Reetika Kumar, MD, FACP
joined Independence
Health Group in July of 2017 as Medical Director and VP of Clinical Services
for AmeriHealth Administrators (AHA) and Independence Administrators (IA). She
is committed to improving the health outcomes of members using proven practices
grounded in evidence-based medicine and cost-effective healthcare delivery.
Prior to this, Dr. Kumar was the Vice President of Medical Affairs and Chief
Clinical Officer at Health Partner Plans where she worked directly with the
Department of Human Services (DHS) of Pennsylvania on the Opioid Use Disorder
initiative, recognizing the key role that health plans play in this national
crisis.
Dr.
Kumar has been in health care for 15 years serving in a variety of roles
including direct patient care, faculty in Thomas Jefferson’s residency program,
and in care management services. Her strong leadership skills, clinical and
payer experience, combined with her passion to make a difference, has driven
her to ensure IHG and specifically AHA and IA are using all available resources
to achieve the greatest impact.She works closely with provider engagement and
education teams at Independence BlueCross, ensuring clinically sound pharmacy
criteria for short and long-term use of opioids, as well as implementing strategies
to keep members safe and to ensure member access to care at this critical time
(like making Narcan available to family and care givers). In her past role as
Chief Clinical Officer at Health Partners Plans, she collaborated with
facilities and providers recognized by DHS as Centers of Excellence in Opioid
Use Disorder. She also worked with the leadership there to make Narcan
available to all first responders in Philadelphia, for free.
As part
of the leadership team Dr. Kumar is responsible for providing a clinical
perspective to the company’s strategic plan, which includes partnerships with
clients and vendors in creating innovative solutions for their populations. She
is directly accountable for the administration and oversight of AHA’s Care
Management and Medical Management programs. In addition, she is charged with
facilitating engagement and collaboration with physician peers and hospital
management to improve patient access and the management of complex care
delivery.
Dr.
Kumar was born and raised in India in a single parent home after the passing of
her father in a tragic accident when she was 9 years old. She attended Medical
school at the prestigious Maulana Azad Medical College in New Delhi, India and
completed her residency in Internal medicine at the Johns Hopkins University,
Baltimore, Maryland.
Growing up in India with a single working mother,
and striving to be successful in a male dominated field, Dr. Kumar developed an
affinity for women empowerment. The opioid crisis has significantly impacted
women and the family unit. Studies show that while men are more likely than
women to become addicted, women develop health problems and other devastating
consequences of addiction faster than men. She is thrilled to be part of the
Kaitlin Murphy Foundation and its mission supporting women battling drug
addiction and making recovery accessible to women and their families. She is
committed to bringing her clinical insight and experience in healthcare, and to
helping the foundation create programs that are impactful. Dr. Kumar lives in
New Jersey with her husband and two children.