WASHINGTON, July 21 The new Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission (MACPAC), which was authorized by the Children's Health Insurance Program Reauthorization Act of 2009 and funded through the Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act of 2010, held its first orientation meeting on July 19 and July 20, 2010 in Washington, D.C. During the meeting, the Commission members reviewed the priorities and goals of the Commission as established in the law and set the agenda for the Commission moving forward. "I thought that the first meeting was a productive start and I look forward to the first public meeting on September 23 and 24, 2010," said Diane Rowland, Sc.D., chair, MACPAC.
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The Commission also named Lu Zawistowich, Sc.D., as its first executive director. Dr. Zawistowich brings more than twenty years' health policy experience to MACPAC and will be charged with "standing up" this new Congressional advisory body. Currently, Dr. Zawistowich is serving as the Acting Deputy of the Office of Consumer Information and Insurance Oversight (OCIIO) at HHS. Prior to joining OCIIO, she served as Senior Advisor to the CMS Administrator. Additionally, she has extensive private sector experience working with health care providers and health care delivery systems.
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"Dr. Zawistowich has distinguished herself as an expert in the health policy arena throughout her professional career in state and federal government and in the private sector and will bring leadership and vision to the Commission's broad mandate," said Diane Rowland.
Dr. Zawistowich has a long history of government service and was the deputy director of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission (MedPAC). Prior to MedPAC, she worked at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services in several senior leadership positions including as director of the Office of Contractor Management and the Office of Medicare Demonstration Programs. She also directed the Office of State Health Reform Demonstrations and worked with states to implement Medicaid managed care programs. She served as the deputy director of the Office of Medicaid Policy. Dr. Zawistowich began her health policy career working for the Maryland State Department of Health and Mental Hygiene.
"We are very fortunate that Dr. Zawistowich has experience working at the state level due to significant concerns about the cost and complexity of Medicaid by many in state governments," said Dr. David Sundwall, vice chair, MACPAC.
Dr. Zawistowich earned her Doctor of Science degree in Health Policy and Management from The Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.
MACPAC is a nonpartisan Congressional advisory body, charged with providing health policy advice and technical assistance to Congress concerning the Medicaid Program, CHIP, and other aspects of the health care system.
MACPAC --- Washington, DC
While MACPAC is creating its website, please use [email protected]
SOURCE The Medicaid and CHIP Payment and Access Commission
