Wright Lassiter III, president and CEO of Henry Ford Health System in Detroit, is the new board chair of America's Essential Hospitals.
Lassiter, who has served on the association's board of directors since 2014, succeeds Joseph Scott, executive vice president of healthcare transformation for RWJBarnabas Health in New Jersey. Lassiter's one-year term begins July 1.
America's Essential Hospitals, which represents 300 safety-net hospitals, actively lobbies against policies on behalf of its members including cuts to Medicaid disproportionate-share hospital funding, the CMS star ratings and reduced payments to 340B hospitals.
"I am honored to serve in this capacity," Lassiter said in a statement. "When we provide safe, affordable, high-quality healthcare to our most vulnerable communities, then we achieve true equity in healthcare. That is a mission I am passionate to support every day alongside all of our partners at America's Essential Hospitals."
Lassiter has led Henry Ford as president since 2014 and was promoted to CEO in 2017. During his time at the helm, he has overseen mergers, participation in the CMS' Next Generation ACO Model program and a direct-to-employer contract with General Motors.
Prior to joining Henry Ford, he was CEO of Alameda Health System, in Oakland, Calif.
