Riley will act as the lead clinician for corporate initiatives in the Nashville regional office. He will serve as an expert resource to employer accounts, working with them to address cost and quality needs for their employee health benefit plans.

“We are fortunate to have Kelley on board. He’ll be a wonderful asset to both the health care services team as well as our customers as we work together on the many aspects of health care reform,” said Dr. Richard Cassidy, vice president and chief medical officer for BlueCross.

Riley will also serve as a liaison and educator to network providers as well as a consultant to BlueCross personnel on such topics as health care economics, provider practice pattern analysis, health informatics initiatives and sales and account support.

He is the former medical director for WellCare Health Plans Inc. in Tampa, Fla., where he oversaw the utilization and care management for the states of New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Texas and Louisiana. Riley also served as medical director of the special investigations unit focused on identifying, investigating and resolving fraud, waste and abuse.

About BlueCross

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is the state's oldest and largest not-for-profit health plan, serving nearly 3 million Tennesseans. Founded in 1945, the Chattanooga-based company is focused on financing affordable health care coverage and providing peace of mind for all Tennesseans. BlueCross serves its members by delivering quality health care products, services and information. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Inc. is an independent licensee of BlueCross BlueShield Association. For more information, visit the company's Web site at www.bcbst.com.