Alan Levine
An experienced, nationally recognized, expert in conservative health care policy, state and federal response to disasters and emergency management, and reforms to the higher education system, Alan Levine has a track record of positive contributions throughout his career. He is periodically sought after by national media outlets for expert contribution, and he has advised or led transitions for several governors, including Bobby Jindal, Jeb Bush, Rick Scott, Bill Lee, Glen Youngkin and Ron DeSantis.
Recently elected by his colleagues on the Florida Board of Governors to serve as Chair of the body governing Florida’s state universities, Alan is the longest serving member, having been reappointed by the Governor and confirmed multiple times by the State Senate. During his tenure, Florida transformed its higher education system, which is now ranked the #1 system of higher education in the nation.
As Secretary of the health care agencies for Florida and Louisiana, Alan led each state through multiple reforms which reduced the cost of health care, provided transparency in the health care system, and generated results fighting fraud and abuse. Alan’s efforts to fight for hospital and drug pricing transparency led to passage of new laws, and Florida, under his leadership, was the first state in the nation to publish hospital pricing, quality outcomes and pharmaceutical pricing on the internet. The federal government followed Levine’s lead and implemented similar efforts. Alan also led the health care response to 12 major hurricanes, the largest peacetime medical evacuation in the history of the United States, the H1N1 Pandemic, and the Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill.
Alan’s efforts as a chief executive officer decreased the cost of health care by hundreds of millions of dollars annually, while the hospitals associated with his systems received national recognition for quality of care. For instance, when a rural Appalachian region the size of New Hampshire was facing the loss of rural hospitals, Alan successfully sought legislation in Virginia and Tennessee to permit a model of health care delivery which stabilized the rural hospitals – with three of them being named among the top 100 in the nation. One previously closed rural hospital was reopened. The rate of preventable admissions decreased by 50%, and most patient harm reduction measures performed among the top decile in the nation. All three national rating agencies upgraded the debt ratings for this rural system (which has only 21% of its patients with commercial health insurance) to an “A” rating, which has been maintained even during a time when most health systems were being downgraded. The strength of his management was cited by the agencies as a credit positive. Alan’s work as chief executive of a large public hospital system was highlighted in the book, Stop Paying the Crooks, due to his major reforms of the system.
Alan received a bachelor’s degree in health sciences, a master’s degree in business administration, and a master’s degree in health sciences from the University of Florida, where he is recognized as a member of the University of Florida Hall of Fame. He is married to his wife, Laura, a nurse, and they have two grown children, both with careers in health care.
