VSP Global's CEO Rob Lynch Announced as NASHO's Second Annual Most Influential in Specialty Health Award Winner

WASHINGTON, Oct. 5, 2011 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The National Association of Specialty Health Organizations (NASHO) today announced the recipient of its 2nd Annual Most Influential in Specialty Health Award: Rob Lynch, President and CEO of VSP Global, which includes VSP® Vision Care, the largest not-for-profit vision benefits company in the nation; Marchon® Eyewear, one of the world's largest eyewear and sunwear manufacturers; Eyefinity®, which offers technology solutions for practice management; and VSP Optics Group, an industry leader in new lens technologies.

The award recognizes leaders in specialty health who have played a major role in advancing the industry's mission to improve the value and accessibility of high quality specialty health services. Lynch's frontline advocacy garnered the admiration of industry peers who nominated and ultimately selected him for this honor.  Last year's inaugural recipient George Devries, President and CEO of American Specialty Health, presented the award yesterday evening, which was accepted on Lynch's behalf by VSP Vision Care Incoming President Jim McGrann, during the conclusion of the NASHO 9th Annual Leadership Summit taking place in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Beyond overseeing noteworthy growth at VSP, Lynch led efforts to raise awareness about the impact of healthcare reform not only to vision care but also to other specialty health companies. He spearheaded the establishment of a national consortium of dental and vision companies that ultimately mitigated many of the potential negative impacts to the specialty health industry, and often served as a media spokesman to draw attention to the issues associated with this debate.

"Healthcare reform is something that is important not only to VSP Vision Care, but to all specialty healthcare plans," said Lynch. "We are pleased to represent ancillary benefits in the healthcare debate. We've seen positive outcomes from this advocacy and will continue to promote the vital role specialty healthcare has in the overall healthcare delivery system."

NASHO Executive Director Julian Roberts stated, "Rob embodies the spirit of this award having assumed a lead role in illuminating some of the unintended consequences of healthcare reform not only for the benefit of vision care, but also for other specialty health disciplines. His far-reaching efforts have played a significant part in bringing specialty health closer to taking its rightful place at the healthcare table as reform continues to unfold and take shape."

About NASHO
NASHO is a subsidiary association of the American Association of Preferred Provider Organizations (AAPPO) (www.aappo.org), founded to advance and evolve specialty healthcare delivery in the United States. Its mission is to enhance and promote the value proposition of specialty health organizations. To learn more about NASHO, visit www.nasho.org.

SOURCE National Association of Specialty Health Organizations (NASHO)