Health Initiative promises big changes if Clinton elected

The Clinton Health Access Initiative has announced changes the group hopes will squash conflict of interest concerns if Hillary Clinton is elected president.

Board members said in a statement Wednesday they would cut all ties with the Clinton Foundation and Clinton family if the former secretary of State is elected.

{mosads}The health initiative (CHAI), however, will still accept foreign and corporate donations.

“If Secretary Clinton is elected President, the changes outlined here will be implemented and CHAI would become an organization completely independent of the Clinton Foundation,” the board said in its statement.

CHAI, which is a closely affiliated but legally separate entity to the Clinton Foundation, takes millions from foreign entities to fight HIV/AIDs and other diseases and has been under pressure to address “pay-to-play” concerns. 

Watchdogs have called for the group to cut all ties with the Clinton family and foundation and to stop accepting corporate and foreign cash.

The first change the group will make is dropping “Clinton” from its name.

The initiative will now be known by its acronym, according to a statement from the board.

The five board members appointed by the Clinton Foundation will step down if Clinton is elected. They are: former President Bill Clinton, Chelsea Clinton, Bruce Lindsey, Ira Magaziner and Maggie Williams.

The remaining board members will choose five new members as quickly as possible.

The Clinton Foundation will also lose its power to appoint new board members of the health access group, according to the statement.

CHAI’s new board will “put in place by the end of 2016 an orderly succession plan” for the current CEO, Ira Magaziner, who is a longtime friend of the Clinton family.

“All aspects of the transition will be carried out responsibly and seamlessly, with the priority being sustaining the life-saving services upon which millions depend and the extraordinary daily work of CHAI staff who make those services possible,” the CHAI board said in its statement.