FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
July 21, 2011
Network Health Appoints Vice President of Clinical Affairs
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 Mary Jane McKendry as vice president of clinical affairs. McKendry most recently served as Network Health senior director of clinical operations.
McKendry oversees overall operations of Network Health’s quality, medical management, behavioral health, integrated care management, and clinical community outreach teams. McKendry also implements and manages processes to measure quality outcomes for all clinical programs and plays a key role in developing, implementing, and monitoring methods to effectively manage the health plan’s medical expenses.
“Mary has done an incredible job leading Network Health’s clinical operations,” said Dr. Pano Yeracaris, Network Health vice president and chief medical officer. “Mary’s effective leadership, innovative thinking, and passion for serving underserved populations help Network Health to continue fulfilling our core mission of improving the health and well-being of our members and their diverse communities.”
During her tenure as Network Health senior director of clinical operations, McKendry evolved Network Health’s integrated care management program into a nationally recognized, best-in-class program which earned Dorland Health’s Case in Point Platinum Award for “Best Overall Case Management Program” in 2010; provided leadership for Network Health’s “Excellent” National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) accreditation; played a key role in helping Network Health rank fifth among all Medicaid health plans nationally, according to NCQA’s Health Insurance Plan Rankings 2010 – 2011 — Medicaid; and led extensive efforts to improve Network Health’s medical expense management by implementing care improvements.
McKendry previously served as director of health services at Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan, where she was responsible for case management, pre-authorization, wellness programs, and the integration of medical and behavioral health services.
Prior to joining Boston Medical Center HealthNet Plan, McKendry served as vice president of operations for Renaissance Health Care, a specialty disease care management organization, which is a subsidiary of Fresenius Medical Care, NA. In this role she was responsible for all medical and clinical services and was instrumental in the development of a new integrated social-medical disease care management model for kidney patients.
McKendry has also held several leadership positions at McKesson Corporation, including senior director of strategic relationships and consulting, and senior director of consulting, education, product training, and materials development.
McKendry earned a Bachelor of Science and Master of Business Administration from Franklin Pierce University in Rindge, New Hampshire.
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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