DES MOINES, Iowa--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Amerigroup Iowa today announced Cynthia MacDonald has been named health plan president, effective immediately. MacDonald joins Jeff Jones, chief operating officer and Mark Levy, MD, Medical Director on the Amerigroup Iowa leadership team. The leadership team will be based at the company’s office in West Des Moines, and collectively brings more than 30 years of consumer-focused managed care experience to Iowa.
MacDonald is a 26-year industry veteran and most recently served as vice president in the government programs division for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. In 2014, she was asked to join the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS), serving as the Deputy Center and Operations Director. In this role, MacDonald provided executive leadership and was responsible for oversight, evaluation and assistance to state based insurance exchanges. Earlier in her career, MacDonald was the manager of managed care negotiations and contracting section for the Minnesota Department of Human Services. In this role, MacDonald developed one of the nation’s first Section 1115 Medicaid Waiver managed care contracting processes for the State’s purchase of health care services for recipients of Medicaid, General Assistance Medical Care, MinnesotaCare and Minnesota Senior Health Options. She has also worked in county government and served as a state Medicare and Medicaid advocate on behalf of the elderly population in Minnesota. MacDonald holds a J.D. from the William Mitchell College of Law in St. Paul, Minn., and a B.A. in Human Services Administration from The George Washington University in Washington, D.C.
“Cynthia’s deep experience in managed care, both at the state and federal levels, rounds out our highly experienced and dedicated Iowa leadership team,” said Dr. Tunde Sotunde, president of North Region Medicaid operations, Amerigroup. “Cynthia and the entire leadership team are well positioned to successfully meet the needs of Iowans, our provider and community service partners and the State. We are looking forward to helping improve health outcomes for our new consumers.”
The Iowa Department of Human Services (DHS) estimates 560,000 Iowans are eligible for managed care services. Amerigroup Iowa is one of the plans available through IA Health Link, and will participate in the Iowa High Quality Health initiative beginning Jan. 1, 2016. The program will enroll the majority of the Iowa Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) populations and will also provide services for individuals qualifying for Iowa Department of Public Health (IDPH) funded substance abuse services; Long Term Services and Supports for seniors and persons with disabilities; and individuals with intellectual or developmental disabilities.
"I’m extremely proud to be part of this historic initiative that will provide improved access to high quality health care for 560,000 Iowans," said MacDonald. "We are prepared to begin serving the state of Iowa, and I’m looking forward to working closely with our constituents across the state – especially our consumers."