In Brief: Emmerson Joins CHA; CAPG Rebrands
Emmerson Leaves Senate To Join California Hospital Association
Former state Senator Bill Emmerson has resigned from the Legislature to accept a senior position with the California Hospital Association.
Emmerson, 68, will serve as the CHA's senior vice president of state advocacy and relations, where he will manage the association's team of lobbyists. He is barred by state law from actively lobbying until one year has passed after his resignation from public office, which became official on Dec. 1.
An orthodontist by training, Emmerson was in the Senate as a Republican representing the 23rd District, which includes the Riverside County community of Hemet. He served as vice chair of the California Senate on Budget and Fiscal Review. He was first elected to the seat last year. He previously served as a senator from the 37th district, winning a special election in 2010. Prior to that, he served in the Assembly from 2004 to mid-2010.
Emmerson is replacing Martin Gallegos, a chiropractor turned politician who served in the Assembly between 1994 and 2000. Gallegos left CHA to accept a senior-level position with the Hospital Association of Southern California.
“Bill is among the most respected and thoughtful leaders that I’ve ever had the pleasure of working with,” said CHA Chief Executive Officer C. Duane Dauner. “He is a person of high integrity, and his knowledge of healthcare and the political process will be invaluable to California’s hospitals.”
CHA contributed $7,800 to Emmerson's 2010 election campaign, according to public records, making the organization one of his largest political donors.
A special election will be scheduled in early 2014 to replace Emmerson.
CAPG Rebrands, Focuses On National Mission
The trade association formerly known as the California Association of Physician Groups is now CAPG.
The Los Angeles-based lobby represents many of California's large group physician practices. It has long been referred to CAPG (“cap-gee”) within the healthcare sector. However, officials said a change was made to reflect its change in mission, which includes members with multi-state practices, as well as a push for medical groups to participate in accountable care organizations. “The Voice of Accountable Physician Groups” is now the organization's new mission motto.
“As part of our singular focus on helping physician groups throughout the U.S. transition to accountable, coordinated and population-based payment, our leadership team believes it is appropriate to rebrand our organization to more specifically reflect what we do,” said CAPG President Donald Crane. “Our deep roots and long experience in California give us an unparalleled advantage to help physician groups navigate the operational, financial and cultural changes that health reform is bringing to all parts of the country.” Crane added that CAPG would soon be bringing in more members that operate outside of California. Its current membership includes 160 physician groups that practice in California and 20 other states.
