Jim McGrann.

LAS VEGAS—Jim McGrann, president of VSP Vision Care, was inducted as the chairman of the board of directors of the National Association of Vision Care Plans (NAVCP) yesterday during the 2015 Specialty Health Summit held in conjunction with the National Association of Specialty Health Organizations (NASHO). His two-year term is effective immediately, succeeding Aspasia Shappet, CEO of MESVision, Inc., who was chairwoman during the 2013-2015 two-year term. McGrann has served on the NAVCP board since 2012, and he previously held the office of secretary/treasurer.

“Under Aspasia Shappet’s leadership, NAVCP launched substantial initiatives that will transform the managed vision care industry. I look forward to continuing and building upon her legacy and exploring the future of managed vision care,” McGrann said. “We provide unique value to the health care continuum, and together, we will work to ensure greater access to eyecare so that our members can continue to see their best.”

NAVCP executive director Julian Roberts added, “Jim McGrann has established himself as a leader not only within our organization but in the optical industry as a whole. As chairman, he’ll be in an even greater position to lend his talents, energy and wealth of industry experience to fulfill our organization’s mission.”

Also announced during the meeting were the other NAVCP board members—secretary/treasurer, Karen Gustin, SVP, group distribution, Ameritas Life Insurance Corp.; public policy committee chair, Erich Sternberg, president, AlwaysCare Benefits, Inc./Starmount Life Insurance; technology committee chair, Robert Stein, chief philanthropic & managed care development officer, National Vision, Inc.; industry relations committee chair, Daniel Levy, OD, CDPHM, chief optometric officer, Avesis Inc.; administrative simplification committee chair, Lukas Ruecker, president, EyeMed Vision Care; and board directors Vidya Baliga, vision director, eyeQuest; Howard Braverman, OD, national vision director, Humana, Inc.; Celina Burns, president, Davis Vision, Inc.; David Cassell, general counsel, SVS Vision, Inc.; James Davies, president/CEO, Vision Benefits of America; Alan Hirschberg, vice president, MetLife; Philip Kaufman, president, specialty benefits, UnitedHealthcare; David Lavely, president & CEO, OptiCare Managed Vision, Inc.; Myles Lewis, CEO, General Vision Services; Kirk Rothrock, CEO, Superior Vision; Aspasia Shappet, CEO, MESVision, Inc.; Ruedi Suter, president/CEO, PFO Global; Gail Tarantino, senior director market development, Essilor of America, Inc.; John Thorp, president, Blue View Vision, Anthem, Inc.; and Debra Wharton, manager strategy and product development, Aetna, Inc.

Also during the three-day 2015 Specialty Health Summit being held May 4 to 6 at the Four Seasons Hotel Las Vegas, NASHO inducted Tabatha Erck, CEO, Chiropractic Care of Minnesota, Inc., as chairwoman of the board. She begins her two-year term immediately, assuming the helm from Andrew Alcorn, president, Superior Vision.

Erck has served on the NASHO board since 2012, and she previously chaired the Physical Medicine Management Alliance. “As a career professional in the specialty health care industry, I recognize the important role that managed specialty health care organizations play in facilitating positive health outcomes incumbent to an individual’s overall well-being,” Erck said. “It’s an honor to take the helm of and serve an organization dedicated to mainstreaming specialty health care within the health care marketplace and delivery system.”

Julian Roberts, who also serves as NASHO executive director, added, “Tabatha Erck has already established herself as a leader within our organization through her tireless commitment to fulfilling our mission. As chairwoman, she’ll be in even greater position to lend her talents and expertise to further our efforts.”