Raleigh, N.C. – Gov. Roy Cooper recently appointed Anuradha Rao-Patel, MD, to the North Carolina Medical Board for a three-year term beginning Nov. 1.
Dr. Rao-Patel is the Lead Medical Director for Government Programs at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC). In that role, she oversees the medical directors responsible for the utilization and care management activities for Medicare Advantage, Federal Employee Program (FEP), and the NC State Health Plan lines of business at Blue Cross NC. She also supports the company’s behavioral health team and Healthy Blue (managed Medicaid).
In addition to this role, Dr. Rao-Patel is leading an internal opioid workgroup for Blue Cross NC and works collaboratively with other key stakeholders at both state and national levels to identify solutions and best practices on the prevention and treatment of substance use disorder while focusing on effective care coordination for member focused care delivery.
Dr. Rao-Patel attended medical school at Louisiana State University in New Orleans and completed her internship in Internal Medicine at Earl K. Long Hospital in Baton Rouge. She then completed her residency in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Sinai Hospital in Baltimore, Maryland. Prior to joining Blue Cross NC, she was in private practice providing services for chronic pain management and addiction management. She continues to be clinically active and see patients in addition to her role at Blue Cross NC.
About NCMB
North Carolina Medical Board is the agency responsible for licensing, monitoring, disciplining and guiding physicians, physician assistants and the other health care professionals it regulates to ensure their fitness and competence. The Board is made up of 13 members, including physicians, advanced practice providers and non-clinician members of the public. For more information, visit www.ncmedboard.org/about-the-board