Independence Blue Cross Hires Donald Liss, M.D., as Senior Medical Director

Ardent supporter and speaker on medical home model and other innovative ways to improve quality, lower costs

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Apr 16, 2010, 03:00 ET

PHILADELPHIA, April 16 /PRNewswire/ -- Independence Blue Cross (IBC) today announced that Donald Liss, M.D., has joined the company as senior medical director of clinical programs and policy. He will report to Dr. Richard L. Snyder, chief medical officer. Most recently, Dr. Liss was regional medical director for the northeast region for Aetna, Inc. where he oversaw the delivery of health services to 4 million members.

Dr. Liss leads a staff of medical directors and clinical support personnel responsible for improving the coordination and delivery of care for IBC's 3.3 million members. He and his team will identify opportunities to sensibly balance IBC's commitment to making the best care available to members with its customers' needs to keep health care affordable.

Dr. Liss will also represent IBC in a leadership role for the southeast Pennsylvania Chronic Care Commission, a pilot program launched in 2008 by Governor Rendell to promote improvements in the delivery of primary care, especially for individuals with chronic conditions. IBC is the largest insurer among several payers involved with the initiative, with about 110,000 participating patients. Dr. Liss previously led this project for Aetna, another participating payer. He is a recognized authority on the patient-centered medical home, and frequently speaks on the financing and delivery of primary care at health care conferences.

"Don is a seasoned veteran who brings with him a wealth of experience, knowledge, and insight about innovative ways health plans can improve the quality of care and lower costs," said Dr. Snyder. "Having worked closely with Don over the past two years on the state's medical home model, I came to know him well and respect his dedication to patient care and for continually looking for new ways to solve problems. Don has strong personal and professional ties to the Philadelphia area, having grown up, trained, and worked here for many years. He is extremely well-respected throughout our region, and we are fortunate and excited to have him on our team."

Prior to joining Aetna, Dr. Liss was senior vice president for medical affairs for Health Partners, Inc. in Philadelphia, Pa.

Dr. Liss is a graduate of the Medical College of Pennsylvania, now Drexel University College of Medicine, and has a bachelor's degree from Lehigh University. He completed his post graduate medical training at the University of Pennsylvania and Temple University.

Dr. Liss teaches a health care systems course for first-year medical students at the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine. He currently serves as a council member of the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council and sits on the ECRI Institute Health Technology Assessment Information Services advisory board. Dr. Liss is also a board member for HealthWell Foundation, a charitable organization that provides financial assistance to underinsured patients for high-cost drugs.

About Independence Blue Cross

Independence Blue Cross is a leading health insurer in southeastern Pennsylvania. Nationwide, Independence Blue Cross and its affiliates provide coverage to nearly 3.3 million people. For more than 70 years, Independence Blue Cross has offered high-quality health care coverage tailored to meet the changing needs of members, employers, and health care professionals. Independence Blue Cross's HMO and PPO health care plans have consistently received the highest ratings from the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. More information about Independence Blue Cross is available at www.ibx.com.

SOURCE Independence Blue Cross