LifeCare Health Partners Appoints New Chief Executive Officer, Promotes COO

PLANO, Texas, March 14, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- LifeCare Health Partners, a leading healthcare services provider, has announced healthcare industry veteran Jim Murray will join the company as chief executive officer effective April 1, 2017.  The company has also announced that LifeCare Chief Operating Officer Frank Battafarano has been promoted to president and COO.

Murray assumes his new role after a successful 28-year career with Humana, where he served as chief financial officer as well as chief operating officer.  During his time at Humana, Murray contributed significantly to the company's growth.  In fiscal year 2000, the year Murray became COO, Humana's revenues were $10.5 billion, with approximately 5 million covered members.  Today, Humana's revenues exceed $54 billion with 14 million members in various lines of business.

"Jim joined our board in the spring of 2016 and immediately impressed the other board members with his deep engagement in our strategic planning process and his financial and operational acumen," said LifeCare Health Partners Chairman Jeff Goldberg. "We had a number of excellent candidates with experience running large, complex health care providers. But when Jim suggested he would be interested in leading LifeCare as we continue to diversify our core services and refocus our referral sources on the value we provide, the board knew we found the right person to lead us into the future."

"I am excited to position LifeCare to compete and win in today's healthcare landscape," Murray commented.  "I'm extremely impressed with the LifeCare associates I've had a chance to spend time with during my time on the board and I know they share the board's vision for LifeCare in the future."

In addition to Murray's appointment, Frank Battafarano, who has served as the company's chief operating officer since 2014, has been promoted to president and COO.  Battafarano came to LifeCare following a 20-year career with Kindred Health Care during which time he more than doubled operating income in the hospital division, spearheaded the development of a managed care strategy, and implemented cluster-market strategies to integrate LTACH, transitional care, and rehabilitation services. 

"Frank is an executive with unequaled experience in both LTACH operations and diversified post-acute services," said Murray.  "I look forward to partnering with Frank and LifeCare's 4,000 associates to improve quality of life for the patients we serve."

"I appreciate this additional vote of confidence from Jim and the board," said Battafarano. "With the vision of our company's leadership and the dedication and professionalism of our caregivers across the country, the future for LifeCare Health Partners is bright."

About LifeCare

Headquartered in Plano, Texas, LifeCare Health Partners is a leading healthcare services provider dedicated to improving the quality of life for patients and maximizing their potential for healing and recovery. The company encompasses the LifeCare Family of Hospitals as well as a variety of post-acute services including transitional care, inpatient behavioral health treatment and home-based care.  Learn more at www.lifecare-hospitals.com.

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SOURCE LifeCare Health Partners