John E. Ulberg, Jr., Is Named Senior Vice President and Chief Financial Officer of NYC Health + Hospitals
Brings over 25 years of experience in State government and health care finance
Jun 01, 2018
John E. Ulberg, Jr., has been appointed the new senior vice president and chief financial officer for NYC Health + Hospitals, the largest public health system in the nation. The appointment made by Dr. Mitchell Katz, the health system’s president and chief executive officer, was approved yesterday by the health system’s board of directors.
Mr. Ulberg brings over 25 years’ experience in New York State government and health care finance to his new role. For the past 10 years, he has served as the chief financial officer for the New York State Medicaid program. He was a principal negotiator and designer for the State’s Medicaid Redesign Team Waiver—the five-year, $8 billion waiver widely recognized as a national model for restructuring the health care delivery system and incentivizing collaboration among provider groups. The waiver also has been groundbreaking in rewarding achievement for predetermined health outcomes, including the reduction of avoidable hospital admissions.
“Dr. Katz has recruited another star to further strengthen our commitment to our essential health system’s mission to serve all,” said Gordon J. Campbell, acting chair of the board. “Having someone with Mr. Ulberg’s experience to oversee our finances will be critical in supporting our efforts to provide exceptional patient care and achieve financial solvency.”
“With his extensive experience, I feel very fortunate to be able to bring John Ulberg onto our leadership team,” said Dr. Katz. “He knows New York, he knows large organizations, he knows Medicaid, our single largest payer—he checks off all the key boxes on what would be the absolute ideal for us.”
“I’ve long had a passion to use my skills and knowledge in finance to help better meet the health care needs of the underserved,” said Mr. Ulberg. “So this transition from the State’s Medicaid program to NYC Health + Hospitals allows me to help more New Yorkers, not as a doctor, but as a behind-the-scenes person who hopes to make a difference.”
Mr. Ulberg’s responsibilities in the State’s Medicaid program included leading the fiscal policy team that set annual rates and premiums for health plans, hospitals, nursing homes, and other providers. His disciplined management coupled with his fostering of collaboration among stakeholders and providers is credited with successfully limiting the public program’s spending for the past eight years to keep it under the State’s legislated global cap. He has also been a member of the Value-Based Payment Steering Committee, helping develop consensus around measuring efficiency and quality and ensuring proper implementation.
Prior to joining the Department of Health (which oversees the Medicaid program), Mr. Ulberg served under five different governors in the New York State Budget Division, concentrating on a range of budgetary issues. He has overseen fiscal matters related to the operation of the State Office of Mental Health’s network of 22 hospitals and outpatient programs.
Mr. Ulberg earned his bachelor of science degree from Michigan State University and his master’s in public health degree, with a concentration in health and hospital administration, from the University of Michigan.