WellPoint State Sponsored Business President Appointed Chairman of the Board of Directors for Medicaid Health Plans of America

INDIANAPOLIS, Dec. 12, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- WellPoint (NYSE: WLP) announced today that Kevin R. Hayden, president of  its State Sponsored Business division, has been appointed as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Medicaid Health Plans of America (MHPA) effective January 1, 2012; Hayden will serve in this role through 2013.

MHPA is the leading trade association solely focused on representing Medicaid health plans. Comprised of appointed representatives from its member plans, the Board of Directors jointly oversees the activities of MHPA and governs MHPA by establishing its policies and objectives.  The Board is also central in setting health policy for MHPA.    

"Today more than ever state leaders are focused on how to effectively implement Medicaid programs that will meet the health care needs of Americans across the country," said Hayden.  "The Medicaid Health Plans of America convenes an exceptionally talented group of thought leaders who bring years of experience in developing and implementing innovative and effective Medicaid managed care programs that have helped to improve the health of those who rely on these important state funded programs. I am humbled and honored to serve as chairman of this esteemed group of leaders and to continue fostering the dialogue about the value managed care brings to Medicaid programs at this most defining point in the history of the health care industry."

As Chairman of the Board, Hayden will preside over board meetings and serve as MHPA's representative and spokesperson. In addition, Hayden will continue to serve as a member of MHPA's Executive Committee and continue his work with the Center for Best Practices, an affiliate organization of  MHPA.

"We look forward to Kevin taking the helm of MHPA's Board and continuing the great work started by outgoing Chair, Karen Clark," said Thomas Johnson, MHPA's president and CEO. "With the many issues facing the Medicaid health plan industry as health reform is implemented -- dual eligibles, ACOs, exchanges and the insurer fee, just to name a few -- we're confident that MHPA and the industry will find just what it needs and more in Kevin's leadership."

At WellPoint, Hayden is responsible for leading the State Sponsored Business division which currently serves nearly 1.8 million Medicaid and CHIP members in 10 states. His career spans more than 25 years in the private and public sectors. Prior to joining WellPoint, he served as Secretary of the Department of Health and Family Services for the State of Wisconsin and was responsible for leading all public health and care delivery services. Hayden also served as the Wisconsin State Medicaid Director, where he was a  founder of BadgerCare Plus, an innovative program expanding access to coverage to all children in Wisconsin.

Hayden's experience in the private sector includes nine years serving as President and Chief Administrative Officer of Dean Health system in Madison, Wisconsin. His areas of expertise include Children's Health Insurance Programs (CHIP), as well as Medicaid population and policy dynamics within the Aged Blind Disabled (ABD) community and Childless Adult segments.

Founded in 1993, the MHPA provides advocacy, research and organized forums that support the development of policy solutions to enhance the delivery of quality health care.

About WellPoint, Inc.:

WellPoint works to simplify the connection between Health, Care and Value. We help to improve the health of our members and our communities, and provide greater value to our customers and shareholders. WellPoint is one of the nation's largest health benefits companies, with 34 million members in its affiliated health plans, and a total of more than 66 million individuals served through its subsidiaries. As an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, WellPoint serves members as the Blue Cross licensee for California; the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, New York (as the Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in 10 New York City metropolitan and surrounding counties and as the Blue Cross or Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in selected upstate counties only), Ohio, Virginia (excluding the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.), and Wisconsin. In a majority of these service areas, WellPoint's plans do business as Anthem Blue Cross, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, or Empire Blue Cross (in the New York service areas). WellPoint also serves customers throughout the country as UniCare. Additional information about WellPoint is available at http://www.wellpoint.com/.

SOURCE WellPoint, Inc.