Kaiser Permanente Names Anthony Barrueta Senior Vice President, Government Relations

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Jun 30, 2010, 10:39 ET

OAKLAND, Calif., June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaiser Permanente has announced that Anthony Barrueta has been named senior vice president, government relations. Barrueta has been with Kaiser Permanente for 16 years, most recently serving as vice president, government relations.

In his new role, Barrueta will lead Kaiser Permanente's Government Relations department, overseeing a team of experienced policy professionals focused on policy interpretation and advocacy at the federal and state level. He and his team will continue to work with Kaiser Permanente's leadership to develop the policy positions that best serve Kaiser Permanente members and communicating those views to legislators and regulators.

"Tony is an energetic and passionate advocate for Kaiser Permanente," said George Halvorson, chairman and chief executive officer, Kaiser Permanente. "He has a solid and proven ability to find common ground among disparate views. With Tony leading our government relations team, our federal and state advocacy efforts will continue to help inform the health care policy discussions in this country."

Barrueta is stepping into his new role following the recent retirement of Steve Zatkin, who departs after 32 years of service to the health care organization.

Barrueta joined Kaiser Permanente in 1994. For the past six years as vice president of government relations, he coordinated the development of Kaiser Permanente's national legislative and regulatory policy positions, advocating for those positions before Congress and federal government agencies. He has advised senior leaders on various legal and policy issues, including those relating to Medicare, health insurance, pharmacy services and coverage of prescription drugs. Prior to his most recent role, Barrueta served as counsel and then senior counsel in the Legal and Government Relations department. He began his career practicing regulatory law in Washington, D.C. Beyond his role with Kaiser Permanente, Barrueta serves on the board of the East Bay Agency for Children and volunteered for five years as general counsel to the Hispanic College Fund.

About Kaiser Permanente

Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, our mission is to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve 8.6 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: www.kp.org/newscenter.

SOURCE Kaiser Permanente