Despite deep concerns about how health care reform will actually be implemented and financed, the CEO of the state’s largest health insurer said Tuesday she is “somewhat optimistic” about the overhaul.
After 35 years in the health care field, “I’m ready for something to change here,” said Vicky Gregg, CEO of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee.
“You feel like you have been working all your career trying to make sure people get coverage, get care, and you keep in some ways, beating your head against a wall,” she said, speaking during a health care forum sponsored by the American Society of Women Accountants’ local chapter. “My hope is that this bill is disruptive enough that it really opens up some of those opportunities” to improve cost and care.
Two months after the passage of the controversial health care reform bill, a panel of three local speakers representing health insurers, hospitals and physicians expressed both hope and trepidation about reform’s outlook Tuesday during the luncheon at the Chattanoogan hotel.