Health care's systemic failures are driving high costs and leaving too many Americans without affordable coverage, according to Paul Markovich, president and CEO of Ascendiun, parent company of the nonprofit Blue Shield of California, in his remarks before the United States House Committee on Energy & Commerce health subcommittee.
Markovich acknowledged the frustration and distrust many Americans feel toward the health care system and called for collective accountability.
"Our health care system is bankrupting and failing us," Markovich said. "It is too expensive, too impersonal, it doesn't cover everybody, achieves inferior outcomes relative to other countries, and it is mistrusted by too many Americans. This is unacceptable."
The industry must work with lawmakers to create a health care system worthy of everyone.
"We are all mortal, and therefore we are all going to need the health care system," he said. "When our loved ones need to access it, we want them to be able to afford it and be treated the way they deserve to be."
During the hearing, lawmakers questioned why health insurance remains costly and, for many, unattainable. In response, Markovich pointed to long-standing structural problems and misaligned incentives across the health care ecosystem.
"We are a long way from that ambition right now because there's too many times where participants in the current health care system — health plans, hospitals, physicians, pharmaceutical companies, and others — put profits ahead of patients and are complacent about how complex, inconvenient, and inefficient our system is."
Markovich noted that the consequences of inaction fall on American families, employers, and taxpayers, who are increasingly strained by inconsistent, impersonal, and inefficient care.
Despite the challenges, the testimony struck a note of urgency and optimism.
“The good news is that we can fix this if we have the collective courage and conviction to do so. It starts by recognizing that we must fundamentally change this flawed system, and we must all take accountability for doing so," he said.
Markovich also emphasized the need to create a reformed system that is accessible and affordable for all. "Our nonprofit organization describes this as a health care system that is 'Worthy of our family and friends and sustainably affordable for everyone,' or simply, 'Worthy of Us.'"
United Community Announces Florida Market Realignment
Greenville, South Carolina-based United Community announced a strategic realignment of its Florida operations, dividing the state into two distinct markets — North Florida and South Florida.
Officials said the move is designed to better serve customers, strengthen community connection and support continued growth across one of the bank’s largest and fastest-growing regions.
“This realignment is about meeting Florida where it is today and where it’s going next,” said Rich Bradshaw, president and chief banking officer at United Community. “By creating two Florida markets and elevating leaders who know their communities deeply, we’re strengthening our ability to stay personal and closely connected to the customers and communities we serve.”
As part of the realignment, United Community has promoted two longtime Florida leaders to newly defined state president roles:
Evan Wyant – North Florida state president
Wyant previously served as Central Florida regional president, where he led strong commercial growth and helped build a deep bench of talent across the Orlando market. Officials said that under his leadership, the region delivered consistent loan production while strengthening long-term client relationships.
Matthew Bruno – South Florida state president
Bruno previously served as Miami-Dade regional president and played a key role in expanding United Community’s presence and performance across South Florida. Officials said his leadership has been instrumental in deepening client relationships and supporting growth in one of the bank’s most competitive markets.
In their new roles, they will continue to focus on serving customers with a local-first mindset while advancing United Community’s long-term growth strategy in Florida, the officials said.
To ensure continuity and sustained local focus, United Community also announced the following regional leadership appointments:
Crane Holland, promoted to Central Florida regional president, succeeding Wyant.
Carlos Perez, promoted to Miami-Dade regional president, succeeding Bruno.
The realignment follows Sharon Thompson’s promotion from Florida state president to chief commercial banking officer, a newly created role designed to strengthen United Community’s commercial platform as the bank grows.
The leadership changes went into effect Jan. 1, 2026.
United Community Banks, Inc. (NYSE: UCB) is the financial holding company for United Community, a top 100 U.S. financial institution.
As of Dec. 31, 2025, United Community Banks, Inc. had $28 billion in assets and operated 199 offices across Alabama, Florida, Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, and Tennessee.
Carolinas AGC (CAGC) announced that Leslie Clark will succeed Dave Simpson as president and CEO of CAGC, effective April 1, 2027.
Officials said that at that time, Simpson will become a consultant for a year to ensure continuity and confidence. The board’s executive committee and Simpson and Clark are working with a consulting firm to ensure a seamless transition.
In addition, Simpson and Clark are working closely together and will continue to partner closely over the next 14 months.
With a combined service to the organization of over 60 years, officials said they are well-positioned to help ensure that CAGC continues to thrive as the trusted voice of construction in the Carolinas.
Lynn Hansen, chair of the CAGC Board of Directors, said the timing for the transition could not be better.
"Carolinas AGC is in great shape," she said. "Over the past 37 years, including 12 as president and CEO, Dave Simpson has done an incredible job in becoming the face of Carolinas AGC. He also has helped lead CAGC to, for the second time in our 105-year-old history, national recognition as the best of the largest chapters of the 87 chapters across the nation."
Simpson agreed on the succession timing, adding: "Like so many construction companies, we've been through great times and tough times over the last several decades at Carolinas AGC. April 2027 will be the right time for me to turn over the helm of CAGC to the very capable Leslie Clark."
Simpson joined CAGC in 1989 as N.C. Building Division director and became CAGC president and CEO in 2014.
Clark began in 2000, serving as the S.C. Building Division director, S.C. Highway Division director and most recently, the COO/VP of S.C. External Affairs.
In the meantime, there is and has been a strategic plan in place that is updated annually and guides the staff and the board as decisions are made.
Over the last several years, one focus of the strategic plan is management succession.
The executive committee of the BOD has been working through a very scripted and deliberate process to plan for succession within CAGC.
Although changes aren’t immediate, officials want members to know about the plans, have confidence in the association, and know that the primary purpose is building its members' success.
Officials said that as CAGC transitions toward the future, its goal is and always will be to adhere to its core values of being member-led, member-focused, managed well, and employee-centric; the CAGC Team will continue to be a resource for its members, a place of stability for the commercial construction industry and will strive for continual improvement.
They say, “This is a time of celebration and confidence in our future!”
Carolinas AGC (CAGC) is a construction trade association made up of small and large commercial contractors and construction-related firms that perform building, utility, and/or highway work in the Carolinas.
CAGC is a chapter of AGC of America and ARTBA.
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