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April 2, 2007

Patricia Tanquary, a veteran health plan administrator, has been named the new Executive Director of the Contra Costa Health Plan (CCHP).

Ms. Tanquary has been Deputy Executive Director of CCHP the past two years. Prior to being recruited to Contra Costa, she spent 18 years with Kaiser Permanente in a variety of capacities. She replaces Rich Harrison, who retired this month two years.

"We are happy to have such an experienced and well-qualified person on staff to succeed Rich Harrison," said Dr. William Walker, Director of Contra Costa Health Services. "The 65,000 people served by the Health Plan will continue to receive excellent service under Patricia’s leadership."

Contra Costa Health Plan, the oldest federally qualified HMO in the county, was founded in 1973 and is a division of Contra Costa Health Services, the county health department. The Health Plan serves over 65,000 people living and/or working in Contra Costa County.

Ms. Tanquary has a Masters in Social Work from San Diego State University and both a Masters in Public Health Administration and a Doctorate in Social Welfare from U.C. Berkeley. She spent four years teaching social work and health courses and managed the undergraduate social work internship program at San Diego State.

She was Associate Administrator for French Hospital and Health Plan in San Francisco for five years, assisting them in implementing one of the four first Medicare Risk Demonstration Projects by Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS).

With Kaiser, she served as Director of Member Services for Northern California and then as Hospital and Health Plan Administrator for Kaiser Hospital at San Rafael. She then became the Continuing Care Leader for Kaiser at three Kaiser hospitals: Redwood City, Santa Clara and San Jose. There, she initiated a case management program for high-risk populations.

She was subsequently promoted to Director of National Provider Contracting for all Kaiser Regions. Her team provided and managed national contracts that accounted for regional size and model variations throughout Kaiser. "I feel like my entire career has been preparing me for this challenge," Ms. Tanquary said of her new position. "I am lucky to have worked with such talented staff the past two years and will do my best to equal their great work."

For more information, visit the department website at cchealth.org or contact the CCHP Marketing Department at 1-800-211-8040.

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