Payson Takes Over as Apria CEO

LAKE FOREST, Calif. — Apria Healthcare Group has appointed Norman C.
Payson, MD, as CEO of the giant provider.

A graduate of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Payson
received his Doctor of Medicine degree at Dartmouth Medical School,
after which he practiced as a primary care physician including
service at a Native American reservation in the public health
service.

Payson subsequently became medical director and CEO of a large
multi-specialty medical group, then co-founded and served as CEO of
Healthsource, a physician sponsored health plan reaching 15 states
with three million members. After the sale of Healthsource to
Cigna, Payson
led a turnaround of Oxford Health Plans, New York City’s largest health
plan, and has also transformed other large health care companies,
including private equity sponsored enterprises, according to an
Apria press release.

Payson, who has been on Apria’s board of directors for two
years, has served as its executive chairman and interim CEO since
The Blackstone Group’s $1.7 billion purchase of the company. He
replaces Lawrence Higby, who left the CEO
position in late October after conclusion of the Blackstone
deal.