Ms. Fontes Rainer succeeds retiring board member Tom Schwaninger
LOS ANGELES, December 18, 2025 — LANES, a Qualified Health Information Organization (QHIO), today announces the appointment of Melanie Fontes Rainer, J.D., M.S.Ed, Chief Strategy and Transformation Officer of L.A. Care Health Plan, to its board. Fontes Rainer will succeed Tom Schwaninger, Senior Executive Advisor with L.A. Care Health Plan, who is retiring from the board of directors effective January 1, 2026 after serving and providing guidance to LANES for three years.
“We are pleased to welcome Melanie to the board, and are looking forward to not only benefiting from her extensive expertise and leadership, but also the opportunity to deepen our relationship with L.A. Care Health Plan for the benefit of both providers and Californians,” said Ali Modaressi, CEO of LANES. “We are deeply grateful for the years of dedication and leadership Tom has provided to LANES during his tenure, and wish him all the best in retirement.”
Through its strategic partnerships, LANES and L.A. Care have achieved significant milestones to advance data sharing and its impact on the communities they serve. L.A. Care has taken aggressive steps to advance data exchange, most recently with its work with LANES and commitment to advancing interoperability, which presents a powerful opportunity to provide more coordinated, efficient, and person-centered care for its members.
“LANES’ dedication to high standards and its innovative approach to solving healthcare and social services have been essential to our member-centered mission,” said Fontes Rainer. “I’m honored to join the board and help move forward mission-critical work that will reduce barriers to data sharing, improve connectivity in alignment with the Data Exchange Framework, and help us deliver on high-quality care across Los Angeles and across California.”
Fontes Rainer is a key member of L.A. Care’s senior leadership team and is responsible for leading strategic planning, strategic and community investments, and partnerships and transformation initiatives to improve organizational performance and better serve members. This includes ensuring L.A. Care’s organization’s strategy aligns with its long-term vision, framing their governance, and strengthening performance management systems to drive accountability and optimize their ability to effectively execute. Fontes Rainer has spent much of her career serving the public in federal and state roles at the United States Senate, the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services, and the California Department of Justice.
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About LANES
LANES is a non-profit California Qualified Health Information Organization (QHIO). It enables healthcare and social service providers to seamlessly exchange clinical and behavioral health information safely and securely, when and where it is needed for patient care, care coordination and care transitions. Connect with LANES on LinkedIn or visit the LANES website for more information.