Richard Thomason is the program officer for health care and coverage at the Blue Shield of California Foundation. He was principal consultant for Assembly Majority Leader Dario Frommer. Frommer led the fight to improve access to health care and higher education in California. He introduced key legislation addressing California's ailing health care system, including bills to expand health care coverage to working Californians, rein in runaway health care costs and increase Californians' access to affordable, lifesaving prescription drugs.
St. Joseph Health System (SJHS) is an integrated health care delivery system providing a broad range of medical services. The system is organized into three regions -- Northern Californa, Southern California, and West Texas/Eastern New Mexico -- and consists of 14 acute care hospitals, as well as home health agencies, hospice care, outpatient services, skilled nursing facilities, community clinics and physician organizations. SJHS has established a "continuum of care" -- that is, a system that links and coordinates an entire spectrum of health services.
