Scott A. Honiberg has more than 20 years of diversified experience in the health care field consisting of operations, strategic planning, policy analysis and federal contracting. Mr. Honiberg has a comprehensive understanding of the contracting and procurement process, in addition to a unique combination of government relations experience with contractors, federal agencies, Congress and beneficiary associations.
Mr. Honiberg’s early experience in the health care field was in the hospital sector, working in various capacities at Boston Childrens’ Medical Center, and in the West Jersey Health System, one of the largest hospital systems in southern New Jersey.
He began his consulting career at ICF, Inc. (subsequently LewinICF). As a consultant in the healthcare practice of ICF, he directed several studies for the Department of Health and Human Services examining policy issues related to the financial performance of non-profit hospitals. He was the primary author of “Hospital Mergers and Consolidations: Opportunities for Financial Improvement”, and “Evaluation of the Covenants and Conditions of Participation in the HUD-242 Program”, both prepared for the Office of Health Facilities, the agency responsible for administering the government’s then-$2 billion portfolios of hospital mortgage insurance. While at ICF, Mr. Honiberg also provided technical assistance to the Department of Defense (DoD), having worked as a member of the original consulting team that conducted policy analyses for the Office of the Assistant Secretary of Defense (Health Affairs) related to the CHAMPUS Reform Initiative (CRI). CRI was the DoD’s first major attempt to restructure its health benefit for non-active duty beneficiaries from a fee-for-service model to a triple-option. CHAMPUS evolved into what is now known as Tricare, with its multi-billion Managed Care Support (MCS) contracts currently valued at approximately $55 billion over the life of the contracts.
Mr. Honiberg left ICF to become a Principal at Abt Associates. While there, he created a consulting practice where he specialized in working with private organizations interested in federal healthcare contracting initiatives. Following publication of an article on healthcare contracting with the military while still at Abt Associates, he was asked to serve as an expert witness in litigation pertaining to government contracting for healthcare services.
Continuing the focus on federal procurement he began at Abt, Mr. Honiberg founded Potomac Health Associates, Inc. in 1992. The firm specializes in marketing, business development and health care contracting at the federal level. The firm’s client base ranges from small health care and insurance companies with no previous federal health care experience, to sophisticated, highly-experienced federal contractors who have been among the Defense Department’s top 100 federal contractors.
Mr. Honiberg has advised clients on a number of new contracting initiatives that have been introduced by the government for the first time. In 1991, one of his clients was awarded the first of the Navy’s external Managed Care Obstetrics contracts, the only contract of its kind awarded in the country. In 1995, he helped a client win a new contract to provide invitro fertilization (IVF) laboratory services for the entire military beneficiary population through a program based at Walter Reed Army Medical Center. In 1996, one of his clients was awarded the contract to provide all health care services to inmates at a federal correctional facility under a demonstration contract based on capitation. Also in 1996, another client was awarded the contract to provide cardiothoracic surgery and support services at Bethesda Naval National Medical Center. Mr. Honiberg worked with the same client in 2001 and again in 2006 to successfully help them keep the contract for at least 15 years. In 2000, he advised several clients who were bidding on VA’s first series of comprehensive, preferred provider contracts. VA introduced this type of contract that year for the first time in only three market areas nationally and Mr. Honiberg advised the successful contractors in each case.
Mr. Honiberg was a key member of the federal marketing team for Delta Dental, supporting several of their major insurance contracts with the Department of Defense. These included contracts to provide dental benefits for approximately 1.8 million family members of active duty personnel and close to 900,000 retirees and their dependents. His work for Delta has involved working with the contracting agency, congressional committee staff and beneficiary associations. During this time, he has participated in successful legislative initiatives to eliminate adverse selection, enhance existing program operations and create new benefit programs.
Mr. Honiberg holds a B.A. from Hobart College and an M.B.A. from the Wharton Graduate School of the University of Pennsylvania.