Ralph Prows, M.D., Named Chief Medical Officer for Regence

PORTLAND, Ore., Oct. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- Regence, the largest non-profit health insurer in the Northwest/Intermountain region, has named Ralph Prows, M.D., as Chief Medical Officer. In this role, Dr. Prows will lead Regence's medical strategy in all Regence markets, maintaining the company's medical policies and standards while providing oversight to all clinical operations.

"We are pleased Dr. Prows has accepted this new position," said John Stellmon, Regence senior vice president of Health Care Services. "I believe his clinical background and medical management expertise will prove invaluable in assisting our entire organization as we continue to strengthen existing - and implement new - programs Regence-wide that focus on reducing medical costs for our members in this ever-changing health care environment."

For the last six years, Dr. Prows was a Senior Medical Director for Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield of Oregon, where he was responsible for that market's medical management program strategy, development and operations, as well as other limited company-wide clinical functions. Additionally, outside of Dr. Prows' Regence work history, he brings 30 years of clinical expertise as a board-certified Internal Medicine specialist in a variety of clinical settings.

In this new role, Dr. Prows will use this background to take on medical management and program responsibility for every Regence market, and will build on his history of working constructively with hospitals and doctors to improve quality, efficiency and the patient experience.

"In these challenging economic times, I am proud to work for an organization that places such an emphasis on providing valuable services to our members at the lowest cost possible," said Dr. Prows. "I will use this opportunity to further focus on adding to that value by finding new and creative ways to maximize customer resources to their fullest potential. This includes working hard to ensure that our contracted relationships and programs are aligned with proven best practices for quality and efficient care."

Active in the Oregon community, Dr. Prows currently serves as president and chair of the Oregon Health Care Quality Corporation and is a committee member of the Oregon health Care Leadership Council. He is also an advisory board member and volunteer physician for the North by Northeast Community Health Center in Portland, an organization that provides free health care services within the community.

About Regence

Regence is the largest health insurer in the Northwest / Intermountain Region, offering health, life and dental insurance. Regence serves nearly 2.5 million members as Regence BlueShield of Idaho, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah and Regence BlueShield (selected counties in Washington). Each health plan is a nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Regence is committed to improving the health of our members and our communities, and to transforming our health care system. For more information, please visit www.regence.com or follow us on Twitter.

SOURCE Regence

WANT YOUR COMPANY'S NEWS FEATURED ON PRNEWSWIRE.COM?

440k+
Newsrooms &
Influencers

9k+
Digital Media
Outlets

270k+
Journalists
Opted In

GET STARTED