PHILADELPHIA, PA., Feb. 6, 2014 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Independence Blue Cross (IBC) today announced that Paul A. Tufano will become chief executive officer of AmeriHealth Caritas, assuming overall leadership for the organization in addition to his existing role as chairman of the AmeriHealth Caritas' Board of Directors, effective March 31, 2014. Earlier today, AmeriHealth Caritas announced the planned retirement of Michael A. Rashid, president and chief executive officer. Rashid will serve as special advisor to IBC President and CEO Daniel J. Hilferty through year end.
Tufano will continue as executive vice president of IBC, president of its Government Markets and chair of IBC's executive leadership team. His continued leadership of IBC's Government Markets will ensure an aligned and strategic approach for the company's business in Medicare, Medicaid, and other government-funded health programs. Prior to joining IBC in 1999 as general counsel and corporate secretary, Tufano was general counsel of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for Governor Tom Ridge and was a member of the Governor's Cabinet. Throughout his career, Tufano has been active in his support for funding legal services for the poor and has been honored by several prominent organizations for his efforts.
Rashid will retire after serving nearly 20 years with AmeriHealth Caritas and four years as its president and chief executive officer. Rashid has been integral in positioning the company as a national leader in providing health care solutions for those most in need and expanding the number of members served from 300,000 in two states to nearly five million in 15 states and the District of Columbia.
Headquartered in Philadelphia and owned by IBC and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, AmeriHealth Caritas has 30 years of experience serving low-income and chronically ill populations. AmeriHealth Caritas, one of the country's largest Medicaid organizations, provides integrated managed care products, pharmaceutical benefit management services, behavioral health services and other administrative services.
With Tufano's newly expanded leadership role at AmeriHealth Caritas, he will step away from his role as general counsel and corporate secretary for IBC. Thomas A. Hutton will be promoted to senior vice president, general counsel and corporate secretary for IBC, reporting to the IBC's President and CEO Hilferty. Hutton will oversee IBC's legal team, which will include Richard F. Levins who takes on expanded responsibilities for legal counsel for the PA market as vice president, deputy general counsel, and general counsel for the PA Health Insurance Marketplace. Also, Lilton R. Taliaferro, Jr. will assume a similar role for New Jersey as vice president, deputy general counsel, assistant corporate secretary, and general counsel—AmeriHealth New Jersey. Hutton will also oversee Public Policy and Association Affairs for IBC.
Since joining the company in 2000, Hutton has served in a variety of roles in Legal and Public Affairs, most recently as vice president, Government Affairs, and deputy general counsel. Prior to joining IBC, Hutton was deputy general counsel in the Pennsylvania Governor's Office of General Counsel.
"With these key leadership changes, I am confident we have strong executive leadership throughout the organization to guide our continued growth," said Hilferty, whose company serves 7.5 million people across 24 states and the District of Columbia.
Editor's note: A photo is available upon request.
About Independence Blue Cross
Independence Blue Cross is the leading health insurer in southeastern Pennsylvania. With our affiliates, we serve more than 7.5 million people nationwide, including 2.2 million in the region. For more than 75 years, we have been enhancing the health and wellness of the people and communities we serve by delivering innovative and competitively priced health care products and services; pioneering new ways to reward doctors, hospitals, and other health care professionals for coordinated, quality care; and supporting programs and events that promote wellness. To learn more about how we're changing the game, visit www.ibx.com. Connect with us on Facebook at ibx.com/facebook and on Twitter at @ibx. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.