The California HealthCare Foundation is pleased to announce the appointment of Sandra Shewry as director of state health policy.
Shewry will oversee the work of the foundation's Sacramento State Health Policy Office as California addresses myriad health care issues, from implementation of the federal Affordable Care Act (ACA) to the financing, regulation, and policy framework that supports a broad range of health care programs and services. This will include supporting the work of policymakers and state agencies and departments through research and analysis, technical support, policy briefings, and other similar activities. It will also involve engaging and convening stakeholders, foundation partners, and grantees in efforts to advance CHCF's mission.
Shewry is currently the president and CEO of the Center for Connected Health Policy, which encourages the broad adoption of telehealth applications and technology in California. She has also recently served as an adviser on health reform implementation for the California Health & Human Services Agency. In that role she developed an administration-wide road map for executive branch implementation of the ACA.
"I am delighted to be joining an organization with a strong commitment to supporting better health care for all Californians," Shewry said. "I have long admired CHCF's track record of engagement, collaboration, and partnership in the policy arena and am looking forward to being a member of the team."
Shewry comes to the foundation after a distinguished career of government service, including a tenure as the director of the California Department of Health Care Services — where she had policy and budgetary responsibility for Medi-Cal, Children's Services, health facility licensure, and the financing of indigent care, among other duties — as well as senior positions with the National Governors Association and California's Managed Risk Medical Insurance Board.
"Sandra's broad knowledge of California's heath care system and her previous senior leadership experience within three different administrations make her uniquely qualified to lead the foundation's state health policy work," says Mark D. Smith, MD, MBA, CHCF president and CEO.
Shewry will join CHCF in early September.