Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady Health System (FMOLHS) has announced that Ryan Cross will serve in the newly created role of vice president of government affairs and advocacy. In his new role, Ryan will be responsible for monitoring and crafting state and federal policy in Louisiana and Mississippi and will oversee the health system’s public policy and advocacy efforts in each state.
“Preserving access to life-saving healthcare services while creating a policy environment where our clinicians and research teams can lead the way in healthcare innovation is critical to providing the best quality care for our communities,” said healthcare system CEO and President EJ Kuiper. “Ryan’s work with our government officials will help us to ensure that commitment is realized.”
With 15 years of experience in public policy, Ryan has worked in the Louisiana Legislature and consulted on various political and issue campaigns across the country, ranging from local governments to presidential campaigns. In 2021, he led the effort to successfully pass the nation’s first ban on insurance companies and pharmacy benefit managers requiring hospitals to mail order physician administered drugs. Since 2021, Cross has led FMOLHS’ efforts to enact meaningful legislation to protect patient safety, ensure access to care for all, and restrict policies that force physicians to leave our state.
“I have been humbled to serve our healthcare ministry for the past seven years and I look forward to expanding the impact that we will continue to make on the health and lives of the people of Louisiana and Mississippi,” said Cross. "By advocating for policies that protect access to healthcare and improve patient outcomes, we can make our communities healthier and more prosperous."
Ryan joined FMOLHS in 2017 as director of communications for Our Lady of the Lake Health and supported the health system’s external communications strategy through the COVID-19 pandemic, elevating life-saving public health messages, ensuring the people of Louisiana were informed about the situation inside their local hospitals, and sharing frontline stories from our hospitals with national and international audiences. He played an instrumental role in the historic partnership establishing Our Lady of the Lake as the Championship Healthcare Partner of LSU.
He is a member of the Louisiana Association of Business & Industry’s Emerging Leader Council and an alumnus of BRAC’s Leadership Baton Rouge.