CalPERS Health Benefits Program Gets New Leader
A former official at the Department of Health Services on Thursday will take charge of the CalPERS health benefits program, the Sacramento Bee reports. CalPERS is the third-largest purchaser of health care in the U.S.
Gregory Franklin will serve as assistant executive officer at CalPERS and will negotiate health plan rates and benefits for 1.2 million public workers, retirees and dependents. Franklin also will provide guidance to the governing board on health care issues.
Franklin was a deputy director at DHS, where he headed the health information and strategic planning division. In 2001, he helped develop the basis for Medi-Cal's managed care program. Medi-Cal is California's Medicaid program (Chan, Sacramento Bee, 2/15).