South Florida-based Community Care Plan (CCP), the health plan with a heart, is pleased to announce the promotion of Jessica Lerner to President and Chief Executive Officer of the company, as the former Chief Executive Officer, John A. Benz, announces his retirement. Lerner, who will take over the leadership role immediately, previously served as the company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer. Benz will transition to the role of President Emeritus and Chief Strategic Officer of the organization.
Benz and Lerner, who have worked together in the healthcare industry for over 23 years, will continue to work together to ensure a seamless transition. The two were part of the original leadership team who cofounded CCP. As President and CEO, Lerner will continue to grow CCP and provide quality-based healthcare to the South Florida community.
“It is my privilege to turn over the role of President and CEO to Jessica as I continue to serve Community Care Plan in an advisory capacity,” said John Benz. “Jessica is an outstanding leader with tremendous vision, who I know will continue to grow Community Care Plan and lead the company to great success in the future.”
“I am honored to take the reins and lead Community Care Plan into the future.” said Jessica Lerner, President & CEO of Community Care Plan. “We take great pride in being closely connected to our community and providing the highest level of quality and service to our members.”
Alongside Benz, Lerner co-founded CCP and played a major role in the operations and monitoring of local activities of the health plan to ensure that CCP is in accordance with contract requirements. She was promoted to Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer in 2016. Prior to joining CCP, Lerner served as Executive Director for Memorial Integrated Health for more than 19 years, where she spearheaded various initiatives including state contract negotiations, directing all health plan operations, inclusive of member benefits, provider network development, claims payment operations and system configuration, as well communications distribution and medical and pharmacy management. Lerner received a Bachelor’s Degree in marketing and management from Florida International University’s College of Business, and a Master’s of Healthcare Administration Degree from Florida Atlantic University. She also serves on the Board of Trustbridge Hospice Foundation and the Association of Community Affiliated Plans.
After more than 43 years in the healthcare industry, Benz is now looking forward to transitioning to a new phase in his life and renewing his commitment to balancing his life. He takes great pride in the executive leadership roles that he has held throughout his career. He has worked diligently to strengthen the community by focusing on accelerated performance in service, quality, finance, people, and growth. Prior to leading CCP, Benz served as Senior Vice President and Chief Strategic Officer for Memorial Healthcare System (MHS). In this role, he provided executive leadership and propelled MHS as a leader in providing high-quality health care services to the South Florida community. As a result, MHS is now recognized as a national leader in quality health care and is highly regarded for its exceptional patient and family-centered care.
Introduced in 2000 as the first safety-net, hospital-owned Provider Service Network (PSN), Community Care Plan (formerly South Florida Community Care Network), the health plan with a heart, serves members enrolled in Medicaid, Children’s Medical Services Network, and self-insured employee health plans. Headquartered in Sunrise, Florida, Community Care Plan is a partnership owned by Broward Health and Memorial Healthcare System.
About Community Care Plan (Community Care Plan is a MCP with a Florida Medicaid Contract)
Launched in 2000 as the first safety-net, hospital-owned Provider Service Network (PSN), Community Care Plan serves members enrolled in Medicaid, Children’s Medical Services Network, and self-insured employee health plans. Community Care Plan’s mission is to positively impact the health and welfare of its members. The organization’s health plans offer an excellent choice of physicians, cover a wide range of health and medical services, and a variety of benefits that help enrollees get and stay healthy. The non-profit organization is fully accredited by the Accreditation Association for Ambulatory Health Care (AAAHC) as a Health Plan. For more information, please visit www.CCPcares.org.
