Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Illinois named a new president today.
Stephen Harris assumed the top role today, replacing Steve Hamman, said BCBSIL spokesman John Simley in a statement to Crain’s. Harris was previously president of Medicaid for Health Care Services Corp., the parent company of BCBSIL.
A screenshot of an internal memo sent to Blue Cross employees obtained by WCIA says Hamman left HCSC to “pursue new endeavors.” Simley would not confirm the circumstances of Hamman's departure. Hamman had been president since 2019.
Hamman’s departure comes about two weeks after HCSC was fined $339,000 by the Illinois Department of Insurance for violating the state’s Network Adequacy & Transparency Act. The agency said that HCSC did not submit required information detailing changes to its network on time after it terminated a contract with Springfield Clinic months ago.
According to a notice sent to HCSC, four of the insurer’s PPO plans lost access to Springfield Clinic in November, and two of its HMO plans lost access to the clinic in July. The changes affected about 100,000 people, according to the IDOI.
"We announced several leadership transitions today that reflect a thoughtful and strategic approach to long-term growth and succession planning for the company," Simley said. "We remain in active discussions with Springfield Clinic toward resolution that will improve healthcare access, affordability and quality for our members and employer group customers in central Illinois."
Stephen Harris
Before becoming president, Hamman held leadership positions over the course of three decades at BCBSIL and HCSC, responsible for things like the company’s provider and network analytics, and network strategy development.
As president of the BCBSIL, Harris is now responsible for the company’s overall financial performance, long-term growth strategy and strategic planning. He holds an MBA from the University of North Carolina’s Kenan-Flagler Business School and a bachelor’s degree from Michigan State University.
This story was first published in our sister publication, Crain's Chicago Business.
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