Meet Dr. Hany Abdelaal, CCA’s President of Clinical Services. Hany is focused on advancing CCA’s mission, enhancing the uncommon care model, and scaling enterprise-wide clinical operations and health plan offerings.
Q: Welcome to CCA! Where are you joining us from, and what drew you to Commonwealth Care Alliance?
For the past 25 years I’ve helped to lead health plans and care services for individuals with significant needs. I most recently served for over a decade as a physician executive at VNS Health, one of the largest not-for-profit home- and community-based healthcare organizations in the U.S. I am thrilled to join the outstanding clinical team at CCA, whose mission aligns perfectly with my strong belief in the immense value of integrated care.
In the time that I have been here, CCA’s team and our provider partners have shown palpable passion for our work. It makes me that much more excited about my decision to join CCA.
Q: Can you tell us some more about your background?
I served as President of VNS Health Plans, a safety-net insurance organization offering both Medicare Advantage and New York State Medicaid. Serving 30,000 members, it is one of New York State’s largest Long-Term Care Dual Eligible programs. Prior to this role, I served as Chief Medical Officer for the VNS Health and VNS CHOICE Health Plans.
I am an internal medicine/primary care specialist by training, and have provided direct care across various healthcare settings, including hospitals, outpatient primary care sites, urgent care, skilled nursing facilities, and hospices. I received my medical degree from NYIT College Of Osteopathic Medicine and completed my residency at Maimonides Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY — which is also where I began my career in medicine.
For the past 20 years I’ve worked in executive management with integrated health systems. I was Medical Director and Vice President of Operations at HomeFirst Inc. and then Chief Medical Officer and Vice President of Medical Affairs for Elderplan/HomeFirst.
On a personal note, I am a supporter of the American Cancer Society and NYC AIDS Walk.
Q: How would you describe the focus of your career so far?
My career has been marked by a profound commitment to reaching members and patients with significant needs and pioneering innovative models of care. Commonwealth Care Alliance has long been a national leader in delivering person-centered care to the people I have dedicated my career to serving.
I have a deep background of over 25 years serving individuals who are dual-eligible for Medicare and Medicaid, specifically at organizations providing long-term services and supports (LTSS). There is no one-size-fits-all method that will enable every individual with significant means to live safely and independently at home, working toward their health and wellness goals. Working with aging adults and those with disabilities has made me acutely aware of the importance of the personalized care we strive to provide at CCA.
Q: Your arrival marks a shift for CCA to a deeper focus on the clinical aspect of the member experience. Can you describe your vision?
As President of Clinical Services, my focus is on our members and patients. In this newly created role, I have oversight of all clinical services, care delivery, and quality functions with strong alignment with our customer service and experience work.
As CCA continues to grow, our clinical services and care delivery programs remain a critical and increasingly intricate part of our organization. They also provide the foundation for our uncommon model of care that delivers better health outcomes through seamless integration, a community focus, and an emphasis on the behavioral and social determinants of health that account for so many critical gaps in care.
Q: What are some of your goals for CCA?
My goal is to lead CCA in improving strategic coordination across all stakeholders and priorities, keeping our members at the center of all we do. This alignment is critical for us to uphold our standards of excellence in delivering an equitable experience to members and patients with increasing and varied needs.
My top priority is providing access to quality care to all our members, ensuring we focus on their needs as individuals. We will accomplish this by not only ensuring excellent care from our in-house CCA providers but partnering with top providers in the community. This partnership will require us to collaborate on quality metrics and maintain a seamless experience for provider-partners working with CCA members.