Healthcare >> CEO Interviews >> February 12, 2001
NORMAN C. PAYSON, MD, is the Chairman and CEO of Oxford Health Plans,
Inc. After joining the company in 1998 as CEO, he was elected Chairman
of the Board of Directors in April 1999. Throughout 1998, Dr. Payson
focused on restoring Oxford to financial health and improving its
business prospects, so at the end of first quarter 1999, Oxford was able
to report positive earnings, ahead of analysts' forecasts. Moving
forward, this once-practicing physician will continue to work closely
with hospital administrators, doctors and others in the healthcare field
to ensure that Oxford members have access to quality health care. Prior
to joining Oxford, Dr. Payson was CEO of Healthsource, Inc., from its
founding in 1985 until its sale to CIGNA Corporation in 1997. Under his
tenure, Healthsource grew to be one of the nation's largest managed
healthcare companies, operating in 15 states with more than three
million members. Before Healthsource, Dr. Payson was the CEO of a 120-
physician group, with more than 100,000 HMO members. Dr. Payson serves
on the Board of Directors of the American Association of Health Plans
and is on the faculty of Dartmouth Medical School. A frequent speaker
at national symposia on health care and healthcare financing issues, he
also has spoken at various state and federal hearings on issues
affecting the managed care industry. Dr. Payson is a graduate of the
Massachusetts Institute of Technology and received his MD from Dartmouth
Medical School. Profile
Health Plans Inc.?
Dr. Payson: Oxford began business in 1984, and by the mid-1990s was the
premier healthcare plan for
