Hispanics Achieving and Celebrating Excellence (HACE)

David Morales is General Manager of Wellpoint (formerly UniCare), where he oversees commercial and Medicare plans for members insured through the Massachusetts Group Insurance Commission (GIC). He works closely with healthcare providers, elected officials, regulators, labor unions, and other stakeholders to improve healthcare access, quality, affordability, member experience, and health outcomes.

Prior to Wellpoint, Morales founded a management consulting practice focused on healthcare strategy and public policy. He previously served as Chief Strategy Officer at Steward Health Care, leading strategy, acquisitions, payment innovation, and business development initiatives. Morales also held senior government positions, including Commissioner of Health Care Finance and Policy, and served as a senior adviser to Massachusetts legislative leaders and a former governor. He was a co-author of landmark Massachusetts healthcare reform and healthcare cost transparency legislation.

In addition to his expertise across the health plan, hospital, physician, pharmaceutical, and biotechnology sectors, Morales helped implement Prescription Advantage, the nation's first prescription drug insurance model and a precursor to Medicare Part D. A graduate of Bowdoin College, Morales is a best-selling author, researcher, and lecturer on traditional Puerto Rican music. He serves on several community and healthcare boards and lives in Lynnfield, Massachusetts, with his wife and two children.

HACE works to raise community awareness of the richness of the Hispanic culture, as well as Worcester and Southbridge Hispanic youth accomplishments by:

• Encouraging youth to focus on education and take positive steps to live whole and successful lives
• Recognizing achievements of young people of Hispanic heritage in such areas as academics, arts, athletics, community service, leadership, and political/civic engagement
• Providing positive role models through inspirational speakers and exposure to community leaders who participate and support the efforts of the H.A.C.E. Committee