David A. Morales

Listen to this article

David A. Morales Founder and Principal, Morales Business Strategies LLC (MBS LLC) Former EVP and Chief Strategy Officer at Steward Health Care System

David Morales leads a highly specialized consulting firm that advises C-Suite level executives and mid-size companies focused on value creation in health care, life sciences and highly regulated industries. MBS LLC offers experienced leadership, problem solving and “creative stimulus” to companies seeking to address financial, operating and regulatory challenges, or grow their top line revenue.

Prior to founding MBS LLC, David Morales was the EVP and Chief Strategy Officer at Steward Health Care System, the nation’s largest privately held hospital company and one of the most innovative health care organizations in the U.S. As a member of the executive leadership team, he facilitated the company’s system-wide strategic initiatives, resolved complex business and regulatory matters and ensured successful implementation of Steward’s growth objectives.

Day to day, Morales served as President of Steward’s professional and general liability captive insurance company, a company he grew from $50M to over $250M in revenue. Morales also led the Strategic Business Solutions Group, a team dedicated to implementing value-driven solutions systemwide. He led negotiations of union labor contracts for over 9,000 employees across four states, as well as built Steward’s system- wide ambulance and transport services. He led the federal and state public policy and analysis group, which enhanced reimbursements for hospitals and providers.

Prior to Steward, Morales was one of the key architects of Massachusetts’ Health Care Reform law (Chapter 58). He served as Commissioner of the Massachusetts Division of Health Care Finance and Policy, the state’s Medicaid rate-setting and health care policy office, now known as the Center for Health Information and Analysis and Health Policy Commission, respectively. As Commissioner, he catalyzed the state’s health care price and cost transparency efforts. He also initiated the implementation of the All Payer Claims Database and founded the state’s first Health Care Cost Trends hearings. In addition, Morales also established and standardized the metrics used to measure total medical expense and relative prices of hospitals and physician organizations.

Prior to serving as Commissioner, Morales was Deputy Chief of Staff to Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick where he led the Governor’s and the Cabinet’s policy and strategic efforts. Before joining the Governor’s office, he served as Senior Adviser to Massachusetts Senate President Robert E. Travaglini. In both roles he led landmark initiatives that include health care reform and the Massachusetts Life Sciences Center.

Morales also has extensive expertise in the pharmaceutical area and implemented the nation’s first prescription drug insurance model—Prescription Advantage—the model and incubator for Medicare Part D.

A graduate of Bowdoin College, he serves on the Bowdoin College Board of Trustees, the Rennie Center for Education Research & Policy Board of Directors at Harvard University, as well as the Lynn Classical High School Board of Directors. He lives in Lynnfield, Massachusetts with his wife and their two children.