CalOptima, an Orange-based public health plan provider for low-income individuals and families, announced Richard Sanchez will be its permanent chief executive.Â
“Working in partnership with providers and stakeholders, I am proud to lead the agency in supporting the health and wellness of Orange County’s vulnerable residents,” Sanchez said in a statement. “Together, we are capably addressing the needs of the community during the pandemic, upholding our 25-year legacy of providing access to quality health care.”
Sanchez has served as interim CEO since April and led the agency’s response to the COVID-19 pandemic.
He has managed budget challenges, continuity of care, and telehealth services for CalOptima’s nearly 788,000 members, the agency said.
Sanchez has been on CalOptima’s board for three years and was previously the director of the Orange County Health Care Agency; the HCA is currently involved in local oversight and data collection for the coronavirus.
Sanchez succeeded Michael Schrader, who had been with CalOptima for seven years; Schrader’s new role is with another CalOptima-affiliated group in Northern California.
