SPEAKER BIOS

William Altman

William serves as Senior Vice President of Strategy and Public Policy for Kindred Healthcare, Inc., a provider of long-term acute care hospitals, skilled nursing centers and contract rehabilitation services operating in 40 states nationwide.  Prior to joining Kindred, Mr. Altman served in a variety of capacities in the public and private sectors including the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, the Lewin Group and the law firm of Proskauer Rose.  Mr. Altman served as President of the Acute Long Term Hospital Association (ALTHA) and currently serves on the Board of Directors of Federation of American Hospitals.  He also is the Chair of the Louisville Metro Board of Health.  In addition to a law degree, he holds a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota’s Humphrey Institute of Public Affairs and has completed coursework towards a doctorate in public health at the University of Michigan.  Mr. Altman speaks and writes frequently on Medicare/Medicaid reimbursement, quality of care, compliance and risk management.

Charles Baker

Charlie has spent his career bringing success and strong management to both the private and public sectors in Massachusetts. Raised in Needham, Massachusetts as the oldest of three sons, Charlie graduated from Needham High School in 1975 as an All-League basketball player. He attended Harvard College, lettering in varsity basketball and graduating with a degree in English in 1979. Over the following five years, Charlie worked as Media Relations Director for the New England Council, and then as Corporate Communications Director for the Massachusetts High Technology Council. He decided to return to school in 1984 and earned an MBA from Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University in 1986.

In 1988, Baker helped start the Pioneer Institute for Public Policy Research, an independent, nonpartisan state think tank. Baker left Pioneer in January, 1991 to join the newly elected Weld/Cellucci Administration as Undersecretary for Health in the Executive Office of Health and Human Services. As Undersecretary, Charlie played pivotal roles in Medicaid reform, facility consolidation, and the expansion of a number of key public health programs. He became Secretary of Health and Human Services in the fall of 1992, and led the Administration’s efforts to enact welfare reform.

Baker became Secretary of Administration and Finance in the fall of 1994, and served in that position until September of 1998. He re-structured and simplified the state’s purchasing system, led a major effort to improve the state’s capacity to collect third party revenue, and oversaw the largest effort ever to modernize the state’s code of regulation. He received the Distinguished Service Award from the National Governor’s Association in 1998.

Baker became CEO of Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates (HVMA) in the fall of 1998, and was soon recruited by Harvard Vanguard’s parent – Harvard Pilgrim Health Care – to serve as its CEO in May, 1999. Baker led a major turnaround at HPHC, which included a $220 million year-to-year improvement in financial performance from 1999 to 2000, and the amicable separation of HPHC and HVMA. Under Baker's tenure, HPHC went on to become the highest ranked health plan in the country for member satisfaction and clinical effectiveness for five years running, and was named a Boston Business Journal “Best Places To Work” for seven straight years.

Over the years, Baker and his wife, Lauren, have been heavily involved in numerous civic and charitable endeavors. Charlie served for 3 years as a member of the Board of Selectmen in Swampscott, and served on the town’s School Building Committee. Lauren was the registrar for Swampscott soccer for ten years, is active with the Red Cross, and serves as the Chair of the Board of Marian Court College. Charlie and his wife live in Swampscott, and have three children – Charlie, AJ, and Caroline.

Michael Sachs

Michael is a noted health care industry strategist and visionary. Under his leadership, Sg2 provides forward-focused information, education and support to improve the clinical performance and
strategic growth of health care organizations. Sg2 serves over 1,000 organizations in more than 10 countries, including health care systems, academic medical centers, community hospitals,
health plans and suppliers.

Before founding Sg2, Michael was the chairman of Sachs Group, which was founded in 1984. Sachs Group provided health care planning and marketing data to hospitals and health plans in the US. Its market forecasting tools and targeted marketing solutions were recognized as the most analytically sound and practical in the industry.

Previously, Michael was a consultant with Ernst & Whinney and with AT Kearney. He also served on the management team of Hurley Medical Center in Flint, MI. He received a BA in science and a master of science in public health in health management from the University of Missouri-Columbia. He began his health care career by working in the emergency department of the University of Missouri Medical Center.

Michael is a frequent lecturer on the future of health care and the impact of business and economic changes on the delivery of care. He has presented to executive teams, boards of trustees, industry groups and physicians across the US and abroad. He has also contributed articles to journals and magazines and coauthored books and periodicals.

Michael supports many civic causes, with a special interest in education and support for children with learning differences. He has been active in the Young Presidents’ Organization, World Presidents’ Organization, Chief Executives Organization and The Economic Club of Chicago.