Briefings from the Rotunda
Tammy Meyerson leaves behind a legacy of caring, professionalism in Tallahassee and beyond
The sudden death of Tammy Meyerson in late May shocked those who knew the health care executive as a constant presence in South Florida and Tallahassee circles. Amid the grief, though, a portrait has emerged of someone whose life went beyond the political realm. She was an accomplished managed care executive, political fundraiser and the driving force behind the establishment of the Florida Association of Health Plans, the statewide organization that represents managed care companies and HMOs before the Legislature in Tallahassee. Meyerson, president and chief executive officer of the South Florida-based Preferred Medical Plan, died May 22. She was 45. She moved at ease in Miami, her home and place of birth, as well as in Tallahassee political circles. Upward of 1,000 people attended the Jewish Orthodox funeral, solemnly reflecting on the loss of their friend, peer, boss, mother, daughter and mentor as her plain wooden casket was lowered into the ground. Among the crowd were politicians, including Gov. Rick Scott who donned a yarmulke, state lawmakers, lobbyists, and professional athletes. Meyerson was at the helm of Preferred Medical Plan for more than 20 years. The HMO is one of the oldest independently owned and licensed managed care organizations in Florida, with more 42 | INFLUENCE SUMMER 2015
than 40 years in the business. Although the HMO is based in South Florida, Meyerson often traveled to the capital to track legislative developments or attend rule hearings at the Office of Insurance Regulation and the Agency for Health Care Administration. Often, she would be the only female CEO in the meeting. “Tammy Meyerson was a strong and beautiful person. She had a stellar reputation as a bold and brilliant businesswoman. Tammy was long-time advocate for our industry, and leader of the association,” Florida Association of Health Plans president and CEO Audrey Brown said in an email. “Above all, she inspired loyalty from all who knew her because of her grace, integrity and devotion to others. We miss her dearly.” Meyerson’s obituary noted that “she was happiest among her family” and that she was proud of her three children: Jared, Dean and Amber. The obituary also noted that Tammy loved and mentored Jimmy Graham as a son. “They were all always the number one priority in her life,” the obituary read. Graham plays in the National Football League for the Seattle Seahawks. He met Meyerson while attending the University of Miami and she became his personal manager. Graham put a picture of Meyerson, wearing his jersey, on his Twitter page. “R.I.P Tammy,” he tweeted. “We all love u more than life it self (sic). We know u are looking down on us Today Tomorrow & Forever.” Seattle Seahawks quarterback, Russell Wilson, accompanied Graham to the funeral. Meyerson was a force to be reckoned with when advocating policy, Senate Budget chief Tom Lee said. Childhood friend, Harold Foster, said Meyerson was competitive, but compassionate. “She competed for the highest grade in the class,” said Foster, who has known Meyerson since he was 10 years old. “But then she’d be the first to volunteer to tutor people who had a hard time with the work.” Meyerson was among the South Florida Business Journal’s “Power Leaders in Health Care” in 2014. She was on the Florida International University Herbert Wertheim College of Medicine Dean’s Advisory Council. According to its website, Preferred Medical Plan has voluntarily agreed to immediately stop all new enrollment and the renewal of current enrollment for all lines of business at the present time. The plan stopped enrollment, according to the website, as “a result of the uncertainties related to the final payments due under the Affordable Care Act’s (ACA) premium stabilization programs.” It continues, “This decision was also precipitated by the well-publicized issue of the insufficient current Medicaid rates under the Medicaid Managed Assistance program. Sen. Rene Garcia, chairman of the Senate health care spending committee, called her one of the “greatest people I ever met.” “Not only because of her entrepreneurial skills, but because of her people skills,” Garcia said, still shaken by her passing nearly one month later. “She walked into a room and would light up that room. And she would give you the shirt off her back without any questions, and she was always there to help. She was an amazing person.”
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