Mark Wagar is President of Heritage Medical Systems, an affiliate of the Heritage Provider Network (HPN). Heritage was founded by Dr. Richard Merkin in 1979, and is the nation’s leading physician-led healthcare solutions organization. HPN focuses on helping healthcare providers — including physicians, healthplans and hospitals — navigate the complex challenges and shared responsibilities impacting healthcare quality, service, and cost in today’s rapidly changing market. HPN provides medical care for over 700,000 members, and an affiliate is the largest Pioneer ACO in the United States. Mark’s extensive payer, physican, hospital and healthcare service organization experience includes almost a decade of work in community rated, guaranteed issue health coverage markets, where collaboration is essential to delivering sustainable quality and cost improvement.

Previously President and CEO of Empire BlueCross BlueShield, Mr. Wagar led New York’s largest health insurer covering nearly 6 million people, and was a Senior Vice President in WellPoint, Inc. With an active leadership role in public policy, provider collaboration, and community engagement, during his tenure Empire achieved net growth of over 1 million medical members, market leading member satisfaction results, the introduction of the first major medical home network in metropolitan New York, selection for Federal pilots in care integration, and support of New York City’s only Federally approved ACO carve out.

Prior to Empire Mr. Wagar held leadership positions at Caremark, CIGNA HealthCare, and provider owned managed care organizations, as well as roles in hospital management, physician practice management, and diagnostic services in market leading organizations based in Ohio, California, Texas, and New York.

An experienced officer and director in public and private corporations, Mr. Wagar has recently served as a Director in a number of prominent New York civic and charitable organizations, and was a member of the Board of BCS Financial, Inc. He has been recognized as a Distinguished Alumnus of The Ohio State University, and a recipient of the Dr. Jonas Salk Memorial Mentor in Medicine Award. He has been an honoree for numerous charitable causes supporting healthy communities and diversity. He was a member of the 1971 Big Ten Champion basketball team of The Ohio State University.

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