Medford-based Network Health names Jennifer Forster as director of public partnerships

Network Health Appoints Director of Public Partnerships
Health plan promotes regulatory affairs manager to crucial leadership role

MEDFORD, Mass. — Network Health, a Massachusetts health plan that provides access to high-quality health care for more than 215,000 Massachusetts residents with low and moderate incomes, announced today that it has promoted Beverly, Mass., resident Jennifer Forster to director of public partnerships. Forster previously served as Network Health regulatory affairs manager.

Forster will play a critical leadership role at Network Health, overseeing all of the health plan’s contract relationships with state and federal agencies. She will also serve as the primary resource for company-wide education and training around contracts and regulatory requirements. Additionally, Forster will be responsible for maintaining regulatory compliance in conjunction with the health plan’s compliance officer.

“Jennifer’s stellar leadership, interpersonal, and project management skills make her a natural fit for this new role,” said Christina Severin, Network Health president. “She has shown tremendous dedication to Network Health over the past seven years and is an incredibly valuable member of the leadership team.”

Forster joined Network Health in 2005 as a project manager in government relations and business development. During her time in this position, she repeatedly demonstrated her organizational skills and versatility through the planning, coordinating, tracking, and implementation of department projects while supporting compliance with state and federal requirements. Forster was recognized for her dedication and accomplishments and promoted to program manager in 2007, manager of government relations in 2008, and regulatory affairs manager in 2011.

Prior to joining Network Health, Forster served as the fundraising account manager at the United Way of Massachusetts Bay in Peabody, Mass.; mentoring program coordinator at The Whitman School of Management at Syracuse University in Syracuse, N.Y.; and assistant/community worker at YWCA of Sydney Big Sister, Big Brother in Sydney, Australia.

Forster received a master’s degree in public administration from Syracuse University’s Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs and a bachelor’s degree in marketing also from Syracuse University.

(more)

About Network Health
Since 1997, Network Health has provided access to high-quality health care for Massachusetts residents with low and moderate incomes. Network Health is a nonprofit, comprehensive health plan serving members through Network Health Together^® (MassHealth), Network Health Forward^® (Commonwealth Care), Network Health Extend^™ (Medical Security Program), and Network Health Choice (individual and small-group plan).

To improve the health and wellness of its more than 215,000 members and the diverse communities it serves, Network Health offers fully integrated, in-house care management, providing a team of medical, behavioral health, social care, and pharmacy professionals who coordinate member care. Network Health partners with more than 20,000 primary care providers, specialists, hospitals, and community organizations statewide.

Network Health earned the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s (NCQA) “Excellent” Health Plan Accreditation status, NCQA’s highest accreditation rating, for its Network Health Together plan. In 2012, Network Health was the third highest-ranking Medicaid health plan in the United States according to NCQA’s Health Insurance Plan Rankings — Medicaid, and has ranked among the top 10 Medicaid plans since 2010. Network Health is among 10 health plans nationally and the first health plan in New England to earn the NCQA Multicultural Health Care Distinction. Additionally, Network Health is nationally recognized for its innovative programs; it won the Dorland Health Case In Point Platinum Award for “Best Integrated Case Management Team” in 2012 and “Best Overall Case/Care Management Program” in 2010. Network Health is also recognized for its top leadership team among health plans nationwide by HealthLeaders Media.

Network Health became a subsidiary of Tufts Health Plan in 2011. Tufts Health Plan is a nonprofit organization nationally recognized for its commitment to providing innovative, high-quality health care coverage to its more than 999,000 members. For 2012 – 2013, its HMO and POS programs are ranked second in the nation according to NCQA’s Health Insurance Plan Rankings — Private, and its Medicare Preferred HMO received a 4.5 star rating from the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for 2013. With headquarters in Massachusetts, Tufts Health Plan also serves members in Rhode Island. For more information visit www.tuftshealthplan.com.

For more information about Network Health, call 888-257-1985 or visit
www.Network-Health.org. Follow Network Health on Facebook and @_NetworkHealth on Twitter.

To learn about their health plan options, Massachusetts residents can call Commonwealth Care at

877-623-6765 (TTY: 877-623-7773), Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or visit www.mahealthconnector.org; call MassHealth at 800-841-2900 (TTY: 800-497-4648), Monday through Friday, from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., or visit www.mass.gov/masshealth; or call the Medical Security Program at 800-908-8801, Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or visit www.mass.gov/dua/msp.