(HARTFORD, CT) – The state’s Health Care Cabinet has appointed 21 community leaders from diverse backgrounds to serve on the Connecticut AHEAD Advisory Committee. The Health Care Cabinet advises the Governor’s office and Office of Health Strategy (OHS) on health reform implementation and other health policy initiatives.
The Connecticut AHEAD (States Advancing All-Payer Health Equity Approaches and Development) initiative is a federally funded total cost of care model, administered by OHS and the Department of Social Services (DSS). The model is designed to improve population health, reduce disparities in health outcomes and slow healthcare-cost growth.
The Connecticut AHEAD Advisory Committee will play a pivotal role in developing a statewide health equity plan. “We received more than 40 nominations representing a wide range of stakeholders,” said Deidre Gifford, MD, MPH, Commissioner, OHS. “The interest in the Connecticut AHEAD model from community-based organizations, healthcare payers, consumers, primary care practices, hospitals and other key partners has been encouraging as we move through the first year of planning.”
Members of the Connecticut AHEAD Advisory Committee will provide input on the selection of statewide population health and quality measures, as well as develop equity targets for the statewide health equity plan. Members will work with Connecticut AHEAD team to produce annual progress reports, review equity plans developed by hospitals participating in the program and provide guidance on activities and investments.
“We are grateful that these individuals have agreed to share their expertise, experience and dedication to improving health outcomes and health equity with this committee and with the Connecticut AHEAD team,” said Andrea Barton-Reeves, JD, Commissioner, DSS. The committee will begin its work in January 2025.
Members appointed include:
- Tanya Barrett, Senior Vice President, 211 CT’s Health and Human Services, a division of the United Way of Connecticut
- Patrick Charmel, President and Chief Executive Officer, Griffin Health
- Alan Coker, Consumer
- Lori Fedewa, Director, Office of Rural Health
- Susan Halpin, Co-principal, CT Association of Health Plans
- Tricia Hasselman, Senior Vice President of Contracting and Payer Solutions, Hartford Healthcare
- Dan Keenan, Regional Vice President of Advocacy and Government Relations, Trinity Health
- Rajlakshmi Krishnamurthy, MD, Chief Population Health Officer, Yale New Haven Health and Yale Medicine
- Arielle Levin Becker, Chief of Staff and Communications, Connecticut Health Foundation
- Robert McLean, MD, Medical Director, Northeast Medical Group
- Kally Moquete, Senior Manager of Policy, Health Equity Solutions
- David Morgan, Chief Executive Officer, TEAM Inc.
- Christina Mukon, DNP, CT APRN Association
- Adriana Rojas, Community Health Worker Project Manager, Community Health Center, Inc.
- Michele Scott, Tribal Councilor, Mashantucket Pequot Tribal Nation
- Gary Steck, LMFT, Chief Executive Officer, Wellmore Behavioral Health
- Michael Taylor, Chief Executive Officer, Cornell Scott-Hill Health Center
- Stephen Traub, MD, President, ProHealth Physicians
- Lisa Trumble, President and Chief Executive Officer, SoNE HEALTH
- Lisa Weingard-Roland, Consumer/advocate
- Deremius Williams, Senior Vice President Payer Strategy and Innovation, Yale New Haven Health
Connecticut AHEAD is supported by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) as part of a financial assistance award totaling $12 million with 100 percent funded by CMS/HHS. The contents are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily represent the official views of, nor an endorsement, by CMS/HHS, or the U.S. Government.