BCBSA Appoints Alissa Fox To Head Washington Office Of Policy And Representation
Main Content Add commentsBCBSA also announces three policy promotions
WASHINGTON – The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) today announced the appointment of Alissa Fox as Senior Vice President of the Office of Policy and Representation to lead the Association’s political, legislative, regulatory, and policy activities on behalf of the nation’s 39 Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies.
“As we begin serious consideration of healthcare reform, Alissa brings an incredible depth and breadth of talent to our Washington efforts,” said Scott P. Serota, president and CEO of BCBSA. “Alissa’s detailed understanding of health policy, coupled with political savvy, ensures that the Blue System continues to have a steady hand at the helm at a time of great changes in Washington.”
Fox brings more than three decades of political, legislative, and policy expertise to this new role, including serving most recently as vice president of legislative and regulatory policy at BCBSA. At BCBSA, Fox spearheaded the Association’s policy development on a wide range of issues, including the uninsured, health-information technology, and Medicare reform. Prior to that, she spent a decade with the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services overseeing analysis of Medicare and Medicaid budgets, and legislative and regulatory proposals.
In her new role, Fox succeeds Mary Nell Lehnhard, who has retired after 28 years, including 25 as the head of the BCBSA Office of Policy and Representation.
Serota added, “We want to extend our warm wishes to Mary Nell on her retirement. Under Mary Nell’s leadership, the Blue Brands solidified their leadership role in healthcare policy and legislative issues, and thanks to her work, we are well positioned to continue on this path.”
BCBSA Announces Three New Promotions in Washington
In addition to Fox’s appointment, BCBSA is pleased to announce three new promotions in Washington that will ensure a smooth and seamless transition into 2009 and beyond:
Justine Handelman is now Executive Director, Legislative and Regulatory Policy, and will oversee the development of the Association’s policy and regulatory agenda. Handelman has more than 16 years experience in providing strategic analysis, policy development, and federal representation on healthcare and Medicare legislative and regulatory issues. Prior to joining BCBSA, Handelman was director of the health care practice group in the Government Relations Division of Smith, Bucklin & Associates, Inc.
Kris Haltmeyer has been named Deputy Executive Director, Legislative and Regulatory Policy. Haltmeyer will set BCBSA’s research agenda, oversee Medicare and Medicaid policy analysis and a number of private market issues. Haltmeyer most recently served as BCBSA’s managing director of policy analysis. During his dozen years with BCBSA, Haltmeyer has worked on a variety of issues, including the uninsured, insurance reform and tax changes.
Christina Nyquist has been named Deputy Executive Director, Health Care Reform. With healthcare reform being a major issue facing Congress and the new administration, Nyquist will oversee the development of BCBSA’s healthcare reform positions. Nyquist has worked for BCBSA for 17 years on a variety of private market issues.
“BCBSA is fortunate to have extraordinary talent at all levels in the organization,” said Serota. “I have every confidence that Justine, Kris, and Christina will be invaluable in providing Alissa and the rest of our team with unparalleled policy resources on healthcare reform and many, many other issues in the year ahead.”
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is a national federation of 39 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide healthcare coverage for more than 102 million individuals - one-in-three Americans. For more information on the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and its member companies, please visit www.BCBS.com.
