CVS Health appoints former Optum exec to lead new healthcare delivery organization

Dr. Amar Desai

Photo: Courtesy CVS Health

CVS Health has appointed former Optum executive Dr. Amar Desai as president of its newly formed Health Care Delivery organization, where he will oversee implementation of key areas of the company's health services and its care delivery strategy.

The new organization is being formed to tap into the CVS Health portfolio to develop payer-agnostic products and services. 

CVS Health president and CEO Karen S. Lynch said Desai's background in clinical delivery and value-based care "will be an asset as we continue to deliver high quality health and wellness care to our members and consumers."

WHAT'S THE IMPACT?

Desai will oversee the company's clinical delivery strategy to support retail health, chronic disease management and behavioral health. He will become a member of the CVS Health executive leadership team and report to Lynch.

Prior to joining CVS Health, Desai served as president and chief executive officer of Optum Pacific West, where he was responsible for overseeing an integrated delivery network with more than 20,000 physicians serving 2.5 million patients.

Prior to Optum, Desai served as president of HealthCare Partners, a value-based medical group serving more than 700,000 patients.

THE LARGER TREND

The news follows a busy September for CVS Health, which acquired Signify Health at the beginning of the month, besting Amazon, UnitedHealth Group and others in acquiring the home health platform. The deal was to acquire Signify Health for $30.50 per share in cash, representing a total transaction value of approximately $8 billion.

CVS Health, which acquired Aetna in 2018, has been expanding into the provider space through Minute Clinics and health screenings.

Also in September, CVS said it had been working toward the goal of reducing suicide attempts by Aetna members by 20% by 2025, and announced progress toward that end, seeing a 15.7% reduction in suicide attempts among Aetna members through March 2022 compared to 2019 baselines.

Mere days ago, CVS Health said it would be selling bswift, a provider of benefits technology and services, to Francisco Partners, a global investment firm that specializes in partnering with technology businesses.

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Email the writer: jeff.lagasse@himssmedia.com