Brendan Harris’ lifelong interest in politics and public policy has led to a wide range of experience in health care, administrative policymaking, and oversight. He currently serves as Vice President of Community HealthChoices (CHC) for UPMC Health Plan, the state’s Managed Long-Term Services and Supports program.   

 

UPMC CHC provides long term services and supports to over 132,000 vulnerable Pennsylvanians, with a budget of over $3 billion.  The statewide program provides coverage in all of the Commonwealth’s 67 counties to dually eligible Medicare and Medicaid recipients and individuals with physical disabilities. 

 

Before leading CHC, Harris served as the Regional Vice President of Government Programs for UPMC Health Plan and the other UPMC entities making up the Insurance Services Division.  

 

Prior to joining UPMC, Harris served as part of the Department of Human Services (DHS) executive team for over a decade – a department that serves more than 3 million Pennsylvanians, operates with a $39 billion budget, and has over 16,000 employees.   

 

From 2012 through 2017, he served as the Executive Deputy Secretary of DHS ensuring that quality care and services are provided to vulnerable Pennsylvanians, taxpayer dollars are utilized efficiently, and human service programs are successfully implemented.  During his tenure as the Executive Deputy Secretary, he successfully negotiated a Medicaid expansion plan to provide health care coverage to an additional 715,000 Pennsylvanians and oversaw the department’s implementation of the Affordable Care Act, among other accomplishments.  

 

Harris graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 2004 with a degree in Political Science. He currently resides in western Pennsylvania with his wife and three children.