OCKERMAN NAMED DIRECTOR OF STATE HEALTH PLANNING DIVISION

NASHVILLE – A 22-year veteran of health care law has been named director of Health Planning for the state. Jefferson H. “Jeff” Ockerman will lead the Division of Health Planning, located in the Department of Finance and Administration.

“This important position will guide state policy to ensure we are always evaluating health care resources and meeting health improvement objectives,” Finance Commissioner Dave Goetz said. “Jeff brings extensive experience from the private and corporate sector and his comprehensive knowledge of the healthcare infrastructure will be invaluable in reaching our goals.”

Ockerman will develop a state health plan that guides health care programs and policy, and help ensure that relevant health care programs and services across state government are coordinated and leveraged to optimize health outcomes, accessibility and value for Tennesseans.

“This is a terrific opportunity to work with Governor Bredesen in meeting his health care goals in Tennessee, and leading a team that will have a positive impact on the health care of all Tennesseans,” Ockerman said.

As a health care attorney with Stites & Harbison PLLC of Nashville, Ockerman advised clients on issues including fraud and abuse, physician self-referrals, the confidentiality of health information, licensures and certificates of need, formation of Preferred Provider Organizations (PPO) and Physician Hospital Organizations (PHO) and managed care law.

“While we’ll miss Jeff and his talents, his experience with various aspects of health care law, real estate law knowledge and desire to serve the state of Tennessee position him ideally for this important public policy role,” said Julian Bibb, partner with Stites & Harbison.

Prior to Stites & Harbison, Ockerman was a health care executive, serving as associate general counsel for PhyCor, Inc. (now Aveta Health, Inc.), a publicly traded physician management company, and Coventry Health Care, Inc., a publicly traded regional HMO. He also was legal counsel for HCA in the 1980s.

His public service includes serving a term on Nashville Metro Council during Governor Bredesen’s first term as Nashville mayor and budget director for Bill Purcell’s Nashville mayoral race in 1999.

A graduate of Auburn University and the University of Kentucky College of Law, Ockerman is a member of the American Health Lawyers Association, the Tennessee Bar Association and the Nashville Bar Association.

He is past chair of the East Area Business Council, Nashville Civic Design Center, WPLN Radio and the Rape and Sexual Abuse Center.