Pennsylvania Gov.-elect Tom Corbett has named a team of 17 insurance industry officials to serve on his transition team overseeing insurance matters.
Sue Schick
David Simon, senior vice president of payer relations and general counsel of Jefferson Health Systems, will serve as chair of the insurance committee, one of 17 transitional committees involving more than 400 people.
Because Corbett, a Republican, is succeeding Gov. Ed Rendell, a Democrat, the insurance department and other agencies in Pennsylvania are likely to undergo many changes. Those changes could include new leadership and priorities.
One important task the insurance committee will need to address is selecting the next insurance commissioner. Robert L. Prater, an executive deputy general counsel, has served as acting Pennsylvania insurance commissioner, since Joel Ario, who was appointed by Rendell in 2007, left in August for a federal job establishing health exchanges under the health reform law.
The selection will come as Pennsylvania, like all states, is ramping up toward full implementation of the health reform law passed by Congress and President Barack Obama in March. That law overhauls health insurance, pushing coverage even farther than Pennsylvania’s efforts under Rendell.
Corbett has put State Sen. Don White, a Republican who tussled with Rendell on insurance matters frequently, on the insurance transition team. With the state Senate carrying a Republican majority under Rendell, White, who has been chairman of the Senate Banking and Insurance Committee, has developed a deep understanding of insurance issues and his powerful platform as committee chairman has made him a key player in all insurance actions in the state. He is likely to play an important role in selecting a successor to Ario and other insurance department decision the committee makes.
Because of the oncoming push on health insurance, the committee is heavily weighted toward that area of insurance. Seven of the members are directly involved in health insurance.
Members of each Corbett transition committee, who are volunteering their time, are being asked to review the operation of state government departments and agencies under the governor’s jurisdiction and prepare a transition report for Corbett.
Corbett in a statement said his transition team members are doing “essential” work for the state.
In addition to Simon, the insurance committee includes:
- Bob Baker, senior director of government affairs at Capital Blue Cross
- Mike Blackwood, president and CEO of Gateway Health Plan
- Denise Cesare, president and CEO of Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania
- Michael Consedine, partner at Saul Ewing
- Sam Denisco, director of government affairs at the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business & Industry
- Darleen Fritz, president of Aegis Security Insurance Co. in Harrisburg, Pa.
- Chip Hummer, a doctor and past president and board member of the PA Orthopedic Society
- Sam Marshall, president and CEO of the Pennsylvania Insurance Federation
- Greg Martino, head of legislative affairs for Aetna
- Mario Mele, president of Fidelio Insurance Co. in Glenside, Pa.
- Todd Shamash, senior counsel and director of Jefferson Health Systems
- Sue Schick, CEO of UnitedHealthcare of Pennsylvania
- Matt Steck, a partner at Greenlee Associates, a lobbying firm whose clients include the Pennsylvania chapter of the National Association of Insurance and Financial Advisors
- Gary Truitt, a lawyer in Pittsburgh
- Michael Warfel, vice president of government affairs for Highmark
CEOs, others named to Corbett’s insurance transition team via IFAwebnews.com .
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