Touchstone Communities®, a San Antonio-based growing provider of rehabilitation and skilled nursing care, announced today that its Senior Vice President of Management Services, Sandy Klein, has been appointed by Governor Rick Perry to the STAR + PLUS Facility Advisory Committee. Klein will serve for a term expiring at the pleasure of the Governor.
“Being appointed by Governor Perry to help provide guidance and direction as the skilled nursing profession moves into the STAR + PLUS Medicaid managed care model is a true honor for me,” Klein commented. “Definitely I look forward to joining with the other Facility Advisory Committee appointees in getting started with our work, and doing what is best for Medicaid long-term care residents on behalf of their families and in support of caregivers and the profession as a whole,” she added. Stan Studer, Jr., Touchstone Communities’ Chief Executive Officer, commented: “We deeply appreciate Governor Perry’s recognition of Sandy and her long-term care expertise, commitment to quality and innovative care, and state and national leadership roles as a key executive within Touchstone Communities and the profession as a whole.”
A long-time Licensed Nursing Facility Administrator, Klein joined Touchstone Communities in 2007. She also serves as an executive board member of the Texas Health Care Association, a state representative of the American Health Care Association, and member and past Texas Chapter Director of Professional Development for the American College of Health Care Administrators. She is also a member of the Texas Alliance for Patient Access (TAPA) Executive Board, co-chair of community outreach for The University of Texas Health Science Center School of Nursing Advisory Board, and a long-time board member and volunteer for Alpha Home, a San Antonio-based non-profit chemical dependency treatment center providing specialized services to women. Klein is a 1975 graduate of Texas A&M University.
Created by Senate Bill 7 from the 2013 Regular Session of the Texas Legislature, the STAR + PLUS Facility Advisory Committee advises the Texas Health and Human Services Commission on the transfer of nursing facility services to the STAR + PLUS Medicaid managed care model. Other appointees named by the Governor are Don Langer of Katy, Woody Richards of Georgetown, Peggy M. Russell, M.D., of Austin, and Suzanna Sulfstede of Carrollton.
Touchstone Communities®
Headquartered in San Antonio, Touchstone Communities® provides health care services, including skilled nursing, rehabilitation, Alzheimer’s care and assisted living for the elderly. With 1,700 team members, Touchstone Communities® operates 13 communities in Texas, including San Antonio, Brenham, Cotulla, Del Rio, Gonzales, La Vernia, Laredo, Pleasanton, Rockdale, Snyder, Tomball, Tyler, and North Houston/Spring. Touchstone also manages long-term care communities for veterans on behalf of the State of Texas located in Amarillo, Bonham, Floresville, Tyler and Temple. For more information, visit www.Touchstone-Communities.com.