Killingsworth Resigns from BCBS of MA

Cleve Killingsworth, who has led Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts since 2004, is leaving the insurer effective immediately.

The insurer's board accepted Killingsworth's resignation, but the president and CEO "will remain available to the company as needed to ensure a smooth transition," according to BCBSMA.

Killingsworth joined BCBSMA as president and COO in 2004 after leading Health Alliance Plan in Detroit. He was named CEO at BCBSMA in 2005.

In a prepared statement, Killingsworth said, "It's been an honor and privilege to work with such a talented group of people who are deeply committed to improving the quality and affordability of health care," Killingsworth said. "I look forward now to moving the discussion of quality and affordability to a national level, where I believe my experience can be of value."

Under Killingsworth, BCBSMA has been a leader in Alternative Quality Contracts (AQC). HealthLeaders magazine recognized him in HealthLeaders 20, which is the magazine's annual list of 20 people who make healthcare better, in the December 2009 issue. (To hear Killingsworth talk about AQC, listen to this audio feature.)

In an interview with HealthLeaders at that time, Killingsworth talked about creating a payment model so insurers pay for high-quality effective care. He said the idea is to build a new set of incentives based on eliminating clinical waste, but also retargeting goals.

"The whole idea of switching process measures out for outcomes measures was a new idea for targets under the incentive program," he said.

BCBS of MA's AQC combines two forms of payment. The first is a global, or fixed, payment per patient adjusted for health status and performance incentives tied to the latest nationally accepted measures of quality, effectiveness, and patient experience. That's combined with performance incentives based on quality and safety metrics.

"What we're doing here is starting at levels doctors and hospitals have already achieved and extended that level in the AQC environment. We're not taking money out of their pockets to get this done," Killingsworth said at the time.

Killingsworth said BCBS of MA is working with doctors to make sure they succeed in the program and AQC is about more than gaining a larger market share.

"This is not about making more money or getting bigger for Blue Cross, it's about doing the right thing. Making sure our members get the most effective and safest care possible. There is some distance from where we are and the care that our members and other people in the community should expect," he said.

Now, three months later, Killingsworth is leaving Massachusetts' largest insurer. Paul Guzzi, who was named chairman of the Board of Directors earlier this month, said the board thanks Killingsworth for his service.

"We appreciate the energy, vision and commitment he has demonstrated in developing meaningful and sustainable solutions to the complex healthcare challenges our state and nation face today," he said.

William Van Faasen, who was the insurer's CEO from 1992 to 2005, will serve as interim CEO while the board searches for a permanent successor. Van Faasen will serve in this position without compensation, according to BCBSMA.