MetroPlusHealth, New York City’s five-star rated health plan, announced today the appointment of Lauren Leverich Castaldo as Chief Financial Officer (CFO), reporting to President & CEO, Talya Schwartz, MD.
MetroPlusHealth, the wholly-owned subsidiary of NYC Health + Hospitals with over 600,000 members across the five boroughs, remains a vital part of New York City’s commitment to guarantee accessible, affordable, and quality health care to every New Yorker.
Castaldo will lead all financial operations for the company, with complete oversight of MetroPlusHealth’s fiscal functions, including the development of Plan policies on finance, accounting, insurance, financial/accounting systems, internal controls, budgeting, and auditing. Castaldo, formerly MetroPlusHealth’s Deputy Chief Financial Officer, was promoted from within.
As a part of CEO and President Dr. Talya Schwartz’s Executive Diversity Initiative, a strategic effort to hire, on-board, and/or promote a diverse coalition of C-Suite executives – including dynamic women leaders – Castaldo joins a distinguished executive leadership team that brings a myriad of experience, insights, and perspectives to MetroPlusHealth.
Castaldo’s promotion follows the recent appointment of Michelle Reay as Chief Operating Officer (COO) and Lesleigh Irish-Underwood as Chief Brand and External Relations Officer (CBERO).
“Lauren Leverich Castaldo has been a valuable part of our finance team for the past 14 years,” said CEO Talya Schwartz. “After a lengthy external search, we discovered that the perfect person to lead our financial operations in the role of CFO was right under our own tent. With deep functional expertise and technical knowledge in all aspects of our corporate finance, Lauren has long played a key role in the expansion of our business to a multibillion-dollar concern.
She has extensive experience leading our financial and analytics operations and has helped drive innovation at the Plan, particularly throughout the pandemic.
But most importantly, she understands how our financial systems connect to our members, as well as to the broader New York City health care marketplace.
We know that Lauren will continue to strengthen and fortify our existing mechanisms while implementing new fiscal platforms that will move MetroPlusHealth’s financial operations forward through the current market challenges, as she helps position us for future growth.”
Castaldo joined the Finance department of MetroPlusHealth in 2006, gradually assuming additional responsibilities and roles within the company, most recently as Chief Administrative Officer (CAO).
She has led the planning, reporting, and analysis of the Finance and Claims divisions, and was responsible for the financial, regulatory, risk, and utilization reporting, health analytics, enrollment, membership, and risk score accuracy.
“I am honored to be promoted to the role of Chief Financial Officer and am committed to collaborating closely across our organization to continue to serve the needs of our members,” said Lauren Leverich Castaldo. “I am passionate about New York City, and I am from a family of union workers, both of which have informed my understanding of, and approach to, health care planning, budgeting, and financial operations. As a long-time MetroPlusHealth employee, it has been rewarding to play a role in bettering the lives of New Yorkers by providing access to quality, affordable health care. I look forward to continuing to do so in this new leadership role.”
Prior to joining MetroPlusHealth, Castaldo was an Associate Staff Analyst at the New York City Police Department (NYPD), Office of the Deputy Commissioner, where she was responsible for preparing the NYPD’s expense budget.
Previously, she served as Senior Analyst at the Office of Management and Budget, Office of the Mayor of the City of New York, where she led the planning, preparation, and implementation of all phases of New York City’s community board budget process.
Castaldo, a native of Bayonne, New Jersey, holds a Bachelor of Science degree from St. John’s University.
Since 1985, MetroPlus Health Plan has provided access to affordable, quality health care to residents across New York City.
A wholly-owned subsidiary of NYC Health + Hospitals, the nation’s largest public health system, MetroPlusHealth is the plan of choice for over 600,000 New Yorkers and has a five-star rating based on the State’s 2020 Consumer’s Guide to Medicaid and Child Health Plus Managed Care Plans in New York City.
The health plan’s robust network of primary care doctors and specialists includes many independent community providers. Culturally sensitive, and fluent in more than 40 languages, MetroPlusHealth’s staff is as diverse as the great city it serves.
For more information about MetroPlusHealth plans, benefits, and services, visit www.metroplus.org and join the conversation at facebook.com/MetroPlusHealth/and twitter.com/@metroplushealth.
Photo credit: Lauren Leverich Castaldo.
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