HAH promotes UH alumni staff members
The Healthcare Association of Hawaii (HAH) is pleased to announce the appointment of University of Hawai‘i alumni Paul Young as associate vice president for finance and public policy, and Chris Crabtree as the new director of HAH Emergency Services.
“It is especially gratifying when the best person for the job is also someone who has already served the association for years, and excelled at doing so,” said George Greene, Esq., president and CEO of the association. “It is my privilege to promote these two fine individuals.”
The two promotions become effective immediately. HAH is the nonprofit trade organization for Hawai‘i’s hospitals, nursing homes, assisted living facilities, hospices, home health agencies, durable medical equipment providers, and other healthcare provider organizations. The 77-year-old organization represents the continuum of care in the state.
Paul Young
Paul Young joined HAH in 2010, and was senior director of Reimbursement and Public Policy before this month’s promotion. “It’s such a challenging time for healthcare,” Young said. “I want to do everything possible to create a sustainable future for Hawai‘i’s healthcare providers.”
Young has focused on reimbursement issues related to the Affordable Care Act (ACA) and subsequent Federal legislation. In addition, he represents Hawai‘i healthcare providers as a registered lobbyist with the Hawai‘i State Legislature.
During his tenure HAH advocated successfully for the legislature to adopt the Hospital and Nursing Facility Sustainability programs, which provide private hospitals and long-term care facilities with improved Medicaid reimbursements. This also allowed public providers to benefit as well, through the full retention of their certified public expenditures to improve their ability to draw down and retain federal funds. Young serves on both the State Innovation Model Planning Committee and Section 1332 ACA Waiver Task Force.
Young also works with Hawai‘i’s Congressional delegation on improving Medicare reimbursements by recognizing the state’s unique landscape and geographic isolation. Prior to joining HAH, Young was employed by the Hawaii Medical Service Association for 12 years.
Born and raised in Honolulu, Young graduated from Punahou School prior to enrolling at the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. In addition to a bachelor’s degree in secondary education, Young also earned a master of business administration.
Chris Crabtree
Chris Crabtree brings a broad range of experience to HAH, having been a firefighter, paramedic, tenured assistant professor in emergency medical services, training officer, planning section chief and acting deputy commander for the Hawaii Disaster Medical Assistance Team, disaster researcher, manager of program development and, most recently, interim director for HAH Emergency Services.
Crabtree has experience in responding to dozens of major emergencies and disaster events and incidents both locally and nationally. Some of those responses included Superstorm Sandy in 2012, American Samoa tsunami in 2009, and the 2006 Kiholo Bay Earthquake.
Crabtree has a master’s degree in public administration and a doctor of public health degree from the University of Hawai‘i at Mānoa. Crabtree is also board certified as an emergency manager by the International Association of Emergency Managers, and designated as a Master FEMA Trainer by the Emergency Management Institute.
“I’m looking forward to the many challenges that this position brings and the opportunity to develop and improve our level of healthcare system preparedness, response, mitigation, and recovery,” said Crabtree.