Kaiser Permanente Names Kim Horn President of Mid-Atlantic States Region

ROCKVILLE, Md., Sept. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Kim Horn has been named president of Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States. Horn, who has more than 25 years of executive-level experience developing and operating provider-sponsored managed care organizations, will begin her new role October 15. Horn fills the position held by Marilyn Kawamura, who in January 2012 announced an early retirement.

"After an extensive national search, we're pleased that Kim will be leading Kaiser Permanente's award-winning Mid-Atlantic States region," said Bernard Tyson, Kaiser Permanente president and chief operating officer. "We're confident Kim's experience and proven track record, and partnership with the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, will help strengthen the expansion of capacity and internalization efforts currently underway in the region."

Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States region, headquartered in Rockville, Md., provides and coordinates complete health care services for nearly 500,000 members through 29 medical centers in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C.  Founded in 1980, Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States is a total health organization comprised of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan of the Mid-Atlantic States, Inc., and the Mid-Atlantic Permanente Medical Group, P.C., an independent medical group that features 1,000 physicians who provide or arrange care for patients throughout the area. 

Beginning in 2011, Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States has opened three new multi-specialty medical centers in Washington, D.C., Gaithersburg, Md., and McLean, Va. Another medical center is slated for opening in South Baltimore County in April 2013, and major expansions and renovations are planned for Kaiser's Largo, Maryland, medical center.

Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States was named the highest-rated Medicare health plan in Maryland, Virginia, and Washington, D.C. in 2011, according to rankings by the National Committee for Quality Assurance. The region has also been rated the highest in member satisfaction in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, D.C. by J.D. Power and Associates four years in a row.

Horn was most recently the president and chief executive officer of Grand Rapids-based Priority Health.  In this position, she oversaw membership growth from 120,000 to over 600,000, with revenue exceeding $2 billion. Horn was responsible for leading the organization's vision and strategic direction, developing a comprehensive and diversified portfolio of health and wellness solutions, and guiding the corporation's financial and operating performance.

Horn came to Priority Health from Mercy Health Plan (Care Choices and Preferred Choices), the insurance subsidiary of Mercy Health Services in Farmington Hills, Michigan.  At Mercy Health Plan, she was chief operating officer and prior to that, chief financial officer. Horn was with the southeast Michigan-based insurer from 1988 through 1996.

Prior to her move to Mercy Health Plan, Horn was vice president of finance administration for Health Plan of Mid America; an HMO owned by Research Medical Center in Kansas City, Mo.  Prior to that, she was the Controller and Business Affairs Director for Physicians Health Plan based in Lansing, Michigan.

Horn previously served as President of the Michigan Association of Health Plans, a voice for the industry representing 17 health plans and more than 2.1 million health care consumers throughout the state of Michigan.

"Kim brings her wide-ranging leadership skills to Kaiser Permanente, home to esteemed clinicians, advanced information technology systems, and a 60-year commitment to prevention, allowing us to be the quality and service leader," said Greg Adams, group president, Kaiser Foundation Hospitals, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc. 

"Kaiser Permanente is a world-class organization and a national leader in integrated care delivery," said Horn. "I'm eager to begin furthering Kaiser's mission of providing high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve in the Mid-Atlantic States."

Horn was the recipient of the 2004 Ellis J. Bonner Outstanding Achievement Award. Awarded by the Michigan Association of Health Plans, it recognizes those individuals who have made a significant impact on health care in Michigan.  In 2003, the Grand Rapids Business Journal recognized her as one of the 50 most influential women in West Michigan. Horn was also the 2002 recipient of the TRIBUTE! Award, given by the YWCA to women who exhibit superior ability and accomplishment in their chosen profession.

Horn received her bachelor's degree in business administration from the Universityof Michigan.

For more information about Kaiser Permanente of the Mid-Atlantic States, visit kp.org/midatlantic. Follow us on Twittter at twitter.com/KPMidAtlantic

About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We serve approximately 8.9 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more, visit kp.org/newscenter.

For more information:
Che Parker, 301-816-6836
[email protected]
twitter.com/KPMidAtlantic

SOURCE Kaiser Permanente