FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Dec. 14, 1995

Stanley to leave Health Care Authority in January

OLYMPIA -- Margaret Stanley today resigned as administrator of the Washington State Health Care Authority to take a new job in California.

Stanley, 51, has accepted a position as assistant executive officer for health benefit services with the California Public Employees Retirement System (CalPERS) in Sacramento. She will oversee health benefit services and manage the system's long-term care division. She will be responsible for administering the health benefits program for more than a million employees and their dependents.

"Margaret has done an outstanding job of controlling health care costs and assuring that both public employees and Basic Health Plan subscribers get good quality health care," Gov. Mike Lowry said. "I appreciate what she has done to move the state forward in health care reform and save the state millions of dollars."

Stanley was appointed administrator of the Washington State Health Care Authority in October 1988. The Authority purchases health care services for public employees, the Basic Health Plan and other state programs.

Stanley also chaired the Public Employees Benefits Board. Before joining the Health Care Authority, Stanley served as executive vice president and chief health care management officer of Blue Cross of Washington and Alaska. She was the founder of their health maintenance organization affiliate, HealthPlus, serving as president and chief executive officer from 1981-88. She served as outpatient administrator and clinic manager at Group Health Cooperative of Puget Sound from 1977-80.

"I appreciate serving in the Lowry administration, and I am proud of what we have accomplished together," Stanley said. "I look forward to this new opportunity, and I hope to enjoy my new challenges as much as I did my last."

Named as acting administrator is Gary Christenson, deputy administrator for the Health Care Authority. Before his current position, Christenson was the director for the Washington Basic Health Plan, worked with the Washington Commission on Efficiency and Accountability in Government, and was an assistant commissioner of the Washington State Employment Security Department. During his tenure as assistant commissioner, Christenson managed the state's Unemployment Insurance Program, the state's Employment Services Program, as well as field operations and administration and finance divisions.

Stanley will leave the Health Care Authority Jan. 9.

For more information, contact the Governor's Communications Office at 360-753-6790.