GCAP outgoing president, FMCP Trustee John Hopkins Retires as CEO of Rocky Mountain Health Plans

 

Thursday, Sep 03,2009, 12:03:02 PM   Click:

ALEXANDRIA, Va. - (BUSINESS WIRE) - John Hopkins, R.Ph., former president of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) and the current trustee of the Foundation for Pharmacy Managed Care (FMCP), recently retired as CEO of Rocky Mountain Health Plans (RMHP). At the head of Grand Junction, Colorado-insurer established, Hopkins helped to create and support a model of managed care that has been nationally recognized for improving health outcomes while reducing costs.

RMHP was confirmed by both sides of the debate on reforming health care.

Supporters of the current legislation any concerted approach and integrated plan for providing health care as a model of what the reform of health care should look like. Emphasizing the success RMHP, President Obama in Grand Junction for its August 15 public meeting on the reform of health care. Opponents of the reform proposals currently pending, point to the Health Plan of Colorado as an example of what the private sector can do alone to provide quality care at an affordable price.

Hopkins joined RMHP in 1986 as head of the pharmacy department and was named president and CEO in September 2001. He served as president of AMCP from 1996 to 1997, and currently serves on AMCP's Past Presidents & Founders Advisory Council and the FMCP Board of Trustees.

"John has long been an outstanding leader in the managed care pharmacy profession, and has applied the principles of the profession to the benefit of managed health care in general," says Judith Cahill, executive director of AMCP. "His dedication to patients' welfare is a principle that has guided him throughout the many facets of his career."

In an Aug. 25 letter to Hopkins, Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter praised the RMHP model as consistently delivering higher quality health care at a lower cost.

"As our state and our nation wrestle with how to reform our health care system, we have much to learn from your successes," Ritter told Hopkins in his letter.

Hopkins serves on several national, state and local boards, including America's Health Insurance Plans and the Colorado Association of Health Plans. Hopkins holds dual bachelor degrees in pharmacy and psychology from the University of Wyoming and was a clinical pharmacy intern at Veterans Administration Hospital in Palo Alto, Calif.

About AMCP:

The Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP) is a national professional association of pharmacists and other health care practitioners who serve society by the application of sound medication management principles and strategies to improve health care for all. The Academy's 5,700 members develop and provide a diversified range of clinical, educational and business management services and strategies on behalf of the more than 200 million Americans covered by a managed care pharmacy benefit. More news and information about AMCP can be obtained on its website, at www.amcp.org. The Academy observes its 20th anniversary in 2009.

About FMCP:

The Foundation for Managed Care Pharmacy (FMCP) is a non-profit charitable trust recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as the educational and philanthropic arm of the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP). The Foundation supports the goals of and mission of AMCP and exists to advance the knowledge and insights of interested individuals and groups on major issues associated with the practice of pharmacy in a managed health care setting. More information about FMCP can be obtained on its website, at www.fmcpnet.org.

Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP)

Neal Learner, 703-683-8416 ext. 608

nlearner@amcp.org

Source: Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy (AMCP)