Power 50 Health Care
By Anonymous | |
Proquest LLC |
From hospital execs to insurance heads, government officials to thought leaders, NJBIZ rates them all, starting with
"I said, 'This sounds corny, but I really want to make a difference."' -
one
Family (and families) first
Jennifer Velezs(7)
BY
The framed preschool-era art projects and newspaper clippings on her wall are slightly tilted. She grabs the corner of one and straightens it, laughing as she laments the fact that her office is a bit of a mess.
The coffee table is a little dusty. The piles of paperwork on her desk are a mile high. Her outbox is empty. Her inbox is full of files. But when your job is to run
"We're always here. A lot of us are. We're here; we're available all the time," Velez said. "Inevitably, just from the institution perspective, something happens - I was going to say nearly every day but really every day - that I need to be aware of."
For the past sevenyears, Velez has been at the helm of Human Services, serving as commissioner through both Democratic and Republican administrations. That puts her in charge of an
And it's the reason she is in the No. 1 spot on the
The department has taken responsibility for seniors in recent years. The state is making a controversial push to close more state-run institutions, putting the focus on keeping the elderly and disabled in the community. And the Affordable Care Act has meant major shifts when it comes to
In short, the job is a huge responsibility - one Velez takes very seriously and one that still leaves her in a state of disbelief at just how far she's come.
When Velez was very young, her family depended on welfare and food stamps. Her mother had divorced her father and found herself suddenly a single mom with two mouths to feed. They didn't need the help forever, but for awhile, it was vital.
Her mother eventually remarried, and the newly minted family no longer needed public assistance. But things still weren't easy.Velez's teenage years were spent in a
Back then, all of that was motivation, for Velez to work hard and make for herself a better life. It wasn't until she joined the state
"I think that was probably an instructive part of my life," she said. "You just learn to grow up with no judgment about anybody and their circumstances."
When she graduated
Velez spent those years studying - she majored in economics - and working. She cleaned office buildings, worked at the mall, held a job in the student housing office. Fear was a real motivating factor: She was scared of not being able to finish college. And she was scared of what that might mean for her life in the real world.
When she did finish, she spent a disappointing year in the underwriting department of an insurance company before going on to
She didn't know what she wanted to do, but she knew she hadn't found it yet.
One Sunday, Velez picked up a copy of the Sunday Star-Ledger and read a profile on
The profile showed her a job that was all about working with people who needed help, people like Velez when she was just a girl in a
"I remember asking my husband, 'Who does that sound like?' And he said, 'It sounds like you,'" Velez recalled.
Velez made a few calls and landed an interview with
"He asked the obvious question, 'Why do you want to work in counsel's office?"' Velez said. "I didn't have a great answer because I had never really heard of the office. But I said, 'This sounds corny, but I really want to make a difference. And he said, 'That's perfect because that's why I came to
She got the job - and asked to be assigned to Human Services.
"One thing that stands out, she was just enormously committed to vulnerable people," said Castro, now a senior policy analyst with New Jersey Policy Perspective. "And that shows in what she does.
two
George E Norcross III (5)
He's the only person to make our power lists for real estate and health care (so of course he's on the overall Power 100, too) - and the only dispute about is where in the top five he belongs.
For all his interests (insurance, media, nonprofits and health care), one insider argues health care is the most important. "I loathe to think about what
With him, it's the strongest hospital system in
Cooper, with its association with MD Anderson for cancer treatment and its connection to Rowan for its medical school, is a hospital making a serious impact in the state.
"Cooper has the most outward impact of any hospital in the state - and it's not even close," one insider said.
Cooper's recent purchase of a 20 percent stake in AmeriHealth made another insider note how he is out in front of a trend of hospitals becoming insurance companies.
"You're starting to see blurring lines of payers and providers," the insider said.
For Norcross, it's just part of the game. "I call him the shadow governor," one insider said with a tone of respect. "Whether it's health care or commerce or politics, he's a bit of an emperor."
three
You know the CEOs of the large systems are going to grab top spots; which one goes first is the only surprise.
This year, it's Trunfio of
"He's just doing more, grabbing everything," said an insider. "With the acquisition of Chilton and
"That's a foundation to start doing things."
The group will give Trunfio a chance to change the face of how hospital groups are run, the insider said.
"(
"They are going to expect to fill out a form once and have it available at every hospital in the system. They are going to expect synergy, not be impressed by it. Joe has to deliver that, and he will."
four
He's the CEO of
For starters, Barnabas just announced it will launch its own health insurance plan in 2015 (partnering with a third-party provider) in an attempt to combine the providers and payers of coverage in a better way.
It's doing so, Ostrowsky will tell you, in an effort to implement ways to keep people healthy rather than wait to treat them when they're sick.
The willingness of Barnabas to take on the challenges of urban hospitals -
"That's not a top-line revenue play, but it's a political win as far as getting what you want," an insider said.
"Barry's vision is driving Barnabas," another insider said. "I'm eager to see where he is going to take it."
five
"
That's how one insider starts a conversation about the
"It's got everything: market share, name recognition, significant political connections. When you run Horizon, you are automatically running a company, the impact of which is not easily calculated."
So what the heck is he doing behind four other people?
Opinions on Marino can vary.
"Is it the person or the institution?" one insider questioned. "I understand Horizon's impact, but how much of that impact is Horizon and how much is Marino?"
Some say it's Horizon.
"I don't see Bob out and about," said another. "Do you ever see an editorial by the guy or see him speak on the issue? He has the potential for incredible power but doesn't use it. If you have that type of power, either use it or get rid of it"
Others say nonsense - his impact is huge every day in so many ways.
"Horizon is both a
'When you look at the major payers in hospitals, there's the federal government, the state government and Horizon. That's power. I'd put Horizon even with the governor in terms of the Obamacare rollout," the source said.
Size is everything: "Horizon's No. 1 asset is a book of business that cannot be ignored," said an insider. "You can't compete with that, so if you can't fight them, you might as well join them."
Defining power... or how we picked the List
It's the most frequently asked question when it comes to the
How do you define power?
Forgive us if we want to steal an old line from the bench: We know it when we see it. But if we had to pick a synonym, it would be impact.
Simply put, how do the decisions and actions of the individuals or their companies impact health care in the state? With that in mind, people involved in the biggest story involving health care (obviously this year it is the Affordable Care Act) will be ranked higher. It's the reason
Of course there's one more category that factors into our selections: potential impact.
We're always on the lookout for people trying new things and searching for new solutions - ideas that may have a huge impact in the future.
We hope that explains it. Of course we know if your favorite person didn't make the list, you won't agree with any of it. That's fine; it comes with the territory. Reach out to me, Editor
Be well,
six
Mary O'Dowdoe(1)
Last year's No. 1 slides down a bit, but don't think the role of the health commissioner is any less impactful.
How can she not be? She oversees an agency that has a staff of more than a thousand and a budget of more than
But her biggest impact will come in the fate of hospitals around the state.
"There's a massive shift in the health care landscape for hospitals, with forprofits coming in and going after failing hospitals," one insider said.
"Her impact is on regulating these hospitals; she's responsible for the oversight."
She should be busy, as the understood moratorium on such moves during the gubernatorial campaign is over.
Decisions need to be made, and her office will make them.
"The key challenge is the struggling hospitals," the source said. "What are they going to do with them, going from struggling to making a gazillion dollars on the backs of consumers? That's a tough thing to handle."
O'Dowd figures to be up to the task. She was a member of the NJBIZ 40 under 40 list and was No. 8 on the
seven
The CEO of Hackensack University Health Network is a no-brainer on the list - and it's not a matter of if he belongs in the top 10, but where.
"He's just one of the people you have to have and you have to have up high," said one insider with a comment everyone in the industry would second.
Hackensack's flagship hospital,
The large health network he leads -
Garrett is going after a cancer center designation from the
It's all part of his long-term mission of creating a health system in
eight
He is not a cabinet secretary, but as Christie's deputy chief of staff, his importance in the administration is on the same level.
"He's the behind-the-scenes guy," said one insider. "He deals with all the financial issues, especially on
"(The
And not just with the Affordable Care Act. Another insider said Goetting plays a big part in so many things.
His previous roles are a big key to his importance, says another.
"
That CFO experience is big in another area.
"He'll be deeply involved in discussions about the state's dispostion of debt," said an insider.
"He's a very credible adviser to the governor on health care," they said. "Everyone listens to what he has to say.
"He's very influential."
nine
"You can't have a list without
Meridian joined forces with Hackensack,
The purpose of the group is to share best clinical practices and drive more efficiencies of scale to the business side of medicine. Its impact has not been felt, as the group is figuring out what it has and what it can be.
That's what Lloyd does best, one insider said. You can find Lloyd deep in the weeds of health care reform, working from the inside out to transform the nation's broken health care system into one that works for both patients and providers.
"Garrett, Ostrowsky, Trunfio and Lloyd - they are sort of the big four in the state," said one insider. "You talk about the future of health care, those guys will have a lotto say about it."
ten
Some say the role of the for-profit hospitals will soon change: "Eventually people will realize their profits are coming at the expense of everyone, and they'll put a stop to it," one insider said.
Others say the for-profits in the state now are not a big deal: "We haven't had the big ones come to town yet. If the behemoth for-profits come in, these guys aren't going to make a difference. Some say they are waiting for the big ones to come so they can buy them out."
And of course, there are some not-so-nice descriptions of the forprofits: "I use this term advisedly, but these guys are bottom-feeders," said one. (Amazing what the promise of anonymity will bring out.)
That being said, for-profit hospitals are growing. And they are providing services in areas where others do not want to be or could not make it work. Critics should not forget that; the people of those cities certainly don't.
Of course all this means a for-profit company has to make our top 10. We'll go with the most successful: Garipalli's
"In terms of footprint, it's Vivek," said one insider. "They are big."
Another source said
"They are not reinvesting in the staff or the building," the insider said. "Why are we saving these hospitals by giving an inducement to forprofit hospitals by writing off some debt and then giving them some charity care money? Let them use their profits to pay for the charity care."
Previous top 10 lists
2013
10.
9.
8.
7.
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.
1.
2012
10.
9.
8.
7.
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.
1.
2011
10.
9.
8.
7.
6.
5.
4.
3.
2.
1.
eleven
The president and CEO of
"This is now a very impactful organization because of its intimate relationship with
Said another: "This is a very big Central Jersey power that doesn't get the attention other systems do. Is that a geographic slight or Steve being low-key? We're going to find out."
twelve
"Virtua is just a great system in the south," said one insider.
"Virtua is a
Of course being in the south means being in the land of
thirteen
Neii Sullivan (ib)
A last-minute job change - from being a key guy within DOBI to the new general counsel of the
"If you were to quiz the people in state government on what actually is in the ACA, he would score the highest," one insider that.
"He had an incredible amount of impact in what the state did or didn't do with the exchanges," the insider said.
Now he can take that knowledge to help turn around a struggling hospital.
fourteen
"He's going to be a big player now," said one. "He's bringing in a national (for-profit) model that works."
Others aren't so sure: "The business model they are using is based entirely on the way reimbursement is done," an insider said. "The state has to do a better job of what is allowed and what is exploitive.'
fifteen
The president and CEO of
"What she does for those kids is amazing," said one insider.
Another just gushed about her.
"Amy should be on everybody's list," they said. "She's not only a spectacular human being; she lives at the intersection of leadership, knowledge and energy. She is an up-and-comer."
That may be a bit off: Mansue already has made a mark in so many ways. She was in government (serving both governors Florio and McGreevey), and she was the CEO of a health care plan (the former HIP), making her the only hospital CEO in the state with those credentials.
Industry insiders call her a great thinker and a great friend: "She plays well with everybody, and that's not always easy to do," one said.
But for all her successes, people only want to see her do more.
"She's incredibly smart, but she has a limited role in the overall health care of the state where she's at now," one said. "She does a great job running that hospital, but when she's freed to do more, she'll be a superstar. She is potentially a top 10, but she's not going to be a top 10 where she's at."
sixteen
The average physician group in the state has fewer than three doctors. That's not the case at
"They are doing very creative leadership things in the medical world," said one insider. "The few other big groups are generally primary care. (Summit is) multispecialty, and that will give them increased power moving forward."
seventeen
He successfully oversaw the breakup of
Some say Barchi will leave someone else to run it; others aren't so sure. "He'll be very engaged because of his medical background," one insider said.
If he is, another said, his first task will be building a system that will make the next generation of doctors want to stay in
Now that would show power.
eighteen
As a director in the state
"
She's high on the list of behind-the-scenes people who get things done, another said: "It's a very difficult job to juggle, and she handles it weU."
nineteen
Sometimes you just let others do the talking. That's the case with the Democratic state senator:
"Of aU the legislators, he's clearly the top thinker in the state on health care," one insider said.
"Without a doubt, he's the most knowledgeable health care legislator," said another.
It's no wonder he's a regular on this Üst, landing in the top 10 in 2011.
"He's always in the mix on aU the issues because everyone knows to go to him," said another.
twenty
Insiders always insist that
"If we're talking about intelligence, knowledge of the industry and effectiveness in running an institution, John's at the top of the list," said one admirer.
"He can only do what George wants done, but he's got to get it done," the insider continued. "George has supplied the resources that have helped Cooper blossom with John."
Another said Sheridan doesn't get the credit he deserves, pointing out that Norcross' varied interests make it imperative to have a go-to guy at Cooper.
And Norcross wants a strong leader.
"Norcross doesn't blot out everyone that's beneath him," the insider said. "John has ability and ideas - or he wouldn't have had the shelf-life he's had with George."
Sheridan's personality, insiders say, is key.
"He is elegant," one industry veteran said. "He's a power player, but he's a good guy. He's very sharp."
And he understands he works for the biggest power broker in the state.
"John should be No. 1 on the list just for having to work under George," one said with a laugh - before double-checking that the conversation was all on background.
twenty-one
She's a strong leader with a bold personality - everyone tells you this right at the start.
Her leadership has made QualCare the leader in managing self-insured plans.
"QualCare has had great impact," an insider said.
So while the insurance industry is in a defining moment, no one questions Catino's staying power.
"She'll figure it out," said another. "She's one of the smartest people in the industry."
twenty-two
The CEO of Advocare was way ahead of his time, essentially creating the modern-day accountable care organization last century.
"He helped pioneer some of the group thought around organizing physcians and managing care," one insider said. "Some of the things he helped develop have become very important. From an impact standpoint, he's among the important people in the state."
twenty-three
The new chancellor of Rutgers Biomedical and Health Sciences is already being praised. "When we talk about potentially powerful forces in health care, you have to talk about
And if you're wondering when, relax - insiders say it's coming: "I think the first 18 months have been spent figuring out what they have. Once they do, then they'll take over the world," one source joked.
twenty-four
The
"His stock in trade is incredible intelligence and unbelievable experience," said one insider, seemingly without a hint of hyperbole. "I don't think there's a big deal in the state involving tax-exempt debt that he's not involved in."
twenty-five
As the executive director of the
"At the end of each (meeting's) agenda, they go into executive session and deal with the disposition of troubled hospitals," one insider said.
"Mark's got power. He's advising people on what to do. Mark and Steve are involved in the formation of what's going to happen with these hospitals."
twenty-six
He's the majority leader in the Assembly - and a true leader on health care issues. "He's afrequent talker and sponsor of health care legislation; he gets it," said one insider. "After
twenty-seven
She's the policy director at HPAE, a union of more than 12,000 nurses and health care workers. "She's a real clear thinker and out in front of a lot off issues," one insider said. "A lot of the hospitals that have charging problems, not surprisingly also have labor problems. The nurses have a strong voice with her."
twenty-eight
He's the only COO and CFO on the list, but one insider said the No. 2 man at Barnabas is a No. 1 talent. "To run a hospital, you have to comprehend a whole list of things. You're helping run a
twenty-nine
The CEO is making
thirty
The Brach Eichler partner is one of the most respected lawyers in health care, representing ambulatory surgery centers and doctors groups, among others. "He's a super lawyer," said one insider. "He's got a lot of clients and serves them well." Another added: "He's doctor-oriented... And he's not someone you want to go up against."
thirty-one
The director of the
Who fell off
thirty-two
He's the top consultant in the industry. "When it comes to certain things, no one is better," said an insider who uses him frequently. "Certificate of need issues, skilled nursing facilities, David is as good as it gets, flat out."
The only reason he isn't higher may be because he is so dependent on others for his success. "Unless there's a really impactful project to work on, his impact is limited. But when something comes up, there isn't anybody smarter."
thirty-three
The reasons why Conaway makes the list go far beyond the fact that he's a legislator - though he's probably the third most important legislator, one insider said. "He's a doctor, lawyer, legislator, pilot," the source said, realizing he's undoubtedly forgetting a few other titles.
"He's all over the place - and sometimes he has trouble getting out of his own way - but he's a resource. People go to him and respect what he has to say."
Some wish his smarts were being used at a different level. "If he was in the executive branch, he would have a lot more influence."
HHpHB
The AllSpire alliance (a partnership among three major hospitals in
Tilton and his team deserve credit for a proactive effort that helps both parties. "AtlantiCare's alliance with the muscular
thirty-five
The president and CEO of
Gender (inequity)
The genders of our selections:
Men: 43
Women: 8
(Shared spots meant there were more than 50 selected -and we're not happy about the disparity either.)
thirty-six
She's the vice president of health and legal affairs for the
"She's the one who is most active in the statehouse on health care issues," one veteran industry insider said. "She's the largest voice in the employer community on health care by virtue of that job. It's vital that she has a presence, and she has one."
thirty-seven
Brenner, a
"He was sort of the founder of
thirty-eight
He heads iviagnauare, a growing iorce in the self-insurance field. B erar do's group helps companies set up their plans and govern their plans with his network of providers. Berardo's efforts have impressed one insider:
"Joe is a keen observer of market trends and has found a niche working in the self-funded marketplace and working with providers and hospitals to develop innovative health care delivery mo dels," they said.
thirty-nine
He's the CEO and president of Partners In Care, an 18-year-old organization in which the primary goal - helping physician practices become more efficient and more effective - lines up perfectly with the goals of the Affordable Care Act.
Talk about timing.
"They have embraced the type of models the ACA wants to set up for years," one industry insider said. "They are a good company that's in the perfect place at the perfect time."
forty
The urmceton proressor is canea a prominent scholar in health care economics - and he got the ultimate * fSfy compliment from an insider.
"He's an academician who has a 1 cUSf; pretty good grasp of what's going on V3| in an industry that's transforming," the source said. "People who are really smart about understanding what's transforming and have deep knowledge and insight become highly impactful."
forty-one
The head of the
Another insider agreed: "He's been pushing health care quality, the idea that we should pay for quality of care, not just care for a long time. And the movement to different payment models - he's been ahead of the curve on that, too."
forty-two
EíolVeznedaroglii(NR)
David J Shulkin (NR)
Doctors have their own lists, but we felt it was important to get two that were going above and beyond in ours.
Dr.
An insider has a simpler title: "He's the top neurosurgeon in the Northeast." But that's not why he makes the list.
"He's been a big proponent of regionalization of health care services for things such as stroke or cardiac care, where you would have hospitals concentrating on certain things so they can do it with high quality and an efficient manner." one insider said.
Dr.
More than that, another insider praised him as a forward-thinker in tough times: "He's moving hospitals toward accountable care," said the insider, who also hailed him as someone who puts patients' interests over profits.
"That's not an easy thing to do, and it's not politically correct - or necessarily financially correct. In the long run, that can hurt the hospital."
forty-three
The president of the
forty-four
Don aid Di Francesco
What are these two figures from the political world doing on this list? Easy, they will be two of the biggest voices in the coming debate about what to do with hospitals in
As
forty-five
The CEO and president of
"They are really changing the dynamic of basic health care testing," one insider said.
The reason? One insider said it's because Quest is about providing consumers with what they want and how they want it.
"Who cares who does your CBC (complete blood count)?," the insider said. "Why does it have to be done in a hospital? People today want it done cheaply and efficiently and near their home."
forty-six
How do you describe the
One insider said this: "They are a national entity, enormously influential and powerful. You definitely need to have Riza on the list."
Another hopes the foundation will only do more: "I think the
"They have the potential to be highly impactful."
forty-seven
John Koehii(NR)
Industry insiders are always on the lookout for groups doing things that will impact the future. That's what Koehn is doing as CEO of Amerigroup New Jersey. "A lot of provider groups will say that the
forty-eight
The
"How often does that happen?" said an admirer. "They are funding stuff all over the place, trying to find things that can change the face of medicine and health care. We need groups like them trying to find a better model."
forty-nine
Never heard of him? Or his
fifty
believe she's an attorney. She could get a lot of better paying jobs elsewhere."
Velez moved into the role of deputy commissioner in 2006 and was confirmed as commissioner in 2007.
Over the past seven years, Velez has maintained that reputation of being a passionate advocate for those she serves, even when the issues at hand are controversial.
One of those issues has been the push for more in-home care, both for the developmentally disabled and for seniors.
Evelyn Iiebman, associate state director for advocacy for the
"It's an example of how she is accessible. She responds to good information and figures out a way to operationalize the changes that need to happen to actually reform the system," Liebman said. "She's a true believer, I would say, when it comes to supporting people's desire to stay in their homes and in their communities."
That same commitment is playing out in Velez's work with the intellectually and developmental^ disabled. This year, the state is closing two developmental centers, North Jersey Developmental Center in July and Woodbridge Developmental Center in December.
That reflects an effort - one Velez champions - to keep more of those with disabilities in the community, when possible.
"The least restrictive environment would mean that even someone who is completely nonverbal and has serious self-care challenges can still be served in a group home, can make some preference selections about bedding and what they like to do during the day," she said.
And Velez said she's seen that model work.
Not too long ago, she visited a group home in
"He had choices," Velez said. "It was his room. So it was really good to be a part of that, and he really felt a lot of ownership about it. That was a great day."
But there are hard days, too, and the long ones.
Most of them start around
"I think it says, 'Dear Mommy, can you call me when you're on the Turnpike?' Parenting by phone," she said, shaking her head at the memory.
She's made changes since then. Every weekend over the winter, she escapes with her family to the Catskills for snowshoeing, skiing and snowboarding.
During the week, she tries to leave the office around
"(My kids) understand what the department does, and that for them has been helpful - and for me - because they know that I never choose work over them. But work is very important, so they understand how it fits into their lives," she said. "They're my top priority, but they know the job is demanding."
E-mail to: [email protected]
On Twitter: @mjohns422
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