Matt Eyles to step down as AHIP president and CEO 

AHIP president and CEO Matt Eyles

Photo: Courtesy AHIP

AHIP has announced that president and CEO Matthew D. Eyles has decided to step down from the organization later this year. 

The AHIP board of directors was informed of Eyles' personal decision and has accepted his resignation, effective October 2. 

The executive committee of the AHIP board will commence a national search for Eyles' replacement, AHIP said. 

Eyles has led AHIP since 2018, after replacing CEO Marilyn Tavenner, the former acting administrator for the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services.

"The AHIP Board would like to express its gratitude to Matt for his visionary leadership and the steady hand with which he guided our industry at a critical time," said David Holmberg, AHIP board chair and president and CEO Highmark Health. "Matt's tenure as CEO delivered remarkable results. He played a pivotal role as our industry has innovated and evolved, and as we all navigated the COVID-19 pandemic. Matt has been a tireless advocate for policies to expand market-driven health coverage and improve affordability for all Americans. We are saddened to see him go but wish him all the best in his next chapter." 

Eyles has served at AHIP for more than eight years. In 2015, he led AHIP's policy work as executive vice president and in 2017, was promoted to chief operating officer.  

During his tenure, AHIP achieved key advocacy successes and built a stronger organization through growth in membership and non-dues revenues, the organization said. AHIP's major advocacy and reputational accomplishments during Eyles' tenure as CEO include:

• significant growth in Medicare Advantage, Medicaid managed care and ACA marketplace enrollment.
• permanently eliminating the health insurance tax.
• enacting legislation to protect consumers from surprise medical bills.
• advancing health equity efforts through the Vaccine Community Connectors program.
• helping secure an extension of the enhanced ACA premium subsidies through 2025.
• rebranding AHIP to recognize the industry's role extends beyond health insurance coverage.

"I am so grateful to the AHIP Board of Directors for the opportunity to lead the association and to work with our committed member companies and the incredibly talented AHIP team who are instrumental in delivering on our mission," Eyles said. "Leading AHIP has been the professional honor of a lifetime. I am eager to watch AHIP and our industry leaders continue to improve health coverage, care, and affordability for consumers, businesses, and our nation. Down the road, I look forward to working on new pathways and collaborations to make our healthcare system better for everyone."

Twitter: @SusanJMorse
Email the writer: SMorse@himss.org