BOISE, Idaho – Regence BlueShield of Idaho has named Ryan Pharis as its vice president of Network Management.
Pharis, who has worked with Regence’s network management division since August of 2020, will provide executive leadership and strategic direction to the company’s Boise and Lewiston-based provider team. Pharis will be responsible for developing and implementing provider strategies and relationships that support the Idaho team in contracting, innovative provider partnerships, cost stewardship and more.
Pharis has a strong background in health insurance and provider contracting. Over the past ten months at Regence he has helped expand the nonprofit’s relationship with a number of local hospital and physician systems, including establishing a new value-based arrangement with Catalyst Medical Group. Before Regence, Pharis led United Healthcare’s contracting division, and was a key voice in developing population health strategies.
“Ryan has already proved to be an impactful member of our team, and we’re thrilled to have him officially join Regence’s Idaho leadership in service to our members and business partners,” said Scott Jones, vice president of Sales with Regence BlueShield of Idaho. “We’re proudly working with providers across Idaho to redefine how together we can deliver better, simpler and more affordable care to those we serve.”
“I’m excited to help Regence move the needle in bringing more collaborative, value-based care to individuals and families across our great state,” said Pharis. “As we continue to emerge from the pandemic, this is an exciting time to chart the course forward for health care in Idaho.”
Pharis earned his undergraduate degree in health care management from Idaho State University. He joins the Regence BlueShield leadership team alongside Mark Ruszczyk, who assumes the position of market president starting July 6.
Community impact
Founded in 1946 in north-central Idaho, Regence and its affiliates employ more than 600 people in Boise, Lewiston, Pocatello and Coeur d’Alene, driving more than $68 million in annual economic activity throughout the state, according to ECONorthwest. Additionally, Regence, together with its corporate foundation and employees, contributed more than $2.1 million to benefit 112 different nonprofit organizations in 2020.
About Regence BlueShield of Idaho
Regence BlueShield of Idaho, based in Lewiston, has been serving Idahoans for more than seven decades and now provides more than 257,000 people with comprehensive health insurance solutions. As a nonprofit mutual insurance company and independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, Regence is part of a family of companies dedicated to transforming health care by delivering innovative products and services that change the way consumers in Idaho and nationwide experience health care. For more information, please visit regence.com, facebook.com/regenceblueshieldofidaho or twitter.com/regenceidaho.