Karen Ignagni leaving AHIP for EmblemHealth

Longtime America's Health Insurance Plans (AHIP) President and CEO Karen Ignagni is leaving the lobbying group to become president and CEO of New York-based insurer EmblemHealth.

"I am honored to join this unique not-for-profit health plan at such an important time," Ignagni said in a statement.

Ignagni replaces Chairman and CEO Frank Branchini, who has been with EmblemHealth and its predecessor, Group Health Inc., for 30 years. The move is effective Sept. 1. Branchini will remain chairman of EmblemHealth's board of Directors.

Ignagni spent more than 20 years with AHIP. Many in the industry credit her leadership in the District of Columbia for the smooth implementation of the Affordable Care Act and the "productive relationship" between the insurance industry and the Obama administration, Politico noted.

Ignagni's recent industry advocacy efforts have focused on Medicare Advantage reimbursement rates that provide "stable funding," better tracking of medical devices in order to improve claims accuracy and opposition to the Cap the Copay campaign that she described as a "shell game" that failed to address rising prescription drug costs.

Manhattan-based EmblemHealth serves about 3.2 million members in New York state.

Stayed tuned to FierceHealthPayer for continuing coverage of this breaking news.

For more:
- read the EmblemHealth statement
- here's the Politico article

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