DURHAM, N.C. – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) has named Dr. Stephen Friedhoff to the newly formed role of Senior Vice President, Health Care Services. Dr. Friedhoff has improved the health of communities as a primary care physician and brings extensive experience in outcomes-based care management, launching innovative health care strategies, integrating core clinical claims systems, and improving network performance and value-based contracting.  

“Steve is a committed leader and clinician who cares deeply about making health care better for our customers and communities,” said Blue Cross NC CEO and President Dr. Tunde Sotunde. “His expertise will be vital to ensure equitable access to high quality, affordable health care for all North Carolinians.”

In his role, Dr. Friedhoff will be responsible for relationships with health care providers, medical policy, corporate pharmacy, appeals, care management, and overall leadership of the company’s health care division. He will also lead implementation of Blue Cross NC medical cost and care initiatives such as value-based care and other innovative payment models, in addition to supporting programs for independent primary care practices. He is a seasoned executive with more than 20 years of experience in clinical and administrative leadership roles. Most recently, he served as the Chief Clinical Officer for Help at Home, the leading national provider of high quality, person-centered care. The company provides support to the elderly and people with disabilities in their homes and community-based settings. 

Prior to his current role, Dr. Friedhoff spent over a decade at Anthem serving in a variety of roles including National Chief Clinical Officer, Senior Vice President of Clinical Operations and Products, Diversified Business Group, Senior Vice President of Clinical Strategy and Programs and Chief Medical Officer of Anthem’s Government Business Division. In his role as National Chief Clinical Officer at Anthem, he drove a significant increase in medical cost savings while also improving the effectiveness and consistency of programs during his tenure.  

His earlier roles included Regional Medical Director with Independence Blue Cross in Philadelphia, PA and Clinical Faculty and Medical Director at the Virtua Family Medicine Residency Program in Mount Holly, NJ. He continued to practice family medicine in New Jersey until 2015. 
 
Dr. Friedhoff obtained his undergraduate degree at Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute in Troy, NY, and his medical degree at the Rutgers–New Jersey Medical School in Newark, NJ. He completed his family medicine residency at Virtua Memorial Hospital in Mount Holly, NJ where he served as Chief Resident and was the recipient of the New Jersey Resident of the Year Award by the New Jersey Academy of Family Physicians. 
 
He is a certified health insurance executive through America’s Health Insurance Plans, a diplomat of the American Academy of Family Physicians and board certified by the American Board of Family Medicine. Dr. Friedhoff holds active medical licenses in New Jersey and Florida and will be pursuing licensing in North Carolina.