Brad Lewis of Certus Management Group Announces Dec. 1 Retirement; Beth Madden Becomes New Executive Vice President of Vālenz® Health Affinity Company

PHOENIX, Ariz. (Sept.29, 2023) — Brad Lewis, who has served the stop loss insurance industry for more than 40 years, will retire December 1 as Executive Vice President of Certus Management Group, a Vālenz® Health Affinity Company. Senior Vice President of Operations Beth Madden, CEBS, will become Executive Vice President, effective immediately.

Vālenz® Acquires Certus Management Group, Launching Stop Loss and Risk Mitigation Solution

Certus Management Group (CMG) is excited to announce our acquisition by Vālenz®, a market leader in providing fully integrated, data-driven cost containment and clinical advocacy solutions to self-insured employers.

Our acquisition means CMG is now a Valenz Affinity Company and  part of the innovative Valenz Healthcare Ecosystem Optimization Platform, a fully integrated suite of solutions that simplifies the complexities of self-insurance through data transparency and decision enablement throughout the life of a claim. CMG’s managing general underwriter services will launch in market as a Valenz V-Rated solution, a private label medical stop loss insurance solution that enables more efficient delivery of medical underwriting and risk mitigation services tailored to the needs of Valenz clients. All other CMG services will continue to be offered under the CMG trade name with the same great service to which CMG customers have grown accustomed.

The Valenz V-Rated solution is an additive benefit for self-insured employers who engage with Valenz for a full ecosystem solution, including care management, member navigation enhanced with Care Value Optimizer (charity care and centers of excellence bundles), specialty drug solutions, contracted and open access success networks, and high-cost claim cost containment programs. When partnering with Valenz during the presale process, clients realize the full value of the ecosystem which allows them to contain medical costs more aggressively than less innovative offerings, while also potentially resulting in more competitive stop loss costs.

CMG will retain its trade name and adopt a new tagline: “A Valenz Affinity Company.” We also will adopt a slightly updated logo to facilitate a more rapid association with Valenz. You will see CMG adopting the Valenz brand promise – to engage early and often for smarter, better, faster healthcare – and we are integrating the Valenz culture and circle of innovation into our operation.

Our core team of 18 will continue to support CMG-integrated products and services, joining with Valenz in launching and expanding the V-Rated solution. Although we will remain in Indianapolis as a remote business unit, we look forward to operating as one company with one culture and a strong team, supporting a collaborative enterprise approach to execution and client partnership.

CMG and Valenz are fully aligned in supporting clients and driving value across clinical and member advocacy, network development, and the validation, integrity and accuracy of claims for all stakeholders in self-funded health insurance.

Please join us in the excitement as we celebrate and move forward as part of the Valenz family!