Howard A. Kahn, the chief executive officer of L.A. Care Health Plan, announced to his Board of Governors this week that he intends to step down in January of next year after 13 years at the helm of the organization.
In announcing his plan to leave, he told the Board that it was time to do something different. During his tenure, Kahn oversaw the growth of L.A. Care from 700,000 members to 1.6 million, and revenues that climbed four-fold.
L.A. Care is a leader among Medicaid (Medi-Cal) health plans, with the largest membership in the United States. The organization has played a major role in health care reform and led the way in the installation of electronic medical records and support of the safety net. Most recently, L.A. Care expanded to serve the state marketplace, increased number of Medi-Cal recipients, and the members eligible for both Medicare and Medi-Cal (dual eligibles).
In announcing his departure, Kahn said that it was timed to see L.A. Care through the rapid expansion and related opportunities and challenges brought by Obamacare.
“As I have thought about this during the past couple of years,” he said, “it was clear that our Board preferred that I stay through the end of 2014, following a half billion dollar annual growth each of the past four years.” He continued, “Most importantly, L.A. Care has demonstrated that a public plan can successfully compete with private health plans while significantly supporting the safety net and ensuring that those most in need are cared for with respect. This has been the greatest work one could hope for.”
The Chair of the Board of Governors of L.A. Care, Dr. Thomas Horowitz, expressed gratitude for Kahn’s steady leadership through dynamic times. “Over the past several years, L.A. Care has been asked to take on an increasing number of fragile and medically needy individuals, and has experienced dramatic growth in staffing to serve them. Throughout these challenging transitions, Howard has demonstrated superb leadership and administrative oversight. We are lucky to have had someone of his caliber steering this ship through such turbulent waters. I know that he will be missed by the Board and staff alike, but that his influence and impact will live on at L.A. Care.”
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