Anthem CEO Joseph Swedish to address future of healthcare at AHIP

Anthem CEO Joseph Swedish

Anthem CEO Joseph Swedish will be a featured speaker at America's Health Insurance Plans' annual conference, addressing "Reinventing Healthcare for the Future."

Swedish assumed the role of Chairman of the Board of AHIP in January.

He is scheduled to speak on opening day Wednesday, June 7. AHIP's 2017 Institute & Expo takes place June 7-9 in Austin, Texas.

As chairman, president and CEO of one of the nation's largest insurers, Swedish is expected to help shape the national conversation around healthcare, according to AHIP.

[Also: UPDATED: Anthem wins lawsuit seeking restraining order against Cigna]

These are interesting times for the insurer as it battles to keep its $54 billion merger deal with Cigna alive.

Anthem recently won its case to keep its extended deadline of April 30 to finalize the deal with Cigna. Anthem owes Cigna a $1.8 billion breakup fee if the merger does not go through by then, according to the terms of the merger contract.

However, Anthem has accused Cigna of breaking the terms of the contract and trying to sabotage the deal.

[Also: Cigna sues Anthem, wants $14 billion to break up merger deal]

Cigna had wanted to end the consolidation after a February 8 federal court ruling sided with the Department of Justice and blocked the the deal. Cigna wants more than $14 billion from Anthem, including the $1.8 billion breakup fee stipulated in the merger agreement and another $13 billion in damages.

Anthem said on Feb. 15 it believes there is still sufficient time and a viable path forward to complete the transaction. Also, Anthem voiced the hope of a settlement through new leadership at the Department of Justice under President Donald Trump's administration.

Swedish joined Anthem in March 2013. Since that time, Anthem's membership has grown by four million, or 11 percent, the average share price has doubled, and operating revenue has increased 30 percent to more than $83 billion, according to AHIP.

Other speakers during AHIP include Zubin Damania, MD aka "ZDoggMD," internist and founder of Turntable Health; Jamie Heywood, co-founder and chairman, PatientsLikeMe; Roy Spence Jr., cofounder and chairman, GSD&M; and Susan Dentzer, president and CEO for Network for Excellence in Health Innovation.

Twitter: @SusanJMorse