URAC Names New CEO
WASHINGTON, Sept. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of URAC today announced Alan P. Spielman will serve as the president and chief executive officer (CEO). Beginning Oct. 17, Spielman will assume the leadership role at URAC and he will make his first national appearance in his new role at URAC's Quality Summit on October 26, 2005 in Phoenix, AZ. URAC is an independent, nonprofit organization well known as a leader in promoting health care quality through its accreditation and certification programs.
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Charles Stellar, executive vice president of America's Health Insurance Plans and URAC board chairman, said the board unanimously selected Spielman after a national search based on his strong record of executive leadership and his personal commitment to quality in health care.
"Alan is a natural choice to become URAC's new chief executive," Stellar said. "His extensive background in health care policy, business management, legislative and regulatory issues, and health benefits strategies will further advance URAC's mission to promote quality and efficiency through accreditation and education, as well as to bring value to our customers and to the public as the recognized leader in health care management quality and innovation. The Board is extremely energized about his selection and his capabilities as URAC shapes an evolving health care market."
Spielman has more than three decades of proven leadership and experience in health care policy and strategy, and a track record of achieving results, working in both the private and public sectors. He comes to URAC most recently from his position as senior advisor for health care reimbursement policy at Covington & Burling, a leading global law firm.
"The challenge of establishing viable quality standards in today's environment requires a degree of leadership that blends innovation with practicality and flexibility," Spielman said. "I have been very much an agent of change throughout my career -- an executive who blends strategic, operational and regulatory considerations in a way that advances the organization to higher levels. In addition to traditional accreditation programs for medical management functions, URAC has a unique emphasis on consumer-focused health trends and health care IT accreditation, and that forward thinking aligns perfectly with my focus on anticipating and shaping key trends."
"Alan's experience in regulatory matters is an excellent fit for URAC," Stellar said. "URAC is the most recognized health care accreditation organization at the state level. Right now, 35 states and the District of Columbia recognize one or more of URAC's accreditation programs, and several federal agencies also recognize URAC accreditation. That means accredited organizations which operate in more than one state can meet regulatory requirements through a single URAC accreditation process, which reduces the regulatory burden for everyone."
Spielman has successfully advised a number of health care companies and employers on health benefits, reimbursement policies, and strategic Medicare issues. Prior to joining Covington in 2004, he was general manager of federal programs and vice president of special markets at Medco Health Solutions, Inc., a pharmacy benefits manager (PBM). Spielman also has 16 years of experience at the BlueCross BlueShield Association, where he served as senior vice president of federal programs. In that role, Spielman had business responsibility for the Blues' largest health insurance plan, the Federal Employees Program, its national Medicare intermediary contract, and its network of Medicare managed care plans. In the public sector, Spielman served eight years in the Health Care Financing Administration (now the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services), where he held key positions pertaining to state reimbursement plans and developing Medicare payment policies and quality standards, and served as legislative analyst for the Congressional Research Service.
Spielman holds an MBA in health care marketing/management from Loyola College and a BA from the Johns Hopkins University, where he also continued graduate study in health economics and has attained the Managed Care Professional designation. He has published several articles on health care marketing topics.
About URAC
URAC offers a wide range of quality benchmarking programs and services that keep pace with the rapid changes in the health care system, and provides a symbol of excellence for organizations to validate their commitment to quality and accountability. Through its broad-based governance structure and an inclusive standards development process, URAC ensures that all stakeholders are represented in establishing meaningful quality measures for the entire health care industry. For more information, visit http://www.urac.org
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