Ascension President and Chief Executive Officer Anthony R. Tersigni, EdD, FACHE, recently sat down with healthcare trade publication Modern Healthcare to talk about proposed changes to the Affordable Care Act and Ascension’s strategic focus and top priorities.
Since before the inauguration of President Trump in January, Ascension has been talking with the transition team and Republican leadership about healthcare reform, Tony tells Modern Healthcare. “… we say, ‘OK, let us help you by being a resource.’ That's really how I'd like people to view Ascension in this healthcare debate—as a resource. We are a microcosm of the American healthcare system. If somebody has a policy idea, we can let them know what the implications of that policy idea are for taking care of patients,” he says.
Tony reiterates Ascension’s support for 100 percent access and 100 percent coverage and highlights the national health ministry’s push for mental and behavioral health reform.
He also talks about Ascension’s strategic approach to adding new facilities and systems and decisions to transition hospitals to different ownership structures. As an example, he notes that transitioning Carondelet Health System in Tucson, Arizona, to ownership by a three-system partnership with Tenet Healthcare as managing partner will help its hospitals “survive and thrive.”
Asked about leadership changes, Tony discusses Ascension’s focus on succession planning and highlights the pending transition of Pat Maryland, Dr.PH, to President and Chief Executive Officer of Ascension Healthcare upon the retirement of Bob Henkel.
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