The Community Health Plan of Washington (CHPW) announced last Wednesday the appointment of Debra Duplessis to the position of regional manager for regional systems integration for The Great Rivers and Thurston Mason regions of Washington state, including Lewis and Thurston counties. CHPW is a managed care plan that provides Medicaid, Medicare and individual and family health plans.
CHPW said Duplessis’ appointment better positions the nonprofit “to collaborate with community partners, advocate for CHPW members and improve health experiences.”
“Our community partners play a critical role in providing CHPW members with a team of locally-based health care experts and service providers. By fostering these partnerships, CHPW’s regional managers are true champions of our members’ health and well-being,” said Connie Mom-Chhing, senior director of regional systems integration of Community Health Plan of Washington. “With Debra’s vast experience in behavioral health and social work, she brings a fresh perspective to both the growing regional team and the work to address health disparities in her community.”
According to CHPW, Duplessis, a resident of the Centralia area, will serve as a liaison between communities and the health plan to meet the needs of CHPW members. She has over 30 years of experience working in mental health, counseling and social work and previously worked as a crisis services counselor and psychiatric emergency services counselor at Providence St. Peter Hospital. Duplessis also spent over two decades serving in the U.S. Army.
“I am excited for the opportunity to serve a team that values whole health and cares about the members in our local communities. After meeting with CHPW’s staff and understanding their mission statement and core values, I believed I was a perfect match for the organization. I understand this is an important role for the community and look forward to helping CHPW carry out its mission,” Duplessis said in a news release.
