Client News: Inova Health System CIO, Geoff Brown, selected for Governor's VA Health Reform Advisory Council

Source: Office of the Governor Robert F. McDonnell

Pictured on left: Geoff Brown, SVP and CIO of Inova Health System.

Governor Bob McDonnell Announces Members of the Virginia Health Reform Initiative Advisory Council

Governor Bob McDonnell today announced the members of his Virginia Health Reform Initiative Advisory Council. This Council will provide recommendations to the Governor towards a comprehensive strategy for implementing health reform in Virginia. The Advisory Council will go beyond federal health reform and recommend other innovative healthcare solutions that meet the needs of Virginia's citizens and government. The Advisory Council's recommendations for addressing health care access, cost and delivery in Virginia may serve as a model for other states. The recommendations of the Council will help create an improved health system that is an economic driver for Virginia while allowing for more effective and efficient delivery of high quality health care at lower cost.

Speaking about the Council's composition, Governor McDonnell remarked, "Every Virginian needs access to affordable health care. The challenge is how to provide that access in an economically responsible manner. This group of leaders will help us plan for the future of healthcare in Virginia, and the growing costs that will have a significant impact on our budget and our taxpayers unless we act proactively and wisely today. The tremendous rate of growth in Medicaid spending in Virginia, which is only going to increase due to federal health care reform, is unsustainable. I look forward to their recommendations and work in the months ahead."

Secretary of Health and Human Resources Dr. Bill Hazel remarked, "We have assembled a dynamic group of leaders from the legislature, health care delivery, health care policy, health insurance, and the business community that will help shape the future of healthcare in Virginia. I am grateful for their time, expertise, and commitment to the task of ensuring a safe, effective, and quality healthcare delivery system while reducing costs."

The Advisory Council will establish task forces in six key areas: Medicaid Reform, Insurance Market Reform, Delivery and Payment Reform, Capacity, Technology, and Purchasers Perspective. In June, Governor McDonnell appointed Cindi Jones as the Director of the Virginia Health Reform Initiative; Jones is one of the nation's first state officials dedicated to health care reform. Additional healthcare stakeholders and business representatives will be asked to serve on these critical task forces. The Advisory Council will hold its initial meeting on August 20 and August 21, 2010 in Roanoke, Virginia.

Members of the Virginia Health Reform Initiative Council

Chair: Dr. Bill Hazel, Secretary of Health and Human Resources

Council Members:

Cindi B. Jones, Director, Virginia Health Reform Initiative (ex-officio)
W. Scott Burnette, President, and Chief Executive Officer, Community Memorial Health Center
Geoff Brown, Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer, INOVA Health System
Jim Carlson, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, Amerigroup
Honorable Ben L. Cline, Member, Virginia House of Delegates
Monty Dise, President, Asset Protection Group, Inc.
William H. Fralin, Jr., Chief Executive Officer and President, Medical Facilities of America
Shirley Gibson, RN, Interim Vice President of Nursing Operations, VCU Health System
Chuck Hall, Executive Director, Hampton/Newport News Community Services Board
Richard M. Hamrick, III, MD, Physician and Partner, Pulmonary Associates of Richmond
Honorable Patrick A. Hope, Member, Virginia House of Delegates
Steve Horan, President, Community Health Solutions
Honorable R. Edward Houck, Member, Virginia State Senate
Clarion E. Johnson, M.D., Global Medical Director, Medicine and Occupational Health Department, Exxon Mobil Corporation
W. Scott Johnson, Hancock, Daniel, Johnson & Nagle, P.C
Honorable S. Chris Jones, Member, Virginia House of Delegates
C. Burke King, President, Virginia Market, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Jane Kusiak, Executive Director, Council on Virginia's Future
John A. Luke, Jr., Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, MWV MeadWestVaco
Elizabeth Teisberg, Ph.D., Darden Graduate School of Business, University of Virginia
Dixie Tooke-Rawlins, D.O., Dean and Executive Vice President, Edward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine (VCOM)
Honorable William C. Wampler, Jr., Member, Virginia State Senate
Joe R. Wilson, Chief Operating Officer, PermaTreat Pest Control