Amazon hires insurance exec for joint healthcare venture

Dana Gelb Safran, a well-known health insurance executive, has been hired by the healthcare joint venture between Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway and J.P. Morgan, CNBC reported.

The hire comes after the joint venture, which aims to improve healthcare and lower costs for the employees of the three companies, has made several grabs from the healthcare industry.

Safran was formerly a chief performance measurement and improvement officer at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, CNBC reported. Her new title will be head of measurement, and she is expected to start at the beginning of next year.

Her experience suggests the new healthcare JV will have a data-driven focus and could elevate the entity’s exposure in the insurance space, CNBC predicted. She is also the first female executive hired by the JV. 

“Having an exec who worked at a health plan could also be useful if the group decides to take on traditional insurers,” CNBC reported.

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Amy Baxter

Amy joined TriMed Media as a Senior Writer for HealthExec after covering home care for three years. When not writing about all things healthcare, she fulfills her lifelong dream of becoming a pirate by sailing in regattas and enjoying rum. Fun fact: she sailed 333 miles across Lake Michigan in the Chicago Yacht Club "Race to Mackinac."

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