Fredrick D. Palenske - Vice President, Provider Relations and Medical Affairs

Fred Palenske became vice president of the newly formed provider relations and medical affairs division in October 2007. The division encompasses the areas in which the company interacts with providers, including medical review, quality management, health informatics, professional relations, institutional relations, provider reimbursement and provider file.

Palenske joined BCBSKS in 1988 after working four years at the Kansas Insurance Department. He first served as a contract specialist before being promoted to manager of regulatory compliance in 1989. He became director of regulatory compliance in 1990 and later added responsibility for legislative affairs and regulatory affairs.

He holds two degrees from Washburn University, earning a bachelor's in management and finance in 1982 and a master's in business administration in 1988. He is a 2002 graduate of Leadership Greater Topeka and a 2006 graduate of Leadership Kansas. He is a past president of the Kansas Association of Health Plans, and is active in the Kansas Health Insurance Association and the Kansas Life and Health Insurance Guaranty Association.

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