Beth Sammis, who last week was not appointed as insurance commissioner in Maryland, will remain at the Maryland Insurance Administration as a deputy commissioner.
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Beth Sammis
Sammis will be returning to the post she had prior to being named acting insurance commissioner in January 2010 to replace Ralph S. Tyler, who left for a position as chief counsel at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
In its one-page statement about the appointment of Therese Goldsmith, a member of the Maryland Public Service Commission since 2009, the administration of Maryland Gov. Martin O’Malley did not indicate that Sammis would be staying.
IFAwebnews.com received separate confirmation of Sammis’ intent to stay at the MIA from a spokesman at the governor’s office and from an MIA spokeswoman.
Under state law, O’Malley had to appoint a commissioner to a new four-year term, ending May 31, 2015. It is unclear why O’Malley did not appoint Sammis.
Also unusual is the decision of a commissioner to step back into a role subservient to a successor. Sammis will be one of two deputy commissioners.
But with her background in health insurance, Sammis could prove valuable to the agency, which is in the process of helping to shape state law and actions to align with the mandates of federal health reform.
Tyler appointed Sammis, a former vice president of government affairs for UnitedHealthcare and Mid-Atlantic Medical Services Inc. (MAMSI), which was bought by UHC, as deputy commissioner in 2007.
Earlier this year, Bryson Popham, an insurance industry lobbyist, said of Sammis as commissioner” “I have seen a lot of commissioners in 30 years. You can engage her in a policy discussion on any issue and she will give you an honest hearing.”
Sammis to remain at MIA, returning to deputy commissioner post via IFAwebnews .
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