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Michael R. Merson was appointed to our Board of Directors in July 2008. Since 2003 Mr. Merson has served on the board and was elected Chairman in 2004 of CareFirst Blue Cross/Blue Shield the sixteenth largest health insurer in the United States with annual revenues of approximately $7.0 billion and covering over 3.2 million insured individuals. CareFirst is part of the BlueCross/Blue Shield group of insurance providers that collectively cover 100 million lives in the U. S. Mr. Merson previously held director and executive officer positions primarily President and/or CEO with MedStar Health Helix Health Inc. Franklin Square Hospital Center and Preferred Health Network. He continues to provide consulting services to primarily healthcare related enterprises focused on merger and acquisition goal setting business and governance issues and executive compensation and benefits through Michael R. Merson LLC and Yaffe & Company consultants. Mr. Merson has been active with the Maryland Hospital Association including participating on its executive council and receiving its Distinguished Service Award. He also served as its chair of the professional practices committee and the rate regulation council. Mr. Merson has served on the boards of the Maryland Hospital Education Institute and the National Blood Association in addition to serving on the board and executive committee of AmHS/Premier Inc. Mr. Merson received his MBA in Health Care Administration from The George Washington University.
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