Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas Hires Jack Towsley to Lead Health Care Delivery Segment

RICHARDSON, Texas, Nov. 18, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) has named Jack Towsley as Divisional Senior Vice President for the company's Texas Health Care Delivery segment. Towsley will be responsible for all local network strategy for BCBSTX, including contract negotiations for new value-based care models and development and delivery of ancillary contracting.

Towsley brings more than 20 years of experience in direct oversight for managed care organizations, alternative payment methodologies, provider relations, contracting and data analytics.

"Jack brings an excellent track record of success in the healthcare industry to our organization," said Bert Marshall, President for BCBSTX. "His diverse experience in all areas of healthcare will benefit our members and I am proud to welcome him to our senior leadership team."

Towsley will also be working across BCBSTX's Group, Government Programs and Retail segments to develop and implement provider contracting and service strategies to ensure competitiveness, improve member access and embrace provider satisfaction as a whole.

Towsley most recently served as Senior Vice President, Payor Relations for Health Management Associates, Inc. and served in various roles during his 10 years at Hospital Corporation of America (HCA). His career also includes executive roles at Scottsdale PHO, a 440 physician-owned IPA and Health Net of Arizona, where he led to the effort to improve the company's relationship with physicians and hospitals. He previously held the titles of President and General Manger for Cigna HealthCare of Georgia and CEO of United Healthcare of Arizona.

At HCA, Towsley served as a Corporate Vice President of Strategic Pricing and Analytics and as Regional Vice President and Market Vice President of Managed Care. In these positions, he led the company's managed care pricing and negotiation strategy with major payors in key markets.  He also introduced the company's effort to design, implement and evaluate pilots of alternative payment methodologies, including ACO models, bundled payments, episode payments, gain-sharing, and patient-centered medical homes.

Towsley began his career in California where he held positions in network management with Prudential Healthcare Systems. Towsley served as president of the Arizona and Georgia Associations of HMOs, president of the Utah Taxpayers Association, and an advisory board member of Arizona State University School of Business, March of Dimes of Georgia and Utah Healthcare Coverage Coalition.

Towsley received his undergraduate degree at Johns Hopkins University and a Masters of Public Policy and Masters of Public Health from the University of California, Berkeley.

About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) – the only statewide, customer-owned health insurer in Texas – is the largest provider of health benefits in the state, working with nearly 80,000 physicians and 500 hospitals to serve 4.8 million members in all 254 counties. It has also been ranked "Highest Member Satisfaction among Commercial Health Plans in Texas" for three years in a row by J.D. Power and Associates. BCBSTX is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation (which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Texas, Illinois, Oklahoma, New Mexico and Montana), the country's largest customer-owned health insurer and fourth largest health insurer overall. Health Care Service Corporation is a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

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SOURCE Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas