Management shakeup at MCS, Juliá out
Three high-ranking MCS executives are no longer with the company. (Credit: © Mauricio Pascual)
Three high-ranking executives — President Julio Juliá, Chief Executive Officer Mark Rishell and Provider Network Vice President Javier Magriná — have been ousted from Medical Card Systems Inc., the company’s board of directors announced Tuesday.
No reasons were given for the abrupt departures, but it is widely known that the company is under investigation by local and stateside authorities over the management of Medicare plans.
Upon announcing the changes, the board announced the appointment of an interim management team, headed by Jim O’Drobinak who will serve as Chief Executive Officer, to lead the company in a strategy of strengthened member and provider services. Fred Dodson will serve as the president of MCS Advantage and Craig Lyon will serve as vice president of provider relations.
“I’m very impressed with the MCS product offering and the recent performance in open enrollment for Medicare Advantage,” O’Drobinak said. “We look forward to working with the entire MCS team and its network of 10,000+ providers to serve the 300,000 residents of Puerto Rico who have trusted their health to this proud organization.”
All three are experienced health plan executives affiliated with Gorman Health Group, a consulting firm specializing in hands-on support for performance improvement in the health care industry.
In its statement announcing the moves, the MCS Board said, “MCS has a proud 28-year heritage of service to the health of Puerto Rico. Our goal is to re-energize and expand upon our historic commitment to compliance and exemplary member and provider service.”
“We have talented and dedicated people and an impressive variety of commercial and government-sponsored products,” the board said, noting it “is fully committed to ensuring that MCS has the resources and support necessary for MCS to be an admired leader in Puerto Rico’s health care community.”
MCS has had a rough year after taking on the contract to provide health coverage to the government’s Mi Salud program, from which it withdrew in the summer. While MCS claimed the government was not following through with payments, Gov. Luis Fortuño’s administration announced it would be cancelling the agreement over breach of contract.
While the interim management team will focus on developing and executing strategies to strengthen the company’s continuing businesses, including MCS Life (large and small business and individual accounts) and MCS Advantage (Medicare), the Board will continue its search for a permanent CEO who can take the company to an even higher level of member and provider service, and growth, the company said.
