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Top targets for FDE outreach
Top 20 Health Plan Targets — DaisyAI FDE Pipeline
Last updated: 2026-02-17 Methodology: Cross-referenced outreach plans, CRM accounts, health plan landscape, Apollo verification, strategic signals, and careers board hiring analysis. Excludes: Active pipeline (Premera, AppriseMD, HURC)
Key Discoveries from Hiring Research (Feb 17)
| Company | Discovery | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| BCBS South Carolina | Hiring AI/ML Engineers to build "agentic systems" and "dynamic planning systems" | Strongest AI buildout — they're building exactly what we do |
| HealthPartners | Created NEW Chief Data, AI & Digital Officer role (Maggie Helms) | Major strategic investment in AI — new buyer to target |
| IBX | Chief Analytics Officer Ravi Chawla won AI100 award (top 100 AI leaders in US) | Even stronger than just warm intro — AI leadership is world-class |
| Evolent | Acquired Machinify's AI UM platform — reviews $200B+ in claims via AI | Way more AI-forward than ranked — hiring LLM Ops Engineers |
| Blue Cross of Idaho | Hiring Director of AI & Innovation — building AI org from scratch | Greenfield opportunity — they need exactly what FDE provides |
| Sanford Health | Projecting 85,000 hours saved from automated workflows in 2026 | Quantified AI commitment — they're measuring ROI already |
| CareSource | CIO publicly said "no turning back on AI"; $4.5M invested in AI tools | Budget confirmed, executive sponsor exists |
Ranking Criteria
| Factor | Weight | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Research depth | High | Contact identified, intel gathered, email drafted, Apollo verified |
| Urgency signal | High | Financial pressure, vendor transition, new role, regulatory deadline |
| Contact quality | High | Right buyer (CIO/CTO/CDO), warm connection, verified email |
| Size fit | Medium | Sweet spot: 500K-2M members. Big enough for UM dept, small enough to move fast |
| Blues plan | Low+ | Premera reference carries weight with other Blues |
The List
#1 — Arkansas BCBS
- Members: 1.5M | HQ: Little Rock, AR
- Contact: Brett Trelfa, SVP & CIO
- Email: LinkedIn only (Apollo stale — showed old org)
- Research depth: Deep — email drafted, full intel
- Why #1: $226M net loss in 2024. Just switched UM vendors (HealthHelp for radiology PA). 15% increase in $1M+ claims. Exploring Cambia affiliation. Maximum pain = maximum receptivity.
- Hiring signals: ~27 total roles; Data Scientist posting active with AI/ML qualifications. Cambia affiliation could accelerate tech investment. Workday ATS.
- Next action: LinkedIn DM + email guess (btrelfa@arkbluecross.com)
#2 — IBX (Independence Blue Cross)
- Members: 2.5M | HQ: Philadelphia, PA
- Contact: Rodrigo (personal connection) + Kelly Munson (incoming CEO)
- Email: Personal connection
- Research depth: Deep — warm intro path
- Why #2: Personal connection = highest conversion probability. Large enough for meaningful engagement. Part of Independence Health Group (also owns AmeriHealth Caritas).
- Hiring signals: ~80-100 tech roles open. Ravi Chawla (VP & Chief Analytics Officer) won AI100 award — top 100 AI leaders in US (2024). Leading generative AI and responsible AI initiatives. Associate Data Scientist co-ops active. SelectMinds ATS.
- Next action: Email Rodrigo directly
#3 — BCBS North Dakota
- Members: ~500K | HQ: Fargo, ND
- Contact: Ylan Kazi, Chief Data & AI Officer
- Email: ylan.kazi@bcbsnd.com (Apollo verified)
- Research depth: Deep — email drafted, Apollo verified
- Why #3: Did an AI in Action podcast. Already thinking about data strategy + AI governance for regional plans. CDAO title = perfect buyer for FDE.
- Hiring signals: ~10-15 total (small org). CDAO role confirmed on leadership team. Announced strategic affiliation with Cambia Health Solutions — Cambia brings digital/AI capabilities. UKG ATS.
- Next action: Send personalized email referencing podcast
#4 — EmblemHealth
- Members: 3M | HQ: New York, NY
- Contact: Tom MacMillan, COO (formerly CIO)
- Email: tmacmillan@emblemhealth.com (Apollo verified)
- Research depth: Deep — email drafted, Apollo verified
- Why #4: 3M+ members across EmblemHealth, ConnectiCare, AdvantageCare. COO (ex-CIO) = understands tech decisions ARE operational decisions. Massive UM volume in NYC metro.
- Hiring signals: ~75 total roles, ~10-15 tech. Lead Solutions Architect (Healthcare) open. New CEO Mike Palmateer (Jan 2025). Data analytics internship program. In-person hiring events Feb 2026. Moderate signal.
- Next action: Send email
#5 — Wellmark BCBS
- Members: 1.8M | HQ: Des Moines, IA
- Contact: Paul Hlivko, VP Chief Technology & Experience Officer
- Email: LinkedIn (not in Apollo)
- Research depth: Deep — email drafted, full intel
- Why #5: Actively hiring VP of Analytics, Data Governance & AI Strategy. Named digital experience leader by Corporate Insight (Jan 2026). Budget and priority exist. Keith Shah named EVP Chief Health & Innovation Officer.
- Hiring signals: VP AI/Analytics hire = STRONG signal
- Next action: LinkedIn DM to Hlivko
#6 — CareSource
- Members: 2M | HQ: Dayton, OH (multi-state)
- Contact: Devon Valencia, CIO
- Email: LinkedIn only (try devon.valencia@caresource.com)
- Research depth: Deep — email drafted
- Why #6: 2M Medicaid members = massive UM volume. Margin pressure on Medicaid means every efficiency gain matters. Valencia's background at Blue Shield of CA = understands national-scale UM.
- Hiring signals: 50+ total roles. CIO publicly stated "no turning back on AI." $4.5M invested in AI-driven member tools. Data Analytics internship explicitly mentions "coordinate and implement AI initiatives." STRONG signal.
- Next action: LinkedIn DM + email guess
#7 — BCBS of Louisiana
- Members: 1.8M | HQ: Baton Rouge, LA
- Contact: Tina Bourgeois, SVP & CIO
- Email: LinkedIn (not in Apollo)
- Research depth: Deep — email drafted, full intel
- Why #7: 25-year insider promoted to CIO 2024. Background in data & analytics and actuarial systems. Award-winning predictive modeling program. New CEO Bryan Camerlinck driving restructure.
- Hiring signals: ~20-30 total roles. Data Engineer + Senior Data Engineer open with GenAI/Python/R qualifications. Software Engineer (remote) active. Posts primarily on own site (careers.lablue.com). Moderate signal.
- Next action: LinkedIn DM
#8 — Medical Mutual of Ohio
- Members: 1.8M | HQ: Cleveland, OH
- Contact: Matt Stein, CTO (VP Enterprise Technology Development & Innovation)
- Email: LinkedIn
- Research depth: Deep — email drafted, full intel
- Why #8: Already deployed Cohere Health + Rhyme (June 2024) for full end-to-end PA automation. Cohere auto-approves up to 90%. Deep in AI journey = understands value, receptive to FDE as complementary layer.
- Hiring signals: ~9-16 active roles. Data Engineer (pipeline/integration), BI Analyst. Forbes "Best Employer in Ohio" 2024. Modest tech footprint, consistent hiring. No AI leadership hire found. Weaker signal.
- Next action: LinkedIn DM emphasizing Cohere complement
#9 — MVP Health Care
- Members: 700K | HQ: Schenectady, NY
- Contact: Jon Winslow, VP Product Portfolio
- Email: In CRM — previously engaged Rebeca Brolick (Sr. Dir UM)
- Research depth: Deep — CRM Tier 1, email drafted
- Why #9: Already engaged on UM side (Rebeca). Now approaching tech side (Jon). Multiple contact paths. Right size for pilot.
- Hiring signals: ~46 engineer jobs (ZipRecruiter). RPA Software Engineer at $93K-$125K open. Large eng hiring for ~1,700 employee company. RPA/automation investment visible. Moderate-strong signal.
- Next action: Send email to Jon Winslow
#10 — BCBS of South Carolina
- Members: 1.5M | HQ: Columbia, SC
- Contact: Ravi Ravindra, VP & CTO
- Email: LinkedIn
- Research depth: Deep — email drafted, full intel
- Why #10: Jumped from <10% to >85% digital PA adoption with Cohere Health. Turnaround times cut nearly in half. Nurses manually validated every AI decision. FDE = the custom layer Cohere doesn't cover.
- Hiring signals: ~23 IT roles on LinkedIn. Actively hiring AI/ML Engineers building "agentic systems" and "dynamic planning systems." Data Scientist role open. ELTP program hires 10-25 IT grads/yr. STRONGEST AI buildout signal in entire list — building exactly what we do.
- Next action: LinkedIn DM — engineer to engineer angle
#11 — HealthPartners
- Members: 1.8M | HQ: Bloomington, MN
- Contact: Tim Thull, SVP & CTO
- Email: timothy.d.thull@healthpartners.com (Apollo verified)
- Research depth: Deep — email drafted, Apollo verified
- Why #11: Integrated payer-provider model — sees both sides of auth transaction. Largest consumer-governed nonprofit health plan. New CTO evaluating AI impact.
- Hiring signals: ~30-50 tech roles (177 total open). Created NEW Chief Data, AI & Digital Officer role — Maggie Helms appointed. Consolidates AI, analytics, data science, and IT under one exec. STRONG strategic AI signal. Consider targeting Helms instead of/alongside Thull.
- Next action: Send email
#12 — Priority Health
- Members: 1.2M | HQ: Grand Rapids, MI
- Contact: Amy Bertotti, Shannon Brauning, Ann Donnelly
- Email: In outreach plan
- Research depth: Medium — multiple contacts, no deep intel
- Why #12: Part of Corewell Health (Spectrum + Beaumont merger). Large integrated system. MI market. Multiple contact paths give flexibility.
- Hiring signals: 50+ tech roles (shared Corewell IS&T pool). VP Data & Analytics role open — analytics buildout. Workday ATS. Corewell-level investment benefits Priority Health. Moderate-strong signal.
- Next action: Re-contact with FDE angle
#13 — Regence / Cambia Health Solutions
- Members: 2.3M | HQ: Portland, OR
- Contact: Heidi Kriz + 1 other
- Email: In outreach plan
- Research depth: Medium — CRM account exists, email drafted
- Why #13: PNW adjacent to Premera. "We're starting work with another PNW Blues plan" = powerful social proof. Multi-state (OR/WA/UT/ID). Innovation-forward parent org.
- Hiring signals: ~20-40 tech roles. AI Scientist role open. Data Engineer, Semantic Architect (Portland). New CHRO Kara Beeler (Nov 2025). Active portfolio investment arm in digital health. Workday ATS. Moderate-strong signal.
- Next action: Email with Premera adjacency hook
#14 — Excellus BCBS
- Members: 1.5M | HQ: Rochester, NY
- Contact: Cindy Langston, SVP & CIO
- Email: LinkedIn + email
- Research depth: Deep — email drafted, full intel
- Why #14: CTO role vacant since Patrick Mulvehill departed. May need external tech help. Posted $26M profit in 2024 (turnaround). J.D. Power #1 NY MA 3 consecutive years. First female CIO in 87-year history, CIO Hall of Fame 2020.
- Hiring signals: ~15-25 tech roles (42 on LinkedIn). IT Cloud Engineer, Data Integration Engineer roles active. Analytics & Data and IS&T are named departments. Cloud platform investment. CTO vacancy still unfilled. Moderate signal.
- Next action: LinkedIn + email
#15 — Sanford Health Plan
- Members: ~250K | HQ: Sioux Falls, SD
- Contact: Tommy Ibrahim, EVP & Chief Transformation Officer
- Email: tommy.ibrahim@sanfordhealth.org (Apollo verified)
- Research depth: Deep — email drafted, Apollo verified
- Why #15: Brand new Chief Transformation Officer role over AI + data analytics + digital strategy. Greenfield mandate to build transformation roadmap. Smaller plan but decision-maker has explicit AI mandate.
- Hiring signals: ~30+ tech roles (489 total Sanford openings). Projecting 85,000 hours of time savings from automated workflows in 2026. Created dedicated AI/innovation C-suite position. Applying AI to rural health delivery and payer-provider integration. STRONG signal.
- Next action: Send email
#16 — BCBS Kansas
- Members: ~1M | HQ: Topeka, KS
- Contact: Matt Langdon, VP & CIO
- Email: matt.langdon@bcbsks.com (Apollo verified, title may be stale)
- Research depth: Deep — email drafted, Apollo verified
- Why #16: Right size to move fast — big enough for meaningful UM volume, small enough for quick decisions. Exited MA market 2025 = refocusing operations.
- Hiring signals: ~6-20 roles. Data Engineering, Infrastructure Engineering, App Delivery teams. Hybrid/onsite. No senior AI exec hire found. Early-stage signal.
- Next action: Send email
#17 — Medica
- Members: 1.5M | HQ: Minnetonka, MN
- Contact: Scott Peterson, VP & CTO
- Email: Spam-blocked previously. LinkedIn DM only.
- Research depth: Medium — outreach plan, prior contact attempt
- Why #17: Regional powerhouse across MN/WI/ND/SD/NE/IA/OK. Acquiring UCare's individual plans = growing. CTO is right buyer.
- Hiring signals: ~35-45 tech roles (175 remote MN roles total). Software Engineer Lead (Billing & Enrollment). Absorbed UCare members 2026 = growth mode. Limited public AI announcements. Weaker signal vs. peers.
- Next action: LinkedIn DM (email was spam-blocked)
#18 — Blue Cross of Idaho
- Members: ~600K | HQ: Boise, ID
- Contact: Lance Hatfield, CTO (15+ years)
- Email: LinkedIn
- Research depth: Deep — email drafted, full intel
- Why #18: PNW adjacent to Premera territory. Already running predictive analytics on 27 specialties and 1,000+ episodes of care. 3,100 providers in pay-for-performance program. Peter Perez named VP Business Operations focused on data analytics/automation.
- Hiring signals: ~22 roles (Glassdoor). Hiring Director of AI & Innovation — building cross-functional AI + data science team from scratch. Principal Data Architect open. New CEO focused on making company a "destination employer." STRONG forward-looking signal.
- Next action: LinkedIn DM
#19 — Health First Health Plans
- Members: ~115K | HQ: Melbourne, FL
- Contact: Michael Carr, VP & CIO
- Email: mcarr@hf.org or michael.carr@hf.org (pattern from RocketReach)
- Research depth: Medium — just researched, no email drafted yet
- Why #19: Just launched Epic Tapestry for health plan Jan 1, 2026 (6 weeks ago). Published interview Feb 10, 2026 on healthsystemCIO. Post-go-live optimization phase. Integrated payer-provider. Staff were logging into 9 separate systems before Tapestry. Philosophy: operational leaders own decisions, not IT.
- Hiring signals: ~15-25 IT roles (480 total Health First openings). Technology Development Program (2026 cohort, SQL/Python focus). In-office Tues/Wed/Thurs in Lake Mary, FL. No AI exec hire found. Moderate signal.
- Next action: Draft email referencing Feb 10 interview
#20 — Evolent Health / Passport Health Plan
- Members: 300K+ (Passport) + Evolent portfolio
- Contact: Robert Cruz, CTO
- Email: rcruz@evolent.com (Apollo verified)
- Research depth: Deep — email drafted, Apollo verified
- Why #20: Tech-enabled services model — runs clinical operations at scale for multiple plans. UM efficiency improvements compound across their portfolio. Not a single plan but a platform serving many.
- Hiring signals: ~25-40 tech roles. ML/LLM Operations Engineer actively hiring. Platform Engineer - Observability. Implementation Engineer ($190-210K). Acquired Machinify's AI UM platform (June 2024) — reviews $200B+ in medical claims via AI. Auth Intel AI product scaling. Q1 2025 earnings: AI automation ahead of plan. STRONGEST overall AI investment.
- Next action: Send email
Pipeline Summary
| Category | Count | Examples |
|---|---|---|
| Apollo-verified email ready | 8 | BCBSND, EmblemHealth, HealthPartners, Sanford, BCBS Kansas, UCare (dropped), Evolent |
| LinkedIn DM needed | 8 | Arkansas, Wellmark, CareSource, BCBS LA, Medical Mutual, BCBS SC, Medica, Blue Cross ID |
| Warm intro / personal | 2 | IBX (Rodrigo), MVP (prior UM engagement) |
| Need email draft | 2 | Health First, Priority Health |
Research Gaps to Fill
For each target, we still need:
-
Hiring signals (careers board scan for tech/AI/data roles)DONE — Feb 17 - Recent news (earnings, leadership changes, vendor transitions)
- Technology stack (Epic vs Cerner vs legacy, UM vendor current)
- UM department size estimate
- Regulatory pressure points (CMS-0057-F readiness, state PA reform)
Hiring Signal Strength Ranking
Based on careers board research (Feb 17, 2026):
| Tier | Company | Signal | Key Evidence |
|---|---|---|---|
| S | BCBS South Carolina | Active AI buildout | Hiring AI/ML Engineers for "agentic systems" |
| S | Evolent Health | AI-first platform | Acquired Machinify ($200B+ claims via AI), hiring LLM Ops |
| S | IBX | World-class AI leadership | Chief Analytics Officer won AI100 award |
| A | HealthPartners | New AI exec role | Created Chief Data, AI & Digital Officer |
| A | CareSource | Executive + budget confirmed | CIO committed publicly, $4.5M invested |
| A | Blue Cross of Idaho | Greenfield AI org | Hiring Director of AI & Innovation from scratch |
| A | Sanford Health | Quantified AI ROI | Projecting 85K hours saved in 2026 |
| A | Wellmark BCBS | VP-level AI hire | VP AI/Analytics role open, Tech Associate Program |
| B | Regence / Cambia | Active AI hiring | AI Scientist, Data Engineer, Semantic Architect |
| B | Priority Health / Corewell | VP Data & Analytics | Open VP role, broad IS&T pipeline |
| B | MVP Health Care | Heavy eng hiring | 46 engineer roles for ~1,700 employees |
| B | BCBS Louisiana | GenAI in job reqs | Data Engineers with GenAI qualifications |
| B | Arkansas BCBS | Data Science hiring | Data Scientist with AI/ML, Cambia affiliation |
| C | Excellus BCBS | Steady tech hiring | Cloud + data integration, CTO vacancy unfilled |
| C | EmblemHealth | CEO transition | Moderate analytics hiring, no AI initiative visible |
| C | Medica | Growth mode | Platform hiring but limited AI announcements |
| C | Health First | Post-Epic-go-live | Tech Dev Program but no AI exec |
| C | BCBS Kansas | Early stage | Data Engineering team exists but small |
| C | Medical Mutual | Consistent but modest | Data Engineer + BI, no AI leadership |
| C | BCBS North Dakota | Small but strategic | CDAO in place, Cambia affiliation |
Generated: 2026-02-17 Source files: outreach-plan-feb-16.md, outreach-drafts-feb-17.md, health-plan-landscape.md, CRM accounts Hiring research: Playwright browser automation + web search (Feb 17)