Blues Pick Head of ACA-Backing Carrier to Lead Board

The member companies in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association have picked an executive from Blue Shield of California to lead the association’s board.

The companies have named Paul Markovich, the president and chief executive officer of Blue Shield of California, which is based in San Francisco, to be the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association’s new chairman.

Markovich will succeed Daniel Hilferty, the president of Philadelphia-based Independence Blue Cross.

(Related: Blues Association Re-Elects Daniel Hilferty Chairman)

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is a Chicago-based group that represents 36 separate Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies.

Scott Serota will continue to be the association’s CEO. Affordable Care Act Implications

Both Independence Blue and Blue Shield of California have been active participants in Affordable Care Act programs, including the ACA public exchange program.

The Blues named Hilferty their chairman as Donald Trump was preparing to enter the White House. They named Markovich chairman as Trump and Republicans in Congress are trying make large-scale changes in ACA rules and programs.

The member companies in America’s Health Insurance Plans, a group for all insurers, have picked Bernard Tyson to be their new chairman.

Tyson is the CEO of Oakland, California-based Kaiser Permanente. Like Blue Shield Kaiser Permanente has been a strong supporter of ACA programs. Paul Markovich