New CEO has led policy work at America's Health Insurance Plans since 2015

Eyles

One of the biggest and most influential lobbying groups on health care, America's Health Insurance Plans, announced March 14 that it would promote Executive Vice President and COO Matt Eyles to the top job. Eyles has led AHIP's policy work since joining the association in 2015.

CEO Marilyn Tavenner will step down June 1, after three years in the role. She had previously been administrator at the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services during the Obama administration.

"From health care reform in Washington and fighting to lower prescription drug prices, to strengthening employer-provided coverage and long-range strategic planning, Eyles has been an effective advocate for insurance providers and a trusted partner to policymakers," the association said in a news release.

"Matt is one of the most experienced leaders in Washington," Tavenner said in the announcement. "We have partnered together on real solutions that allow health insurance providers to better serve the millions of Americans they work for every day. We worked closely with the board to plan an effective transition to ensure that under Matt's leadership, AHIP will continue to be the industry leader for years to come."

Tavenner faced big challenges from the start with the departures of high-profile members. UnitedHealth Group announced it would be leaving a few weeks before Tavenner took over as CEO in July 2105. Aetna soon followed. More recently, Humana also left the group.

Since Donald Trump won the presidential election in 2016, Republican efforts to dismantle the Affordable Care Act have intensified. Tavenner's predecessor, Karen Ignagni, was a key player in the passage of the ACA in 2010. At CMS, Tavenner's responsibilities include implementing the new law and creating the federal online insurance marketplace.

Eyles previously worked at Avalere Health, a strategic health care advisory services firm. Before that, he led public policy, government affairs and corporate communications at Coventry Health Care (now part of Aetna). He has also worked at Wyeth (now Pfizer), Eli Lilly & Co. and on Capitol Hill in the Congressional Budget Office.

AHIP reported revenue of $63 million in 2016.

Tavenner's take-home pay in 2016 was $1.39 million in 2016, according to AHIP's most recent tax records.