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Colorado Access CEO Announces Timeline for Retirement and Succession

Denver – Colorado Access, the state’s largest and most experienced Medicaid health plan, announced today that its longtime President and Chief Executive Officer, Marshall Thomas, MD, will retire within the next year. Dr. Thomas has been the executive leader of the organization since 2006 and leaves the health plan positioned for continued success and in its best financial condition in its 25-year history.

Dr. Thomas commented, “I am so proud of what we have accomplished serving the most vulnerable populations in Colorado and delivering on our mission every day. I look forward to working with the board of directors to find the company’s next executive leader with the goal of ensuring a smooth transition through this important process.”

During Dr. Thomas’ tenure, Colorado Access has grown from 50,000 members to more than 600,000 Medicaid members throughout the greater Denver region. The mission of the organization is to partner with communities and empower people through access to quality, equitable, and affordable care. Colorado Access has developed innovative care management models and a broad network of the region’s best providers, hospitals, and clinics.

Carl Clark, MD, Chairman of the Colorado Access Board of Directors, stated, “The entire board of directors thanks Marshall for his dedicated leadership and successful career as the President and CEO of Colorado Access. He has positioned our organization for continued success and leaves the organization on a firm financial foundation.”

In addition to serving as the Colorado Access chief executive, Dr. Thomas is a Professor and the Marsico Chair of Excellence in the Department of Psychiatry and Family Medicine at the University of Colorado School of Medicine. He serves as the Executive Director for the Center for Mental Health Policy and Community Program Development in the Department of Psychiatry and was the founding Executive Director of the Helen and Arthur E. Johnson Depression Center at the University of Colorado’s Anschutz Medical Campus.

The Colorado Access Board of Directors has formed a CEO search committee that will engage a national search firm to assist in identifying the company’s next President/CEO. The process is expected to take the remainder of 2021 and Dr. Thomas has offered to assist in this important transition process. Dr. Thomas plans to fully retire from Colorado Access by early 2022.

 

About Colorado Access

Colorado Access is a local, nonprofit health plan that serves Medicaid members throughout Colorado. The company’s members receive health care as part of Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+) and Health First Colorado (Colorado’s Medicaid Program). The company also provides care coordination services and administers behavioral and physical health benefits for two geographic regions as part of the Accountable Care Collaborative Program through Health First Colorado. To learn more about Colorado Access, visit coaccess.com.