Allyson Schwartz to Lead Medicare Advantage Coalition
The Better Medicare Alliance today announced the appointment of Allyson Y. Schwartz as President and Chief Executive Officer. Schwartz, who represented eastern Pennsylvania in Congress from 2005-2015, has deep health care experience from both the public and private sectors.
Contact: Bill Pierce
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WASHINGTON – The Better Medicare Alliance today announced the appointment of Allyson Y. Schwartz as President and Chief Executive Officer.
Schwartz, who represented eastern Pennsylvania in Congress from 2005-2015, has deep health care experience from both the public and private sectors.
In a video announcing her new role, Schwartz said “While I worked on many issues in Congress nothing was more important to me than ensuring quality, affordable, accessible health care to all Americans, particularly our seniors.”
Formed in December 2014, the Better Medicare Alliance is a coalition of health plans, providers, advocates and beneficiaries who have come together to support and strengthen Medicare Advantage. Veteran health policy strategist Krista Drobac led the group as interim executive director while a search was conducted for long-term leadership.
“We are thrilled to welcome Allyson Schwartz as the leader of our growing coalition,” said Drobac.
While in Congress, Schwartz was noted for her leadership on a wide range of health care issues, her passionate advocacy for seniors, and her bipartisan approach. She was appointed to the powerful Ways and Means Committee in her second term, served as a senior member of the Budget Committee and chaired the House New Democrat Taskforce on Health. In these capacities, she was a strong voice for Medicare, a leader on physician payment reform, and an advocate for health information technology.
“Allyson Schwartz and I worked together on important issues in the U.S. House of Representatives. She is knowledgeable, insightful and fair. A veteran health policy advocate, her experience will be an asset to the Better Medicare Alliance. I congratulate her and wish her the best of luck in this new role,” said U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy, M.D. (R-LA).
“Allyson Schwartz brings a commitment to Medicare and a record of leadership on health care financing and delivery that improves quality and value. As President and CEO of the Better Medicare Alliance, she brings strong leadership and talent to continue building the coalition to support Medicare for the long term,” said Representative Ron Kind (D-WI), chair of the House New Democrat Coalition.
Also known as Medicare Part C, Medicare Advantage provides comprehensive health care coverage to more than 17 million Medicare beneficiaries. Medicare Advantage plans focus on prevention, coordinated care, better management of chronic conditions, and new provider payment models that reward value over volume. As a result of these innovations, Medicare Advantage is enhancing seniors’ health and well-being, while driving systemic improvements in care delivery.
“Nearly one third of those on Medicare have chosen Medicare Advantage plans. They value the enhanced benefits, the affordability and the simplicity,” Schwartz said.
Schwartz served 14 years in the Pennsylvania State Senate before being elected to Congress in 2004. Prior to entering public service she worked as a health service executive. “Allyson Schwartz’s deep knowledge of health policy will be a great asset as we seek to build on the success of Medicare Advantage in improving health outcomes for seniors,” said Christobel Selecky, MA, chair of the Population Health Alliance, a member of the Better Medicare Alliance.
“The Latino Coalition congratulates newly appointed President and CEO Allyson Schwartz. We look forward to working with her as we continue to support Medicare which is an important part of the health and well-being of the Latino community and all seniors,” said Allen Gutierrez, national executive director of the Latino Coalition, a member of the Better Medicare Alliance.
Schwartz is a Distinguished Policy Fellow at the University of Pennsylvania’s Leonard Davis Institute of Health Economics, Visiting Fellow at the Penn Wharton Public Policy Initiative, Senior Fellow for Health Policy at the Center for American Progress and Co-Chair of the Bipartisan Policy Center Health and Housing Task Force.
“I look forward to reaching out to everyone who cares about keeping the promise of Medicare to our nation’s seniors,” said Schwartz.
About the Better Medicare Alliance
The Better Medicare Alliance (BMA) is a new coalition of health plans, providers, advocates and beneficiaries who have come together to support and strengthen Medicare Advantage. To learn more, please visit www.bettermedicarealliance.org.