balanced scorecard management systems; managed cross-functional medical expense reduction efforts; and spearheaded a large, innovative federal grant application.

Prior to joining Network Health, Huston served as Simmons College School of Management John Hancock-Commonwealth Institute Fellow at ElectroChem, Inc., consultant at Simmons College School of Management, and producer/project manager at Irrational Games. 

Huston served as an early advisory board member for the Simmons College School of Management Entrepreneurship Certificate Program and has been a guest lecturer at Helsinki School of Economics in Mikkelei, Finland.

Huston earned a Bachelor of Arts from Hampshire College, and a Master of Business Administration from Simmons College.

About Network Health
Since 1997, Network Health has provided Massachusetts residents with low and moderate incomes access to high-quality health care. Based in Medford, Mass., Network Health is a comprehensive health plan serving members through its Network Health Together^® (MassHealth) and Network Health Forward ^® (Commonwealth Care) plans. 

Network Health provides Network Health Together members all the benefits of MassHealth, plus free EXTRAS. Network Health’s Commonwealth Care plan extends access to affordable health care for qualified Massachusetts residents 19 years old or older who earn at or below 300% of the federal poverty level, or up to $32,676 a year for an individual (up to $67,056 a year for a family of four). In addition to core health care benefits, Network Health offers Network Health Forward members free EXTRAS designed to encourage wellness.

To improve the health and well-being of its members and their diverse communities, Network Health offers fully integrated, in-house care management, providing a team of medical, behavioral health, social care, and pharmacy professionals who coordinate member care, and partners with 20,000 primary care providers, specialists, hospitals, and community organizations.

Network Health earned National Committee for Quality Assurance’s (NCQA) “Excellent” Health Plan Accreditation, NCQA’s highest accreditation rating, for its Network Health Together plan. Network Health is also ranked fifth among all Medicaid health plans nationally, according to NCQA’s Health Insurance Plan Rankings 2010 – 2011 — Medicaid. Additionally, Network Health is nationally recognized for its innovative programs and received a Case In Point Platinum Award for “Best Overall Case/Care Management Program” from Dorland Health. Network Health also has the Top Leadership Team among health plans nationally, according to HealthLeaders Media.

Individuals must be eligible for MassHealth to join Network Health Together, a MassHealth plan. To learn about MassHealth eligibility, Massachusetts residents can call the MassHealth Enrollment Center at 888-665-9993 (TTY: 888-665-9997), Monday through Friday, from 8:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. Once enrolled, MassHealth members can learn about their MassHealth health plan options by calling MassHealth customer service at 800-841-2900 (TTY: 800-497-4648), Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.

To learn about Commonwealth Care health plan options, Massachusetts residents can call Commonwealth Care customer service at 877-MA-ENROLL or 877-623-6765 (TTY: 877-623-7773), Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or they can visit www.mahealthconnector.org.

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