Reed Melton is vice president of clinical operations at the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), a national federation of 34 independent, community-based and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) companies. Today, one in three Americans is covered by the Blue System. 

As a leader within BCBSA’s Office of Clinical Affairs, Melton is responsible for initiatives that improve safety, quality and affordability for BCBS members by working with BCBS companies to identify, scale and implement clinical innovations. He leads the development and implementation of clinical strategies for the National Council of Physician and Pharmacist Executives, which consists of chief medical officers and chief pharmacy executives across the BCBS System. Melton helps BCBS companies win and retain government business through the FAST Network®, an initiative that diffuses innovations for Medicare Advantage and Medicaid BCBS health plan products.  

Among the contributions he has made during his more than 20-year tenure at BCBSA, Melton worked with BCBS companies win and retain national account business through a number of different roles. He led teams to developed national sales and retention RFPs. He developed and led the organization’s first sponsored international insurance product, BlueWorldwide ExpatSM. He also led team responsible for growth and retention of more than 200 national accounts. Prior to joining BCBSA, Melton worked for the American Hospital Association’s Center for Healthcare Leadership.  

Melton received his MBA from the J. L. Kellogg Graduate School of Management at Northwestern University and earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marketing and Management from the University of South Carolina. He worked and lived abroad for several years earlier in his career and speaks multiple languages.