INDIANAPOLIS, Aug. 16 /PRNewswire/ -- WellPoint, Inc. , the nation's leading health benefits company, today announced that Alan Spiro, M.D., has been named vice president and chief medical officer of its National Accounts business unit. He will lead the development and delivery of innovative care management programs for employers with more than 5,000 eligible employees. These programs are central to WellPoint's mission to improve the health of the people and communities it serves.
"We're excited to have Dr. Spiro join our team," said John Watts, president and CEO of WellPoint's National Accounts business unit. "With nearly 30 years of clinical and medical management experience -- including expertise in data management, electronic health solutions and public health policy -- Dr. Spiro brings a truly unique perspective to our organization."
Spiro was most recently principal and national clinical practice leader for Towers Perrin, where he worked with Fortune 500 companies to develop and evaluate health care and benefit programs for their employees. He developed Towers Perrin's first ehealth strategy and worked with health care organizations and insurers to develop new programs and products, and improve their operational performance.
Prior to joining Towers, Spiro was chief medical officer for Utilimed Inc., senior vice president and medical director for ConnectiCare and vice president and medical director for Celtic Life Insurance Company. He also ran his own private practice and worked for several hospitals throughout the United States.
"I look forward to working with Dr. Spiro to develop innovative health care programs for our members and customers. Alan will be an integral member of our health care management team," said Samuel Nussbaum, M.D., executive vice president and chief medical officer for WellPoint. "His accomplishments as a physician and health care leader will be instrumental in the development of industry-leading solutions that help ensure our largest clients and their employees receive access to quality, affordable care."
Spiro received his M.D. from Columbia University and his M.M. from Northwestern University's Kellogg School of Management. He completed his residency in internal medicine at Michael Reese Hospital and Medical Center, Chicago, and fellowships at Boston's Beth Israel Hospital (gastroenterology) and New England Deaconness Hospital (nutrition). He is the author of more than 25 articles on managed care, clinical best practices, Medicare, disease management and gastroenterology; has been a member of several medical and health care associations; and has served as visiting professor at the Michigan State University Sloan School of Business.
About WellPoint, Inc.
WellPoint, Inc. is the largest publicly traded commercial health benefits company in terms of membership in the United States. WellPoint, Inc. is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and serves its members as the Blue Cross licensee for California; the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Virginia (excluding the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.), Wisconsin; and through HealthLink and UniCare. Additional information about WellPoint is available at http://www.wellpoint.com .
WellPoint, Inc.CONTACT: Investor Relations: Tami Durle, +1-317-488-6390, or Media: ToddA. Siesky, +1-317-488-6548, both of WellPoint, Inc.
Web site: http://www.wellpoint.com/
