Health Plus - Michelle Bethea Appointed Director Of Member Services At Health Plus

For Immediate Release

Michelle Bethea Appointed Director Of Member Services At Health Plus
Executive Returns To New York's Medicaid Managed Care Industry

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New York, NY - January 15, 2004 — Michelle Bethea has been appointed to the position of Director of Member Services for Health Plus, the largest provider of government-sponsored health insurance in the city and state. This marks her return to New York's Medicaid managed care industry after leaving the position of Director of Customer Operations at Union Labor Life Insurance Company in Washington, D.C.

In her new position, Bethea will supervise oversee day-to-day operations to support, educate, and provide member advocacy to Health Plus's members. She will direct a staff of 75 employees responsible for assuring members select a primary care physician, that all inquiries or complaints are fielded and resolved, and that all members understand the referral system.

"Our primary focus is to deliver the most effective service to our members in a time efficient manner and to make their experience with Health Plus a positive one," says Michelle Bethea. "Health Plus is committed to excellence; we treat our members the way we would like to be treated ourselves. We are a leader in the market place, and we intend to continue to deliver that level of service by retaining our members with enhancements to quality, and making system enhancements to overall service delivery."

Bethea, with 15 years of experience in managed care, is pleased to be back in the industry to help out those in need. "One of the reasons I became interested in Medicaid managed healthcare was to help those less fortunate than myself," says Bethea, "and work with the medically underserved to improve the overall healthcare system delivery and members total well being."

Michelle Bethea, Director of Member Services at Health Plus

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Health Plus, a not-for-profit, multi-cultural organization, is one of the fastest growing managed care organizations in New York City. It was established in 1984 with a commitment to provide coordinated quality health care and improving access to health care for uninsured and underserved families. In its annual review of managed care plans, the New York State Department of Health ranked Health Plus as the top plan for quality in its 2002 and 2003 "Consumer's Guide to Medicaid Managed Care in New York City." Health Plus is New York City's leading provider of Child Health Plus, a New York State Department of Health program that offers parents FREE or low-cost health insurance for children under the age of 19. "CRAIN'S New York Business" magazine ranked Health Plus fifth among the largest health maintenance organizations in the New York area.