Danny McAuliffe
A former top health care regulator and Lt. Gov.-elect Jeanette Nuñez will chair Gov.-elect Ron DeSantis’ Transition Advisory Committee on Health and Wellness.
Chairs Alan Levine, former Secretary of the state Agency for Healthcare Administration, and Nuñez will be joined by more than 50 other health care professionals, regulators, and former officeholders to help develop and implement DeSantis’ health care vision, according to a news release from the DeSantis transition team.
That vision includes “empowering patients and expanding provider reach, fighting addiction and mental health problems and protecting Florida’s most vulnerable populations while lowering costs and respecting taxpayers’ money,” according to DeSantis transition spokesman Dave Vasquez.
The committee includes three former members of the Florida Legislature, including Nuñez, a former state Representative from Miami.
Former state Rep. Jason Brodeur, a Sanford Republican who was term-limited in 2018, will also have DeSantis’ ear on health policy. He has previously chaired the House Health and Human Services Committee.
Former Republican state Sen. Rene Garcia, of Hialeah, also has a spot on the health advising panel.
The committee is packed with leaders from various private health care providers, like longtime HCA executive and native Floridian Bryan Anderson, recently promoted to VP of Government Affairs at HCA.
Tim Stapleton, CEO of Florida Medical Association, which represents physicians across the state, also will be chiming in on DeSantis’ health care conversations. Notably, the Florida Medical Association PAC endorsed DeSantis shortly before the former Congressman’s primary victory against Republican Agriculture Commissioner Adam Putnam.
DeSantis, frequently criticized by opponents for taking his time to unveil a health care platform, has centered his impending health care policy decisions on the value of personal choice.
“Floridians have more choices in picking out their cellphone plans than their health insurance plans,” reads an early portion of DeSantis health care platform.
A full list of advisers appears below:
Dr. Michael Alessandri; Executive Director for Autism and Related Diseases
Maria Alonso; COO, Citrus Health Network
Bryan Anderson; VP of Government Affairs, HCA Healthcare
Dr. Jose ‘Pepe’ Armas; Founder, Chairman & CEO, MCCI Medical Group
Gabrielle Bargerstock; Florida Executive Director, Nurse-Family Partnership
Ann Barnhart; CEO, Heart of Florida Regional Medical Center
Jason Barrett; CEO, Flagler Hospital
Dr. Samira Beckwith; President & CEO, Hope Healthcare
Abigail Beebe; Chair, Executive Council of The Florida Bar Family Law Section
Charles Bender; Founding CEO & Board Member, Place of Hope
Thad Beshears; Co-Owner & COO, Simpson Nurseries
Dr. Andy Borom; Orthopedic Surgeon, Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic
Tarren Bragdon; President & CEO, Foundation for Government Accountability
Former state Rep. Jason Brodeur; former Chairman, Florida House of Representatives Health and Human Services Committee
Audrey Brown; President & CEO, Florida Association of Health Plans
Nancy Bryan; President & CEO, BioFlorida
Ricky Caplin; CEO, HCI Group
Dr. Christopher Card; Chief of Community-Based Care, Eckerd Connects
Glen Casel; CEO, Community Based Care of Central Florida
Glen Feingold; Executive Vice President & COO, MCNA Dental
Aurelio Fernandez; President & CEO, Memorial Healthcare System
Dr. Edward Fidalgo; OB/GYN, South Miami Hospital and Mercy Hospital
Former state Sen. Rene Garcia; Executive Vice President, New Century Partnership
Dr. Vikram Gopal; Physician, Borland Groover
Jim Hill; President, Florida Juvenile Justice Association
Nelson Hincapie; President & CEO, Voices for Children Foundation
Roy H. Hinman II, M.D., Colonel, US Army (Ret.)
Scott Howell; Vice President of Internal & External Affairs, Florida Coalition Against Domestic Violence
Roslind Hudson; Divisional Vice President, Behavioral Health Division, Universal Health Services
Chris Jacobs; Founder & CEO, Juniper Research Group
Edward Jimenez; CEO, University of Florida Health Shands
Dr. Steven Johnson; President & CEO, Health First
Kurt Kelly; CEO, Florida Coalition for Children
Dr. David Kenigsberg; President, Broward County Medical Association
Dr. Narendra Kini; CEO, Nicklaus Children’s Health System
Nicole de Lara Puente; CEO, Live Like Bella Childhood Cancer Foundation
Dr. Ken Lawson; Owner & Optometrist, Bayshore Eye Care
Ben Leon; CEO, Leon Medical Centers
Rebecca Matthews; CEO, Florida Healthy Kids
David R. Maymon; Founder, Advocate Home Care
Graci McGillicuddy; Chair, Board of Directors, All Star Children’s Foundation
Carlos Migoya; President & CEO, Jackson Health System
Joseph Mitchell; CEO, Summit Care and Member, American Health Care Association Board of Governors
Joe Mullany; Regional President & CEO, Bayfront Health
Deb Oberman; Vice President Public Affairs, Humana
Dr. Eduardo Otero; Regional Vice President, South Region, Florida Market, MEDNAX Pediatrix Medical Group
Dr. Jason Pirozzolo; Director of Sports Medicine and Trauma, Orlando Hand Surgery Associates
Dr. Jim Rubenstein; Co-Founder & Radiation Oncologist, 21st Century Oncology
Suzanne Sewell; President & CEO, Florida Association of Rehabilitation Facilities
Dr. David Shapiro; Board Member, Florida Society of Ambulatory Surgery Centers
Andrew Smith; Senior Vice President of External Affairs, Surterra Wellness
Tim Stapleton; CEO, Florida Medical Association
Roger Stevens; CEO, Westminster Communities of Florida
Mary Lynn Edwards Ulrey; CEO, DACCO Behavioral Health
Karen Unger, former Chief of Staff at AHCA
Mike Watkins; CEO, Big Bend Community Based Care
Dr. Zach Zachariah; President, Fort Lauderdale Heart Institute
2 comments
Susan Tabler
December 7, 2018 at 11:32 pm
Your vision says nothing. Floridians need details NOW. The low income, disabled and seniors are expecting quality without fear of losing care due to pre existing conditions. My brother is disabled and Medicaid is not providing help for 2 surgeries.
George A Rozes Jr
December 8, 2018 at 7:01 pm
Not a single nurse or nurse leader or nursing school president. As if they are totally unimportant or irrelevant even though they are the best patient advocates. Once again, by and for doctors, hospitals, and insurance companies.
Comments are closed.