LT. GOV. WYMAN ANNOUNCES NEW DIRECTOR

OF HEALTHCARE INNOVATION

Mark Schaefer, PhD, to Direct Connecticut's State Innovation Model Initiative

Lieutenant Governor Nancy Wyman announced today that effective January 1, 2014, Mark Schaefer, PhD, will be the Director of Healthcare Innovation, leading Connecticut's State Innovation Model Initiative, (SIM), a broad stakeholder effort under the Affordable Care Act to transform healthcare delivery and health for Connecticut's residents within the next five years.

Dr. Schaefer will lead the project management office (PMO) of the SIM from within the Office of the Healthcare Advocate, assuming day to day management of activities to implement the State Innovation Plan, published at www.healthreform.ct.gov . Initiatives range from primary care practice transformation to workforce initiatives, community health improvement, consumer empowerment and the establishment and charge of four key task forces and councils. The state will compete for funding of up to $45 million to implement some of the activities outlined in the Innovation Plan.

Lt. Governor Wyman said, "I am confident that Dr. Schaefer has the expertise to lead the state forward on much needed transformation of our healthcare system. He has developed many of our most successful healthcare efforts during his career at the Department of Social Services, including the Connecticut Behavioral Health Partnership, the Integrated Care Initiative and health neighborhood shared savings model to improve care and reduce costs for Medicare/Medicaid eligibles , the Rewards to Quit program, the Person Centered Medical Home initiative and the selection of the Medicaid administrative services organization."

Dr. Schaefer was nationally recognized as a Medicaid Director and selected for the Medicaid Leadership Institute. Dr. Schafer recently designed and implemented the UConn Medicaid Partnership to improve Medicaid administration.

State Healthcare Advocate Victoria Veltri said, "Dr. Schaefer has already assumed many of the activities of the SIM. I look forward to handing over the directorship of this critical initiative into his very capable hands and returning to my primary responsibilities as Healthcare Advocate. Mark has the drive and skills to make Connecticut a leading state in the SIM. I am proud to host him and the PMO within OHA. "