Washington Community Health Plan Adds Regional Director for Grays Harbor Counties/Pacific Region

Community Health Plan of Washington (CHPW)), Washington’s managed care plan providing Apple Health (Medicaid), Medicare, and individual and family health plans, has appointed Debra Duplessis as regional director, regional systems integration, for the Great Rivers and Thurston Mason regions of the state.

This includes Grays Harbor, Pacific, Thurston, Mason, Lewis, Cowlitz and Wahkiakum counties.

CHPW says Duplessis’ appointment is an important step in advancing CHPW’s on-the-ground support for its members across Washington.

“Our community partners play a critical role in providing CHPW members with a team of healthcare experts and local service providers. By fostering these partnerships, CHPW Regional Leaders are true champions for the health and well-being of our members,” said Connie Mom-Chhing, Senior Director of Regional Systems Integration for the Washington Community Health Plan. . “With Debra’s extensive experience in behavioral health and social work, she brings a fresh perspective to both the growing regional team and to the work to address health disparities in her community.”

Duplessis will serve as a liaison between the communities and the health plan to meet the unique health needs of CHPW members. A resident of the Centralia area, Duplessis is already familiar with behavioral healthcare providers, hospitals, and cross-system partners in the region and state.

She will work alongside community partners to strengthen the integrated health care experience in her communities and for the growing team of regional CHPW managers statewide.

Duplessis comes to this position with over 30 years of experience in social work, counseling and mental health as well as knowledge of local resources.

Prior to CHPW, Duplessis served as a crisis services counselor and psychiatric emergency services counselor at Providence Saint Peter Hospital, as well as social work and mental health positions and served in the U.S. military for more than two decades.

Duplessis has received endorsements as a Washington State Children’s Mental Health Specialist and a trainer in the Domestic Violence Perpetrator Training Program and Critical Incident Stress Management course.

“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to serve a team that values ​​overall health and cares about members of our local communities. After meeting the CHPW staff and understanding their mission statement and core values, I believed I was the right fit for the organization. I understand this is an important role for the community and I look forward to helping CHPW carry out its mission,” said Duplessis.

The addition of Duplessis to the regional team follows the appointment of Gerardo Perez-Guerrero as regional director of the central-north. These regional managers are responsible for collaborating with health care providers and cross-sectoral partners on strategies to advance the integration of health care (physical health, mental health, behavioral health, and mental health services). use of substances in a single system).

To learn more about CHPW, visit chpw.org.