Franklin is currently Deputy Director of Health Information and Strategic Planning for the California Department of Health Services (CDHS). As CalPERS Assistant Executive Officer, Health Benefits, he will oversee the purchasing of health care for 1.2 million public employees, retirees and their families throughout California.
He will provide strategic planning and policy direction, and advise the CalPERS Chief Executive Officer and Board of Administration on critical health care issues. He also will be responsible for directing the statewide health benefits program, including health plan negotiations, design and development. In addition, he will oversee the Long-Term Care Program and CalPERS contracts with three health maintenance organizations (HMOs), two self-funded preferred provider organizations (PPOs), and three plans for public safety associations.
Franklin replaces Terri Westbrook, who retired from CalPERS last month.
“I am confident that he can help us identify opportunities to improve the quality of the health care delivery system while reducing overall costs. Mr. Franklin brings the right mix of skills and experience to help us implement innovative solutions that will yield the most optimal outcome for our members and employers,” said Jarvio Grevious, Deputy Executive Officer, Benefits Administration.
Franklin has more than 20 years of experience in health care administration and public health. He has led a variety of initiatives that had statewide implications, and has extensive experience working with local governments, federal officials and the California legislature.
Since March 2002, he has directed operations for CDHS’ Health Information and Strategic Planning Division, overseeing nearly 300 staff and an annual budget of approximately $60 million. He worked with the Legislature to develop the State’s Electronic Death Registry System, allowing timely death data to be available to state and federal benefit administrators and saving millions in erroneous payments. He also coordinated policy goals between constituents, the Department of Finance, and the Executive Branch.
In addition to these duties, Franklin was the Senior Executive leading the project to create a separate California Department of Public Health. In this role, he directed policy, managed personnel leadership, coordinated the budget and guided development of the organization.
As CDHS’ Deputy Director of the Office of Multicultural Health in the previous four years, he provided health policy direction to CDHS programs and led various internal and external committees on health.
In 2001, Franklin led the development of CDHS’ five-year strategic plan, organizing and directing a team of consultants, stakeholders, and Department staff. In addition, he played a key role in implementing CDHS’ proposed managed care model, which would eventually become the Medi-Cal Managed Care Program that currently serves approximately 3.5 million Medi-Cal beneficiaries in 22 counties.
He holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from California State University, Sacramento, and a Master’s degree in Health Administration from Golden Gate University in San Francisco.
Franklin will assume his new post on February 15, 2007.
CalPERS is the nation’s third largest purchaser of health benefits after the federal government and General Motors, providing health benefits to more than 1.2 million State and public agency employees, retirees, and their dependents. For more information, please visit www.calpers.ca.gov.