Kissner, six Medicaid directors from other states picked for national institute

State Medicaid Commissioner Lawrence Kissner is one of seven state program directors to participate in the year-long Medicaid Leadership Institute, which Gov. Steve Beshear said will help Kissner's ability to deliver high-quality, cost-effective health care services to Kentuckians.

The Medicaid Leadership Institute was developed in 2005 to enhance strategic thinking and leadership skills among Medicaid directors, and it is managed by the Center for Health Care Strategies and funded by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation.

The institute is directed by Carolyn Ingram, the center's senior vice president and a former New Mexico Medicaid director. Ingram said in a news release, “Each of these seven Medicaid directors is essentially the CEO of one of the largest health insurers in his or her state. . . . Commissioner Kissner and the other Medicaid directors chosen bring a diverse array of experiences to the Institute and will spur each other to take full advantage of opportunities to transform the nation’s health care safety net.”  Click here to read more or here for more information about the Medicaid Leadership Institute.

Kissner was named commissioner of the Department for Medicaid Services in June 2012.  He is a graduate of the University of Notre Dame with a bachelor’s in business administration and has nearly 30 years of experience in the private insurance industry.  He most recently served as president and CEO of Magnolia Health Plan in Jackson, Miss. He was president of UnitedHealthcare of Kentucky from 2004 to 2006, according to the department's website.