Northam launches primary care task force

Physicians report layoffs, financial stress due to pandemic

Published August 5, 2020 by Sydney Lake

As primary care physicians report that the pandemic has caused financial stress and layoffs at their practices, Gov. Ralph Northam announced Wednesday the creation of a primary care task force in partnership with the Virginia Center for Health Innovation (VCHI) and Secretary of Health and Human Resources Daniel Carey.

During the pandemic, 40% of primary care practices have had to lay off or furlough staff and 19% have had to temporarily close their practices, according to survey findings from The Larry A. Green Center. The task force aims to build a stakeholder coalition, define better payment models for primary care, describe necessary infrastructure for primary care, identify markers of high value care and promote telehealth options.

The task force is composed of 30 physicians and leaders from nonprofit organizations, health systems and insurance companies, as well as corporate human resource leaders from across the state, as well as a few out-of-state members. The group will meet biweekly through October and continue monthly meetings through 2021.

The full task force list includes:

Dr. Sandy Chung, co-chair | Fairfax Pediatrics Associates; immediate past president – AAP, Virginia Chapter, Fairfax
Jeff Ricketts, co-chair | president, Anthem Virginia, Richmond
Jill Age | senior vice president Towne Insurance, a subsidiary of Towne Bank, also past president Virginia Association of Health Underwriters, Tidewater
Del. Lashrecse Aird | Democrat, 63rd District, Chesterfield/Petersburg
Julie Bilodeau | CEO, CrossOver Healthcare Ministry, Richmond
Dr. John Brady | TPMG, Newport News, chair American Board of Family Medicine
Michael Bucci | Market President, Aetna, Maryland, Washington, D.C., and Virginia
Dr. Daniel Carey | Health and Human Resources Secretary, commonwealth of Virginia, Richmond
Michael Cassidy | president and CEO, Commonwealth Institute for Fiscal Analysis, Richmond
Colette Chichester | vice president, CareFirst, Washington, D.C., and president, Virginia Association of Health Plans
Dr. Siobhan Dunnavant | Senator, Republican, District 12; OBGYN, Henrico
Emily Elliott | director, Virginia Department of Human Resource Management, Richmond
Wina Giddens | director, benefits and HRIS, Port of Virginia, Tidewater
HoChong Gilles | McGuire Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Chesterfield, immediate past-president, Virginia Council of Nurse Practitioners
Dr. Neeta Goel | medical director, Signature Partners, Fairfax
Jill A. Hanken | director of the Center for Healthy Communities and ENROLLVirginia!; Virginia Poverty Law Center, Richmond
Bryan Haynes | CEO, Southwest Virginia Community Health System, Saltville
Dr. Stuart Henochowicz | Internal Medicine and Allergy Associates; governor-elect ACP, Virginia Chapter, Burke
Cornel Hubbard | vice president and general manager, Magellan of Virginia, Richmond
Anthony Keck | executive vice president for System Innovation and chief population health officer, Ballad and VCHI chair, Bristol
Dr. Jesus Lizarzaburu | legislative chair, Virginia Academy of Family Physicians, Yorktown
Dr. Thomas Lundquist | senior vice president and CMO, Optima, Tidewater
Ellen Montz | chief deputy and chief health economist, DMAS
Dr. Katherine Neuhausen | senior medical director, community and state, UnitedHealthcare, Richmond
Nicole Riley | Virginia state director, National Federation of Independent Businesses, Richmond
Dr. Christina Stasiuk | Mid-Atlantic Market Medical Executive, Cigna, Philadelphia
Meredith Touchstone | Director, benefits, Carmax, Richmond
Dr. Cameron Webb | internal medicine, director of health policy and equity, University of Virginia; Democratic Nominee for U.S. Congress 5th District
Jeremy Welsh | dean and chair, School of PA Medicine, University of Lynchburg; president Virginia Academy of Physician Assistants
Lisa Woods | senior director, strategy and design, U.S. benefits, Walmart, Arkansas