Behavioral healthcare provider Acadia Healthcare has hired former Humana executive Christopher Hunter to succeed Debbie Osteen as CEO, effective April 11.
Hunter will oversee a 238-location network of behavioral health facilities that employs 22,500 people. Acadia operates in nearly 40 states and serves approximately 70,000 patients daily, the company said.
Hunter was previously president of the group and military segment at Humana, where he was responsible for growing the insurer's employer group plan offerings and managing 6 million TRICARE members. He also served as chief strategy officer from 2014 to 2018.
He left Humana in August 2021 to pursue other opportunities, according to SEC filings, and became a director for health tech-focused special purpose acquisition company AfterNext HealthTech.
Before Humana, Hunter was president of provider markets for revenue cycle management tech company TriZetto Corporation. He also was the president and CEO of consumer wellness company Onlife Health and senior vice president at BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.
In a press release, Acadia board of directors chairman Reeve Waud said Hunter's background in M&A and joint-venture deals aligned with the company's strategic growth plans. The for-profit system has established 16 partnerships with hospitals to operate mental and behavioral health facilties in recent years. Seven of those were announced in 2021.
Osteen is retiring after running the investor-owned company since 2018. She originally announced her retirement in October and was set to transition to an advisory role on Jan. 31, but was paid $900,000 to stay on for two more months. As Hunter takes over the company, Osteen will remain on the board of directors and serve as a consultant, according to a release.
