Assumes new role of Senior Vice President, Chief Government Relations Officer
CHATTANOOGA, Tenn. — Dakasha Winton has been promoted by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee to the newly created position of chief government relations officer. In this new position, Winton assumes responsibilities previously held by Calvin Anderson, who will retire in January.
In her new position, Winton is responsible for leading all government relations efforts for BlueCross and supervising government relations staff in Nashville and Washington, D.C. The government relations teams supply information to regulators and legislators, monitor legislation that could affect BlueCross members, and advocate for policies that promote access and affordability in health care.
Prior to her promotion, Winton had served as director of state government relations and associate general counsel. Before joining BlueCross in 2009, she was chief counsel for Insurance, Securities and TennCare oversight divisions of the Tennessee Department of Commerce and Insurance. She was also a staff attorney for the department.
“Dakasha has proven to be particularly adept at navigating and communicating within the complex regulatory and legislative landscape, while demonstrating the highest levels of knowledge and integrity,” said JD Hickey, M.D., BlueCross president and CEO.
Winton graduated cum laude from Tennessee State University and earned her law degree from the University of Memphis. She is a member of the Nashville and Tennessee Bar Associations, the Tennessee Lobbyists Association, and the American Health Lawyers Association.
In 2010, she was named a Fellow of America’s Health Insurance Plans (AHIP), and she actively participates in legislative and regulatory workgroups for both AHIP and the BlueCross BlueShield Association. Winton was named a 2016 Fellow of the Nashville Health Care Council, and she is the 2016 recipient of the Napier-Looby Bar Association Trailblazer of the Year Award honoring outstanding achievements in the Nashville legal community.
“While serving on our government relations team, Dakasha earned the trust and respect of legislators and insurance regulators through her knowledge of the issues related to our industry, and equally her integrity and work ethic,” Anderson said. “She is an excellent choice to fill this position, and I have the utmost confidence that she will represent BlueCross and our members very well through this time of change.”
About BlueCross®
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee’s mission is to provide peace of mind through better health. Founded in 1945, the Chattanooga-based company is focused on serving more than 3.4 million members in Tennessee and across the country. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Inc. is an independent licensee of the BlueCross BlueShield Association. For more information, visit the company’s website at bcbst.com.