America's Health Insurance Plans: Leading Health Care Expert Named AHIP Chief Health Equity Officer

WASHINGTON, July 25 (TNSper) -- America's Health Insurance Plans issued the following news release:

Every American deserves access to high-quality, affordable coverage and care, regardless of race, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, geography, or other factors that affect access to care and health outcomes. With that commitment, AHIP is pleased to announce that LaShawn McIver, MD, MPH, has been named Chief Health Equity Officer, effective immediately. In this position, Dr. McIver will lead AHIP's health equity initiatives, setting and driving strategies to improve health equity for underrepresented and medically underserved communities. Dr. McIver reports to Matt Eyles, AHIP President and CEO.

"Inequities and disparities continue to impact millions of Americans," said Eyles. "AHIP and our health insurance provider members have demonstrated a clear commitment to making health equity a part of everything we do, and with the addition of Dr. McIver to our leadership team, we are taking another important step in delivering on that priority. Too many Americans have faced persistent and detrimental health inequity for too long, and we must work to accelerate our efforts and close health equity gaps faster."

With more than 20 years of experience driving strategies that promote health equity and quality care, Dr. McIver comes to AHIP after serving as Director of the Office of Minority Health at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS). At CMS, she focused on developing successful initiatives and public policy to drive health equity for the 150 million Americans in Medicare, Medicaid, CHIP, and the Health Insurance Marketplace. The CMS Office of Minority Health was awarded the 2022 Administrator's Achievement Award - the highest honor CMS employees can receive - for its leadership and establishment of the Agency's health equity infrastructure during her tenure.

Prior to her role at CMS, Dr. McIver spent 9 years leading Government Affairs & Advocacy for the American Diabetes Association. She also served as the inaugural HIV/AIDS fellow for the Congressional Black Caucus' Center for Policy Analysis and Research and as a program director at the Baltimore City Health Department. Dr. McIver earned a Medical Degree in International Health & Medicine through the Medical School for International Health in Collaboration with Columbia University's Medical Center and a master's degree of Public Health from the Johns Hopkins University Bloomberg School of Public Health.

"Every day, we see stark reminders of the impact of inequities--in health care and beyond," said Dr. McIver. "I am driven by ensuring that health equity becomes a natural part of how we think about and deliver health care. That passion mirrors AHIP's mission and I'm honored to join an organization with such a powerful voice in health care to continue building a more equitable, resilient health care system."

Health insurance providers are committed and driven to reform our health care system so everyone in America has access to equitable, quality care and can achieve their best health. AHIP will continue to work together with federal and state leaders, as well as with others across the health care ecosystem, to build on what's working for more equitable care.

Learn more (https://www.ahip.org/issues/health-equity) about how health insurance providers are working to improve health equity.

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Original text here: https://www.ahip.org/news/press-releases/leading-health-care-expert-named-ahip-chief-health-equity-officer