Health Alliance names Dennis Hesch president and chief executive officer

After serving on an interim basis for the past several months, Dennis Hesch now assumes the official role of president and chief executive officer (CEO) of Health Alliance Medical Plans. He also serves as executive vice president and chief financial and strategy officer of the Carle health system.

Hesch provides the necessary breadth of knowledge to effectively lead the Health Alliance forward in this role, said James C. Leonard, MD, president and CEO of the health system.

“Dennis’s deep appreciation for the capabilities of an integrated delivery system, drive to improve and openness to input will only strengthen what we can accomplish,” Dr. Leonard said.

Hesch began his career at Carle in 2006, when he served as Carle Clinic Association chief financial officer. He then led as system chief financial officer for nearly a decade.

His leadership helped Carle achieve continued strong financial performance, enabling the best possible care for patients and members. Hesch has been key to Carle’s investment in physician and administrative leadership, while also balancing the organization through annual cost-saving initiatives.

These skills and leadership ability translate well to proper stewardship of the health plan.

“In this continually changing healthcare and coverage landscape, I’m most eager to see how the nearly 40 years of Health Alliance experience will allow our organization to grow in ways that help even more patients and members,” Hesch said.

Based in Champaign, IL, Health Alliance operates in Illinois, Iowa, Indiana, Ohio and Washington with additional licenses in Nebraska and Missouri. Health Alliance is part of The Carle Foundation integrated system of healthcare services, which includes The Carle Foundation Hospital, Carle Physician Group, partnership in the Carle Illinois College of Medicine, Stephens Family Clinical Research Institute, and two regional hospitals and 21 regional provider sites of care.

In Illinois, Health Alliance offers employer group plans, individual plans, Medicare plans, State of Illinois Employee plans, and State of Illinois Retiree plans through Total Retiree Advantage Illinois. In Iowa, the insurer offers employer group plans and Medicare plans. And in Washington, they offer Medicare plans and public individual plans. In Indiana and Ohio, Health Alliance offers Medicare plans.

 A leading provider-driven health plan, Health Alliance Medical Plans earned – for the third year in a row – J.D. Power acclaim for “Highest Member Satisfaction among Commercial Health Plans in the Illinois/Indiana Region” in the J.D. Power 2019 Member Health Plan Study^SM.