Retiree Health Care Has New Chief

<p lang="en-US">Aug. 8--SANTA FE -- Wayne Propst, who spent time at his previous job analyzing the New Mexico Retiree Health Care Authority, has been tabbed as the group's new executive director.</p> <p>The move comes after a tumultuous period for the Retiree Health Care Authority, which has struggled with the increased cost of providing health care coverage and recently filled several other key vacancies.</p> <p>The authority provides health care coverage to 42,000 retired state government and public sector employees and their family members.</p> <p>The monthly premiums on healthcare plans offered by the Retiree Health Care Authority are currently 65 percent subsidized. Government agencies and employees both pay into the authority's operating budget and the group also receives funding from the state.</p> <p>Propst, who assumed his new duties July 22, comes to the authority from the Legislative Finance Committee, where he worked as an analyst. He previously had served as a senior policy adviser to Sen. Jeff Bingaman, D-N.M.</p> <p>Propst said in a statement Monday that he hopes to work with state officials and legislators to develop sound, longrange financial strategies to ensure the authority remains viable in the future.</p> <p>Such goals were welcomed by the authority's board of directors, who hired Propst.</p> <p>"We believe Wayne is committed to the objectives of RHCA and we are counting on his leadership to steer RHCA in an innovative direction," board Chairman Alfredo Santistevan said.</p>