Molina Healthcare announced this week it has hired Jennifer Vermeer as the plan president of Molina Healthcare of Iowa. Vermeer most recently was assistant vice president of population health and external affairs with University of Iowa Health Care, where she developed value-based contracts and initiatives for the nationally ranked $2 billion academic health system. She previously held positions as CEO and chief operating officer at the University of Iowa Health Alliance and has a distinguished career in Medicaid administration. In May, the Iowa Department of Human Services issued a notice of intent to release a request for proposal before the end of this year for qualified managed care organizations for the Iowa Health Link program, Iowa’s privatized Medicaid system. Two managed-care organizations, Amerigroup and Iowa Total Care, currently manage the program. State officials recently told the Cedar Rapids Gazette that a third insurer may be brought into the program as contract negotiations approach for Amerigroup, whose current contract is scheduled to expire in mid-2023. “As a seasoned leader with broad and deep experience in health care policy, operations, and strategic partnerships, Jennifer is well equipped to lead Molina’s effort to secure a position in Iowa’s Medicaid program,” said Dave Reynolds, senior vice president of health plans of Molina Healthcare. Molina Healthcare, a publicly traded Fortune 500 company, provides managed health care services under the Medicaid and Medicare programs and through the state insurance marketplaces. Through its locally operated health plans, Molina Healthcare served about 4.6 million members as of March 31.