Media Contact:
Health Plan of San Joaquin
David Hurst, Director of Marketing
(209) 461-2241
dhurst@hpsj.com

SAN JOAQUIN COUNTY HEALTH COMMISSION SELECTS NEW CEO FOR HEALTH PLAN OF SAN JOAQUIN

Stockton, CA, November 29, 2004 - The San Joaquin County Health Commission has announced the appointment of John Hackworth, PhD, as the new chief executive officer of Health Plan of San Joaquin. The Commission unanimously approved his appointment at its meeting on November 17th. He will begin working with the Health Plan in January 2005.

Hackworth is an experienced healthcare professional, with over 27 years of increasing responsibility in managed care administration, physician and hospital operations, and healthcare consulting.

“We're very fortunate to have retained an individual with John's background and experience operating health and insurance plans. He brings a wealth of knowledge that will be immediately helpful, his references are outstanding, and he has been enormously successful in his previous positions,” said Ken Cohen, Chair of the San Joaquin County Health Commission. “The Board and staff are looking forward to his beginning employment and being able to rely on his leadership.”

In his new role, Hackworth will be responsible for the strategic development of the Health Plan, including expansion of its Medi-Cal, Healthy Families and third party administration programs. He will also be responsible for fostering and deepening relationships with providers, state regulatory agencies and community stakeholders. As CEO, he will lead the senior management staff at the Health Plan in all operational areas, including finance, medical management, marketing, information systems and human resources. He will also direct the Health Plan’s team in researching and developing new business opportunities.

“Health Plan of San Joaquin has a history of emphasizing quality, customer and provider relations and community health improvement,” said Hackworth. “I look forward to working with the Health Commission and the leadership of the Health Plan in developing its strategic focus and building upon the foundation that has been solidly established.”

Dr. Hackworth has a combined degree in health administration and medicine and served on the graduate faculty at Indiana University in the Department of Applied Health Science. During the 27 years following his academic career, he has been CEO of two managed care companies (Medicaid and Commercial), employer healthcare benefits and hospital consultant, CEO of a physician practice management company, and Vice President of an ambulatory surgical company. He has served on the Boards of Directors of two national professional associations and is a speaker at national and regional conferences.

About Health Plan of San Joaquin (HPSJ).

HPSJ, a public agency initiated by San Joaquin County, began offering managed health care services to San Joaquin County Medi-Cal recipients in February 1996. The Health Plan currently serves approximately 56,000 members through its Medi-Cal program, approximately 8,200 children as San Joaquin County’s Community Provider Plan in the State’s Healthy Families Program, and 1,400 children through its Healthy Kids Program for children without public or private coverage. The Health Plan also acts as the third party administrator to San Joaquin County’s own employee health plan. For more information, call 1-888-936-PLAN (7526) or visit www.hpsj.com.

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