Acentra Health’s Health Executive Vice President and Chief Strategy Officer Verlon Johnson has been appointed chair of the Medicaid and Children’s Health Insurance Program Payment and Access Commission by the Government Accountability Office.
In addition, she was reappointed to serve a second consecutive 3-year term as a MACPAC commissioner.
“I am deeply humbled and profoundly honored to have my name mentioned alongside such an exceptional team of commissioners and staff,” Johnson said. “Collaborating with this dedicated group to enhance Medicaid and CHIP is a privilege that fills me with great pride, especially as our work aims to improve the lives of the millions who rely on these vital programs.”
MACPAC is a non-partisan advisory committee established in 2009 to advise Congress, the secretary of the Health and Human Services Department and states on policy and access issues related to Medicaid and CHIP.
“Verlon’s reappointment and selection as MACPAC Chair is an outstanding recognition of her nearly three decades of service in public and private sector healthcare,” said Acentra Health CEO Todd Stottlemyer. “She is passionate about working with government organizations to make access to quality healthcare a basic human right.”
Johnson is a nationally recognized expert in government healthcare programs, the company said. Prior to Acentra Health, she spent nearly 25 years in federal service. She also served as vice president of healthcare policy and management for IBM Watson Health’s government health and human services business group.
In her role as chief strategy officer for Acentra Health, Johnson is on the company’s executive leadership team and oversees the company’s growth strategy, including organic growth and acquisitions.
“I was pleased to lend my recommendation three years ago for Verlon’s first appointment as MACPAC Commissioner and commend the GAO for recognizing her contributions by appointing her as Chair,” said Sen. Mark Warner (D-Va.). “We value the input that MACPAC has provided to Congress on issues affecting Medicaid and CHIP.”