40 of the Most Powerful People in Health Care: Part 3

Since passing the Accountable Care Act in 2010, health care has become a major sticking point in the minds of millions of Americans. With the changes that have already been implemented and the upcoming changes expected in 2013, more attention is being placed on health care and who is instrumental in its successes and failures.

On January 5, Becker’s Orthopedic & Spine author Rachel Fields posted a list, “40 of the Most Powerful People in Healthcare.”

Here are the next 10 (be on the lookout for the remaining 10 to be posted):

Steven H. Lipstein, President and CEO, BJC Healthcare

Steven Lipstein oversees one of the nation's largest health care organizations, with annual net revenues of $3.5 billion and more than 26,000 employees. During his tenure with BJC, Mr. Lipstein has positioned the health care system for the future through the creation of the Center for Advanced Medicine and Alvin J. Siteman Cancer Center. Mr. Lipstein is also one of 21 board members to lead the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute, a federal non-profit organization established by the health care reform law in 2010. PCORI conducts comparative effectiveness research to provide quality, evidence-based findings on how diseases and health conditions can be effectively prevented, diagnosed, treated and managed appropriately.

Kevin E. Lofton, President and CEO, Catholic Health Initiatives

According to Mr. Lofton, CHI is developing accountable care organization pilots in four markets and will invest $1.5 billion in EHRs and other IT systems from 2010-2015 to enhance quality of care. The hospital system is in the midst of a potential merger that would put Jewish Hospital & St. Mary's Healthcare and University Hospital in Louisville under the control of Catholic Health Initiatives by merging the hospitals with St. Joseph Health System of Lexington. The merger has met with controversy because the hospitals have agreed to follow Catholic health care directives, including not providing sterilization and birth control. The company also recently acquired therapy services from Applied Medical, a large independent physical and occupational practice in North Dakota.

Farzad Mostashari, MD, ScM, National Coordinator for HIT, Office of the National Coordinator for HIT at the HHS

Farzad Mostashari joined ONC in July 2009 and was appointed National Coordinator on April 8, 2011, succeeding David Blumenthal, MD. Dr. Mostashari recently said he supports a delay of stage 2 of meaningful use, per the suggestions of the Health IT Policy Committee. He said delaying stage 2 of meaningful use to 2014 may encourage providers to attest to meaningful use this year, but those who have already attested should still be rewarded. The Office of the National Coordinator plans to release proposed rules for meaningful use of EHRs by the end of 2011 or early 2012 and will complete the rules in the summer of 2012.

Gary D. Newsome, President and CEO, Health Management Associates

Health Management Associates is a for-profit company that mainly operates hospitals and other health care facilities in the southern United States. Despite inclusion of several HMA hospitals on a recent Joint Commission list of the 405 "best" hospitals in the country, shares of the hospital operator fell 34 percent between late July and mid-September. Analysts believe stock prices may have fallen over concerns about the weak economy and possibly cuts to Medicare payments, which could come as a result of a deficit-reduction plan.

John H. Noseworthy, MD, President and CEO, Mayo ClinicAmong other projects, the Mayo Clinic has recently made progress toward the launch of a Center for the Science of Health Care Delivery, which will identify the most efficient best practices in the diagnosis, treatment and care of patients by analyzing data and conducting research into new care delivery systems. Mayo Clinic believes this kind of research is essential as state and federal policymakers continue to struggle with the nuances of health care reform. Dr. Noseworthy also recently announced Mayo Clinic's involvement in an initiative to create global smoke-free workplaces.

President Barack ObamaPresident Obama's 2010 passage of health care reform continues to make waves in the health care community, with some lawmakers pushing implementation of regulations such as health insurance exchanges, and others fighting the Affordable Care Act in court. According to surveys released by Gallup and the National Center for Health Statistics in Sept. 2011, President Obama's health care overhaul has proven effective in reducing the number of young adults without health insurance. One survey estimated that the number of uninsured people ages 19-25 dropped from 10 million in 2010 to 9.1 million in the first three months of 2011.

Thomas M. Priselac, President and CEO, Cedars-Sinai Health SystemThe Cedars-Sinai Health system is one of the nation's leading providers of health care services, providing physician services through the Cedars-Sinai Medical Care Foundation, a full-time academic faculty and an active private attending staff. With annual revenues over $1.7 billion, Cedars-Sinai Medical Center is the largest private hospital in the western United States. In addition to his work with Cedars-Sinai, Mr. Priselac serves as chairman of the American Hospital Association Board of Trustees and is past chair of the Association of American Medical Colleges.

Kenneth E. Raske, President, Greater New York Hospital Association

An expert on health care policy and finance, he has played a key role in shaping the New York and national health care delivery system and has been instrumental in growing GNYHA to the nearly 250 hospitals that it represents. Over the past several years, GNYHA has played a critical role at the state level, opposing health care funding cutbacks and advocating for the passage of legislation that would help protect funding for teaching hospitals and charity care programs. On the federal front, the association has been an advocate in the pushback against deep Medicare and Medicaid cuts, particularly to teaching hospitals. Under Mr. Raske's leadership, GNYHA has developed a portfolio of business subsidiaries called GNYHA Ventures, which includes Nexera, Innovatix and New Business Initiatives. GNYHA's advocacy efforts receive substantial financial support from these businesses, creating a valuable symbiotic relationship.

Ian Read, CEO, PfizerPfizer named Mr. Read CEO in December 2010, following the retirement of former CEO Jeffrey B. Kindler. Mr. Read was appointed the company's leader as Pfizer prepared to face generic competition from its top-selling cholesterol treatment Lipitor. Despite deep cuts to the company's $8 billion global research and development operations in February 2011, Pfizer has been expanding operations lately with acquisitions and property development. In September 2011, the company announced it would purchase biotech real estate in Cambridge, MA, to make room for 400 employees. The company has also considered a sale of its nutrition business, a spin-off of its animal health business and the establishment of a business that sells generic drugs for increased profit.

Mitt Romney, Former governor of Massachusetts, 2012 Republican presidential nomination candidate

In April 2006, Mr. Romney signed the Massachusetts health reform law, which requires nearly all Massachusetts residents to purchase health insurance coverage and has been heralded as the predecessor to federal health care reform. The bill also established means-tested state subsidies for those who do not have adequate employer insurance and make below an income threshold. Mr. Romney's involvement in the landmark Massachusetts legislation, which he agreed to after months of negotiations with a Democratic legislature, has been seen by Republicans as a "black mark" on his record, one that could make him unpopular with conservative voters who oppose the federal health care reform law. Like every other Republican candidate, Mr. Romney has said he would seek to repeal the Affordable Care Act and has said he would issue an executive order on the first day of his presidency that would grant every state a waiver from its enforcement of "Obamacare."

Part 1 (1-10) Part 2 (11-20) Part 3 (21-30) Part 4 (31-40)

Source:Fields, R. (January 5, 2012). 40 of the Most Powerful People in Healthcare. Becker's Orthopedic & Spine.