Haywood, 47, who has held his current position at the Chicago-based association since December 2012, oversees collaborative efforts for medical, pharmacy and network management for 105 million members in 36 Blues plans nationwide. He also provides clinical guidance for 5 million members in the Blues' Federal Employee Program. Haywood earlier served as senior VP and chief medical officer at Irving, Texas-based VHA, prior to its merger with UHC, and was deputy CMO at the CMS from 2004 to 2006.

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"The model used to be 'the suits and the scrubs.' ... It was very siloed, and as long as you stayed on your side of the fence, it worked well. The model is changing."

Read the complete Furst Group interview with Trent Haywood.