MONTEREY — Aspire Health, a nonprofit supported by Montage Health and Salinas Valley Memorial Healthcare System, will soon have a new chief executive officer.
Tyler Munson, former president of Care N’Care Insurance Company in Fort Worth, Texas, will assume the position on September 6. He will succeed longtime CEO Laura Zehm, who led Aspire’s development and led the organization since its inception.
“There’s nothing but excitement on my end,” Munson said by phone Thursday. “Coming to such an incredible team and (a) community that really cares about bonding (and) values each other. This has been evident in every person I have met throughout the organization and out in the community so far.”
Coming from the financial side of health care, Munson has worked in the field for more than a decade. Noting that he shifted his focus to operations in 2014, Munson said he has “really operated at the nexus between providers, systems and patients/members.” Within that space, Munson’s focus is on “looking for opportunities that drive better value and outcomes to really advance our healthcare ecosystem,” he said.
Munson served in his most recent role as president of Care N’Care last year, though Munson said he has been “in and around” the organization since its inception in 2009. Care N’Care is a provider of Texas-based Medicare Advantage plan owner with more than 13,000 members and over $150 million in annual revenue.
Explaining that like Aspire Health, Care N’Care has two systems that are primary plan owners/sponsors, Munson said he has an understanding of how a community can rally around a health plan to deliver something that is localized. .
“There’s tremendous value in doing that,” he said, adding that his new leadership position with Aspire Health is “with (his) background” and a natural fit for his career.
Speaking about Munson’s appointment, which was finalized through an extensive national search, Montage Health President/CEO Steven Packer said “Munson is a focused and dedicated leader with a proven track record of making a difference and achieving results.”
“We are thrilled to welcome Tyler to the Aspire team,” he continued in a press release.
Munson earned his bachelor’s degree in business administration and management, as well as his master’s in business administration, from Elon University in North Carolina.
Also praising Munson’s extensive experience, Pete Delgado, President/CEO of Salinas Valley Memorial Health System, said in a press release that “Tyler brings a wealth of knowledge and market experience that will only strengthen the value, products and the services we offer. community. We are excited to welcome him to the Aspire family.”
Aspire Health Plan, the Medicare Advantage arm of Aspire Health, offers Monterey County’s only individual Medicare Advantage health plans. An alternative to Original Medicare—a fee-for-service federal health plan—Medicare Advantage is an option offered by private companies that contract with Medicare, the county health insurance program for people 65 and older.
Covering all four Monterey County hospitals, Aspire Health Plan offers three plans, which include Part D prescription drug coverage. The provider network also consists of more than 700 healthcare providers. Last year, the organization, which launched in 2016, earned a four-star rating from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services for its Medicare Advantage 2022 plan. Aspire Health Plan’s customer service team also earned five stars for member satisfaction based on measures from the Consumer Assessment of Health Care Providers and Systems survey.
Eager to help Aspire Health continue to grow, Munson said, “I can say there’s a huge runway for this plan (to act) as a community tool and to transform health and wellness for its members. serves”.
“For me personally,” Munson continued, “this is an amazing opportunity to continue to grow and see a different community in action and utilize the years of experience that I’ve gained. … To see the type of community that the Monterey Peninsula has and Monterey County is simply inspiring. I am extremely humbled and honored to lead such a fantastic organization like Aspire Health.”