Matt Ailes, head of the insurance lobbying group AHIP, announced plans Wednesday to resign from the trade group Oct. 2.
Isles have served as President and CEO of AHIP for nearly five years and worked at the organization for more than eight years, according to a news release. of AHIP The group said the board of directors would conduct a national search for Ailes’ replacement.
Efforts to reach the Isles were unsuccessful. AHIP, which did not immediately respond to interview requests, did not disclose plans for Ailes.
“Down the road, I look forward to working on new avenues and collaborations to make our healthcare system better for everyone,” Ailes said in the news release.
announcing his resignation, ahip noted Ailes’ successful lobbying efforts regarding the abolition of the health insurance tax; enactment of the No Surprises Act, which protects consumers from being hit with surprising out-of-network bills in most cases; and the passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, which extends the increased exchange subsidy through 2025. Ailes also promoted health equity by launching the Vaccine Community Connectors initiative, which connects consumers to COVID-19 vaccines.
Ailes’ resignation comes as enrollment in Medicare Advantage and Medicaid managed care has hit an all-time high and lawmakers and regulators scrutinize health insurers’ prior authorization policies and profits from government-sponsored programs.