- As rivals form closer ties with providers of medical care via acquisition, Anthem has hired Dr. Prakash Patel as executive vice president and president, “Diversified Business Group,” effective Aug. 6 to lead an array of emerging businesses including its AIM specialty benefit management firm; CareMore.
- Patel's breadth and depth of healthcare experience will help develop innovative approaches to care that deliver higher value for Anthem and its Diversified Business Group customers while deepening the relationships within the healthcare community.
With Gail Boudreaux just a few months shy of her first anniversary as Anthem chief executive, some are looking for the health insurer’s new management team to buy and grow additional businesses, particularly as rivals form closer ties with providers of medical care via acquisition.
In response, Anthem has hired Dr. Prakash Patel as executive vice president and president, “Diversified Business Group,” effective Aug. 6 to lead an array of emerging businesses including its AIM specialty benefit management firm; CareMore, which offers provider services like nurse practitioners, pharmacists and other medical professionals to seniors and HealthCore, an outcomes and clinical research company.
“Leadership is deeply focused on achieving connectivity across the touch points of these building blocks, while determining the next move for capital deployment,” Leerink Partners Ana Gupte said in a June 29 note after Patel was hired to Anthem, which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in 14 states.
Patel will join Anthem from his post as a senior executive at GuideWell Enterprise and Florida Blue, one of the nation’s largest Blue Cross plans. “His breadth and depth of healthcare experience will serve us well in our efforts to develop innovative approaches to care that deliver higher value for Anthem and our Diversified Business Group customers while deepening our relationships within the healthcare community,” Boudreaux said in announcing Patel.
Patel takes over the duties of Dr. Craig Samitt, who is leaving Anthem as chief clinical officer after less than three years to become President and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield Minnesota. The diversified business group at Anthem has been described as a “mini-Optum” within the insurer.
Date: July 12, 2018
Source: Forbes