CareFirst Welcomes Kimberly Y. Robinson as Vice President of State Government Affairs
Longstanding healthcare executive to oversee CareFirst state government affairs initiatives across Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia
Baltimore and Washington D.C. – Today, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst), one of the country's largest not-for-profit healthcare organizations, announces Kimberly Y. Robinson as the organization’s Vice President of State Government Affairs.
As the leader of CareFirst’s state government affairs division, Robinson will play an important role in addressing the most pressing challenges that have the greatest impact on healthcare access and outcomes. She will apply her experience in strategy and relationship-building with state officials and legislative leaders to ensure CareFirst remains at the forefront of state government affairs advancement across its service region in Maryland, Washington, D.C. and Northern Virginia.
“Kimberly is a well-respected thought leader and expert in state government affairs circles and is widely sought after for her advice on the most pressing challenges facing healthcare,” said Brian D. Pieninck, president and CEO of CareFirst. “The depth and breadth of her experience in insurance policy will be an incredible asset, but more than that, as our initiatives continue to more strongly align with our mission of advancing equity and improving access, her passion for advocacy will positively inform our approach to government affairs.”
Prior to joining CareFirst, Robinson led regional government affairs for The Cigna Group (Cigna), focusing on efforts in Washington D.C., Maryland, Virginia, Delaware, West Virginia and Ohio. Before her time at Cigna, Robinson was the Executive Director of the League of Life and Health Insurers of Maryland, a trade association representing and advocating for insurance carriers in Maryland.
Robinson started her career as a lawyer with the Maryland Insurance Administration and has also served as Partner and Senior Counsel on Government Affairs and Insurance Regulation at Funk & Bolton, a Baltimore-based law firm.
“What excites me about working at CareFirst is my ability to establish relationships at a government level, while concurrently impacting individuals’ lives locally,” Robinson said. “It is my hope that every individual feels empowered in their own healthcare, and that they feel they have the tools to advocate for what they need. CareFirst’s mission of affordability and accessibility for all speaks to my values.”
Robinson’s professional passion for advocacy extends to her community outreach work, educating people and communities on how to advocate for themselves and engage with their legislators. She serves on the board of directors for Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., one of the largest Black women’s public service sororities in the country. And she leads their Social Action Commission. Additionally, Robinson is on the board for Coppin State University’s Development Foundation.
About CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
In its 87th year of service, CareFirst, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is a not-for-profit healthcare company which, through its affiliates and subsidiaries, offers a comprehensive portfolio of health insurance products and administrative services to 3.5 million individuals in Maryland, the District of Columbia and Northern Virginia. In 2023, CareFirst infused $233 million in support of regional community impact to improve overall health and advance accessible, affordable, equitable, high-quality healthcare. To learn more about CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, visit www.carefirst.com.