Dr. Kathleen Donneson is Chief, Office of Health Plan Administration, Health Policy and Benefits Branch, California Public Employees Retirement System.
Dr. Donneson oversees Health Maintenance Organization (HMO), Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) health plan contracts, three association plan offerings, and the Long-Term Care (LTC) program. Her duties include managing health and long term care operations and procurements, health and long term care funding, capitation and fee for service premium distribution, clinical programs and benefits, member grievances and appeals, carrier financial reporting, and provider network performance.
Under her leadership, the Health Plan Administration Division evaluates alternative benefit and clinical designs, implements Affordable Care Act reforms, and conducts business planning, operations, and oversight for programs that serve 1.4 million members with over $9 billion in health benefits and $4 billion in LTC benefits.
Dr. Donneson holds a Doctorate and Master of Public Administration from the University of Southern California, MPA/HSA degree from the University of San Francisco, and a B.S., Biological Sciences from U.C. Davis.
She has taught graduate courses in health and public policy, management, research, and information systems for USC, University of Maryland European Division, UCSF, and California State University, Hayward.
In 2012, Dr. Donneson retired as a Colonel in the Air Force Medical Service where she served in the U.S., Germany, and retired from Osan AB, Korea. She is a Desert Storm Veteran and directed medical expeditionary operations in the Balkans, Afghanistan, and Iraq.