Vytalize Health, a value-based care company that provides analytics and recommendations to primary care providers, has added two members to its board of directors, including former UnitedHealth Group CEO Dave Wichmann. 

Medicare Advantage company Alignment Health has named Melinda Kimbro as its new chief people officer.

Prime Therapeutics has promoted Mostafa Kamal to be the pharmacy benefit manager's next CEO. 

Longtime Centene executive Brent Layton is joining the board of directors for healthcare startup Homeward. 

Independence Blue Cross has promoted Daniel Brown to vice president of provider reimbursement analysis and administration, Michael Hébert to vice president of provider contracting, and Obadiah Sang to vice president of corporate development and strategic investments.

UCare has tapped former Kansas Medicaid Director Jon Hamdorf, PhD, to lead its effort to win a Medicaid contract in the state. 

Pennsylvania has appointed Michael Humphreys as the state's next insurance commissioner. 

Former UnitedHealthcare executive Philip Kaufman has been named CEO of Sevita, a home and community-based healthcare company. 

Elevance Health has named Kofi Essel, MD, as its new food as medicine program director, a company spokesperson told Becker's June 23.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota has named Miaja Cassidy as its chief legal officer. 

Chris DeRosa, president of U.S. government business for the Cigna Group, will take over operations of the company's Medicare and individual and family business lines. 

Cambia Health Solutions has named Mike Rains, former CFO of Elevance Health's government business division, as CFO. 

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield has named Brian Wheeler senior vice president of health services. 

Bloomington, Minn.-based HealthPartners has named Jennifer Danielson as executive vice president and chief health plan officer, where she will lead the organization's insurance division.

Indiana Medicaid Director Allison Taylor is resigning later this summer after six years in the role, the Indiana Capital Chronicle reported June 20.  

CVS Health and former Cigna executive Amy Bricker are appealing a St. Louis federal judge's decision to grant a preliminary injunction barring her from working for CVS while a lawsuit over her noncompete clause moves forward. 

Independence Blue Cross has promoted Obadiah Sang to vice president of corporate development and strategic investments.

Former Centene executive Rajiv Patel, MD, has been named CEO of Bluestone Physician Services, an on-site primary care provider for assisted living communities.

In the small talent pool for health insurance leaders, payers often appoint CEOs who were previously with another insurer or healthcare company.

South Dakota Medicaid Director Sarah Aker will depart her role in July to serve as director of North Dakota Health and Human Services' medical services division.