Cigna CEO David Cordani to lead board of America's Health Insurance Plans

Credit: Cigna

Cigna CEO David Cordani has been elected to serve as chair of the Board of Directors of America's Health Insurance Plans.

Cordani will begin his tenure in January 2019. Ken Burdick, CEO of WellCare Health Plans, will serve as chair-elect of the AHIP board  for 2019 and board chair for 2020.

Cordani and Burdick will succeed Bernard J. Tyson, chairman and CEO of Kaiser Permanente, who is the current chair for 2018.

AHIP made the announcement Friday as it heads into its annual Institute and Expo, which this year is being held from June 20-22 in San Diego, California.

Emerging themes from the conference include value-based care strategies, industry disruption and product innovation, complex care delivery and health reform and market transition.

New President and CEO Matt Eyles replaces the former head of AHIP, Marilyn Tavenner. Eyles, who was AHIP's COO and previously led the organization's Policy and Regulatory Affairs team, will outline his vision for the future of healthcare. 

This year has been witness to numerous federal policy changes under President Trump's Administration. This week AHIP filed a court brief urging the protection of numerous provisions of the Affordable Care Act affecting Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Part D.

"David and Ken share Bernard's strong commitment to finding new solutions that improve affordability, value, and access for coverage and care, as well as to enhance the well-being of patients and consumers," Eyles said by statement. "We are grateful for Bernard's continuing and exceptional leadership, and we look forward to David and Ken leading our industry and helping navigate the rapidly changing U.S. healthcare system to ensure we deliver for all Americans."

Cordani, who has led Cigna since 2009, has been vocal on key health challenges such as innovating new value-based models of care and partnering with physicians to focus on integrated care and improved clinical quality.

Burdick brings 38 years of healthcare experience to his role at AHIP. In 2015, he was named CEO of WellCare, a company focused exclusively on providing government-sponsored managed care services, primarily through Medicaid, Medicare Advantage and Medicare Prescription Drug Plans.

"Together, AHIP members are committed to a more proactive approach to consumer health and physician engagement, with an emphasis on more personalized products and services that help improve affordability and value," Cordani said.

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Email the writer: susan.morse@himssmedia.com