August 10, 2006

Sebelius names business leader to Health Policy Authority Board
Kansas native Rob Kaplan to serve four-year term on board

Tackling Kansas’ health care challenges will require collaboration between businesses, health care providers, patients and public officials.  The Kansas Health Policy Authority Board is bringing together representatives from these areas to improve health care in Kansas, and Governor Kathleen Sebelius has appointed native Kansan Rob Kaplan to the authority. 

“Kansas businesses and families alike are facing rising health care costs, and those costs are pricing many out of the market.  If we’re going to meet this challenge, we need to involve business leaders in our efforts to spur innovation and cooperation,” said Sebelius.  “Rob has an outstanding background and he’ll bring an important perspective to the authority.”

The Kansas Health Policy Authority Board is tasked with developing a coordinated health policy agenda that combines the effective purchasing and administration of health care with public health strategies such as disease prevention.  Its mission is to improve the health of the people of Kansas by increasing the quality, efficiency, and effectiveness of health services and public health programs.

Kaplan, New York City, is a senior lecturer at Harvard Business School.  He is also a senior director of The Goldman Sachs Group, Inc.  Until January of 2006, he was vice chairman of Goldman Sachs and a member of the firm’s Management Committee.  Previously, he served as global co-head of the Investment Banking Division from 1999 through mid-2002.  At that time, he was appointed vice chairman of the firm with responsibility of the investment banking and investment management divisions of the firm.  Kaplan became a partner with the firm in 1990.

Kaplan also served as co-chairman of the firm’s Partnership Committee and chaired the Goldman Sachs Pine Street Leadership Program.  He is a member of the board of Harvard Medical School, co-chairs the advisory council of the Harvard Center for Neurodegeneration and Repair and is co-chair the board of Project A.L.S.

He is originally from Prairie Village, Kansas, and graduate of the University of Kansas.

Effective upon confirmation by the Kansas Senate, Kaplan will fulfill a four-year term.  He replaces Marci Nielsen, who was named executive director of the authority.

# # #