By Leslie Small
Facing a growing firestorm over an alleged drunken driving
incident, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina CEO Patrick Conway, M.D.,
resigned from his post. Meanwhile, the Blues insurer's "strategic
affiliation" with a fellow payer has been put on hold.
On June 22nd, according to a report from The News &
Observer, Conway was arrested after striking a commercial vehicle while driving
on a North Carolina highway with his two daughters as passengers. Conway, who
allegedly exhibited signs of intoxication and refused a breathalyzer, faces
charges of driving while impaired, reckless driving and misdemeanor child
abuse.
Conway wrote in a statement on Twitter that he stepped down from
his daily duties and completed 30 days of inpatient substance use treatment following
the incident. After news of his arrest became public, however, he resigned on
Sept. 26 at the request of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina board
of trustees. Current chief operating officer, Gerald Petkau, will serve as
interim CEO, the insurer said in a statement.
In March, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina announced
that it and fellow Blues insurer Cambia Health Solutions struck a deal for a
"strategic affiliation," which would involve merging operations and
administrative functions but keeping their respective health plans and provider
networks independent. The two not-for-profit plans have a combined net revenue
of $16 billion and more than 6 million covered lives.
Now, the North Carolina Blues insurer "has decided to put
its proposed strategic affiliation with Cambia Health Solutions on temporary
hold," a spokesperson says. In a statement, Cambia added that the two
insurers "have mutually agreed to withdraw their respective Form A
applications for regulatory approval." The two companies would have to
refile if they want to merge in the future.
From
Health Plan Weekly
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