HHS Secretary Alex Azar names former MDWise CEO James Parker to Health Reform post
Parker, who has 20 years of experience at Anthem, will address the cost and availability of health insurance, HHS says.
Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar has announced that James Parker will serve as senior advisor to the Secretary of Health Reform and director of the Office of Health Reform.
In his role, Parker will address the cost and availability of health insurance, HHS said.
Parker is former CEO of MDWise, a Medicaid managed care organization in Indiana. He also led the development of a provider-sponsored health plan and population health management at Indiana University Health, an integrated health system. He co-chaired Indiana University Health Population Health Management Services Organization.
He previously spent 20 years at Anthem in a number of senior leadership roles.
"Jim Parker has spent his life working in the private sector to provide Americans access to quality, affordable health insurance," Azar said. "His knowledge and expertise will be vital to our work at HHS to ensure that Americans have access to insurance that meets their needs."
Parker's appointment follows that of Daniel M. Best to serve as senior advisor to the secretary for Drug Pricing Reform and also that of Brett Giroir, MD, as senior advisor to the secretary for Mental Health and Opioid Policy, as well as assistant secretary for Health.
These staff positions help advance initiatives previously identified by Azar: combating the opioid crisis, bringing down the high cost of prescription drugs, addressing the cost and availability of health insurance, and transforming healthcare to a value-based system.
Twitter: @SusanJMorse
Email the writer: susan.morse@himssmedia.com
