Jonathan Welch, M.D., has been named Chief Medical Officer for Boston Medical Center (BMC) HealthNet Plan. In this position, Dr. Welch leads the Office of Clinical Affairs, which includes Pharmacy, Care Management, Utilization Management, Provider Audit/Special Investigations Unit, Quality, and Behavioral Health Services. He is responsible for providing strategic direction on quality improvement, population health, and cost saving initiatives. Dr. Welch, a practicing physician, will have an important role as the BMC Health System develops a MassHealth Accountable Care Organization model.

“Dr. Welch brings to BMC HealthNet Plan a strong background that combines proven administrative and clinical skills,” said Susan Coakley, President of BMC HealthNet Plan. “Our members will benefit from his experience and insights as a national leader on patient and family centered care.”  

Dr. Welch has been an instructor at Harvard Medical School and an attending physician in the Emergency Department at Brigham and Women’s Hospital for the past five years. Most recently he worked with the consulting firm McKinsey and Company designing bundled payments for state Medicaid programs. While at McKinsey, Dr. Welch advised several health systems across the country on value-based care strategies, including tracking and improving performance. He also has worked on provider product strategy for Medicare Advantage, and has assessed Stars measure performance and population health management capabilities. In addition, Dr. Welch is recognized for his work with patient and family-centered care, having served on federal panels examining this critical topic.

He received his medical degree from Harvard Medical School and completed his residency at Massachusetts General Hospital, Brigham and Women’s Hospital and Children’s Hospital. Dr. Welch received his bachelor’s degree from the University of Wisconsin and a Master’s Degree in Health Policy from the London School of Economics. Prior to medical school, Dr. Welch was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship to study multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Peru with Partners in Health.

According to Dr. Welch, “I am pleased to be engaged in such meaningful work that aligns with my interests and experience. I look forward to joining the BMC HealthNet Plan team and working with the entire BMC system. This is especially meaningful since my regulatory and medical experience supports our organization’s mission.”     

About BMC HealthNet Plan

Boston Medical Center founded Boston Medical Center Health Plan, Inc. in 1997 as a not-for-profit managed care organization doing business in Massachusetts as Boston Medical Center (BMC) HealthNet Plan. Outside Massachusetts the business name is Well Sense Health Plan. BMC HealthNet Plan has received a rating of 4.5 out of 5 for its Massachusetts Medicaid product in the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) 2016-2017 Health Insurance Plan Ratings. This rating gives BMC HealthNet Plan the distinction of being one of the highest rated Medicaid health plans in the nation. Its Medicaid HMO has achieved Excellent Accreditation status from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) based on the results from its recent submissions of HEDIS® and CAHPS® data to NCQA. Excellent Accreditation is the highest status awarded by NCQA. In addition, BMC HealthNet Plan has maintained Accredited status for its Qualified Health Plan coverage. Accredited is the highest status currently available for Qualified Health Plans. For more information, go to bmchp.org. For more information about BMC HealthNet Plan Senior Care Options, go to seniorsgetmore.org.