Santana-Chin
L.A. Care Health Plan, the largest Medicaid managed care health plan in the country, serving more than 2.6 million members, is pleased to announce that Martha Santana-Chin assumed the role of Chief Executive Officer on January 6, 2025. Santana-Chin, who brings nearly three decades of experience in managed care to the health plan, is replacing John Baackes, who retired.
Santana-Chin joins L.A. Care after serving most recently as the Plan Chief Product President for Health Net, a Centene company, in California. In that position, she led the company’s operations serving more than three million people in their Medicare and Medi-Cal business lines. She had previously served in leadership positions at AltaMed Health Services and Tenet Health Systems.
At L.A. Care, Santana-Chin will ensure that the organization continues to bring integration, collaboration, and equity to Los Angeles County’s complex healthcare landscape. She brings extensive experience in managed care, provider relations, operations, delivery system strategy, network management, value-based care programs, and business unit accountability. As a Latina leader, the eldest of nine and daughter of immigrants, Santana-Chin understands first-hand the struggles faced by low-income communities like those served by L.A. Care. She is committed to continuing L.A. Care’s efforts to address the social drivers that impact health.
Santana-Chin serves as Board Chair for the United Way of Greater Los Angeles and Board Chair for the Integrated Healthcare Association. She holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Finance from Cal State Long Beach and a Master of Business Administration from UC Irvine.
