Oregon’s largest health plan has a new chief medical officer.
Dr. Richard Popiel assumed the dual CMO and senior vice president of health care services role at Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon on Oct. 31. He replaces Dr. Ralph Prows.
Popiel will lead Regence’s medical strategy and provide executive leadership on addressing care initiatives and cost management.
“Dr. Popiel has very successfully demonstrated how to improve patient outcomes while keeping down costs,” saidJared Short, Regence’s president, in a statement. “His work is widely recognized for his ability to rethink how quality care is delivered. His leadership will help to ensure that our members receive the right care in the right setting at the right cost.”
Popiel had worked for Horizon Healthcare Innovations, a Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey company, as president and COO. Horizon was known for launching more than 30 pilot programs that brought unique services to 80,000 members under Popiel’s watch.
“Dr. Popiel’s strategic and operational experience in many types of health care settings will advance our current initiatives in provider payment and care coordination, and help us bring new quality and cost initiatives to a rapidly evolving marketplace,” Short added.
The internal medicine specialist has undergrad and medical degrees from George Washington University in Washington, D.C. and an MBA from Northwestern University.