NEW MANAGED CARE VP JOINS SHANDS
GAINESVILLE, Fla.— Shands HealthCare today named Michael Lawton as the health system’s new vice president for managed care and network development, starting Sept. 15.
Lawton most recently served as vice president for system development and regional operations for Columbus-based OhioHealth. He collaborated with physicians, administrators and stakeholders to develop clinical growth opportunities within the health system and throughout a 46-county region.
As Shands’ chief managed care officer, Lawton will represent the eight-hospital system as well as the University of Florida Health Science Centers in Gainesville and Jacksonville. He will be chief negotiator for third-party payer contracts, payment policy innovations and development of future strategies.
“We welcome Mr. Lawton to this critical leadership position at Shands,” said William Robinson, Shands HealthCare senior vice president and chief financial officer. “With today’s economic climate and third-party payers continually seeking to reduce hospital payments, our challenges are significant. Mr. Lawton joins a team that’s committed to serving our patients while building Shands’ fiscal strength now and for the future.”
Lawton will manage First Coast Advantage, a provider service network established and operated by Shands Jacksonville to coordinate benefits for Medicaid members under Florida’s Medicaid reform plan.
Lawton has more than 14 years of healthcare administration experience. OhioHealth includes eight owned hospitals; one managed hospital; seven affiliated hospitals; and a 15-site ambulatory care network. Lawton also served as vice president of managed care at Norton Healthcare in Louisville, Ky., and vice president of operations for the 300-bed Norton Audubon Hospital. He has held leadership positions with Humana Health Plans in Louisville, Ky., and Sparrow Regional Cancer Center in Lansing, Mich.
Lawton has a bachelor of science degree from Michigan State University and a master’s in health administration from the Ohio State University.