Scott Graves succeeds Jim Deyling as President of BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina Private Business
October 29, 2015
COLUMBIA, SC – Effective Jan., 1, 2016, Scott Graves, president of BlueChoice® HealthPlan, will succeed Jim Deyling as president of the BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina private business division.
In July, Deyling announced his plans to retire at year’s end. Following a national search, leadership determined that the ideal candidate to move the organization into the future was already in its midst. Deyling will continue in his leadership role through the end of the year and work closely with Graves to ensure a smooth transition.
Graves began his career at BlueCross in 1998 at Companion HealthCare (now called BlueChoice HealthPlan). During his 17 years at the organization, he assumed a series of additional management responsibilities. In 2011, he was tasked with starting the Medicaid managed care operation within BlueChoice®. Following that successful launch, he assumed the role of BlueChoice president and chief operating officer in 2013.
Under Graves’ leadership, BlueChoice broadened its customer base. According to David Pankau, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina president and CEO, Graves’ leadership and support of the other divisions within private business helped position both BlueCross and BlueChoice as leaders in the South Carolina health insurance market.
He said, “Scott has a proven track record of both growing our business and improving the quality of services we provide. He has also exhibited a tremendous capacity to understand, manage and lead the critical base business of our company.
“Jim Deyling did a terrific job helping BlueCross navigate through the planning, operationalizing and implementation of health care reform. Scott’s challenge going forward is to continue to grow the business, while identifying opportunities for cost savings for our customers and working with our provider partners to improve quality outcomes and expand payment reform.”
Graves earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Furman University. He serves on a number of internal and community boards, including serving as the president and board chair of the South Carolina Alliance of Health Plans, past board chairman of Children’s Chance and treasurer and board member of the South Carolina Association of Non-Profit Organizations.
About BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina
Headquartered in Columbia, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The only South Carolina-owned and operated health insurance carrier, BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina comprises more than 20 companies involved in health insurance services, U.S. DoD health program and Medicare contracts, other insurance and employee benefits services and a philanthropic foundation that funds programs to improve health care and access to health care for South Carolinians.
About BlueChoice HealthPlan of South Carolina
Also headquartered in Columbia, BlueChoice HealthPlan of South Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Shield Association. BlueChoice holds a “Commendable” accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) for its commercial business, as well as an NCQA “New Health Plan Accreditation” for its Medicaid business. BlueChoice offers four categories of group health plans, as well as individual plans for adults and families and a South Carolina Medicaid product.
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