HMA Taps Evernorth Veteran to Navigate Self-Funded Healthcare's Next Test

BELLEVUE, WA – August 10, 2026 – Healthcare Management Administrators (HMA), a key player in the third-party administrator (TPA) space for self-funded employers, has named Diane Zalewski as its new Chief Executive Officer. The appointment signals a strategic move to bolster innovation and growth as employers grapple with relentlessly escalating healthcare costs. Zalewski, a seasoned executive with over two decades of experience, moves from her role as President of Payer Solutions at Evernorth, the health services division of The Cigna Group, bringing a formidable track record of scaling complex healthcare solutions.

Her appointment comes at a critical juncture. The self-funded market, which now covers roughly two-thirds of all insured workers in the U.S., is facing projections of an 8.5% medical cost increase in the coming year. For HMA, a company built on the promise of helping employers protect their people and their health plan dollars, Zalewski’s leadership is less a routine changing of the guard and more a calculated bet on her ability to navigate this high-stakes environment.

A Track Record of Growth and Transformation

Zalewski is not an unknown quantity. At Evernorth, she helmed a division serving a diverse client base of health plans, TPAs, and employers. Her tenure was marked by significant, quantifiable success. Under her leadership, the Payer Solutions business achieved double-digit year-over-year growth and onboarded over 1.4 million new members through major health plan implementations in 2023 alone. This wasn't just top-line expansion; it was underpinned by operational and technological advancements, including the integration of a proprietary in-house claim editing solution and infrastructure upgrades that streamlined the adoption of new Evernorth services.

Her career, which began in underwriting at Cigna, demonstrates a deep-seated understanding of the payer ecosystem. This experience will be directly applicable at HMA, a company that must balance cost containment for its employer clients with delivering quality care and a positive experience for members. As stated in the announcement by Lindsay Harris, HMA Board Member and Chief Commercial Officer at parent company Cambia Health Solutions, Zalewski demonstrated a “deep understanding of the healthcare industry, a commitment to serving clients and members, and a genuine focus on people, culture and long-term growth.”

“HMA has built something truly special,” Zalewski stated. “The organization has a strong reputation for service, innovation, and partnership, supported by a talented team and a culture that puts people first.” Her commentary points to an intent to build upon HMA's existing foundation rather than orchestrate a complete overhaul.

The Strategic Imperative in a Shifting Market

HMA operates in a market defined by a fundamental tension: employers turn to self-funding for greater control and cost savings, yet they are directly exposed to the volatility of high-cost claims and soaring pharmaceutical expenses. A successful TPA in this environment must be more than a claims processor; it must be a strategic partner in risk management, network optimization, and data analytics.

Positioned as a regionally strong, Blue-affiliated TPA rooted in the Pacific Northwest, HMA has historically prioritized stability and partnership-led expansion. The company, with an estimated annual revenue of around $96.5 million, leverages the network strength of its parent, Cambia Health Solutions, which operates Regence Blue Cross Blue Shield plans across several western states. This provides a powerful competitive advantage in its home markets.

The challenge, however, is to innovate at the pace the market demands. Employers are increasingly seeking sophisticated tools to manage their health spend. This includes everything from advanced claims analytics to identify cost drivers, to flexible plan designs that steer members toward high-value care, to robust pharmacy benefit management that can contain the explosive cost of specialty drugs. Zalewski’s background at Evernorth, a company at the forefront of developing such solutions, makes her a uniquely qualified leader for this moment. Her mandate will be to ensure HMA’s technology and service offerings are not just competitive, but predictive of client needs.

The Cambia Connection and Leadership Trajectory

Understanding HMA’s strategy requires acknowledging its place within the Cambia Health Solutions portfolio. Cambia, a nonprofit health company, has owned HMA since the early 2000s, providing the financial stability and strategic backing that allows the TPA to compete. The presence of Cambia’s CCO, Lindsay Harris, on HMA’s board underscores this tight integration.

Interestingly, this appointment marks the second leadership change at HMA in less than three years. Harris herself served as HMA's president for 14 years before her promotion to Cambia in late 2023, at which time Aadam Hussain was appointed to lead the TPA. Zalewski now succeeds Hussain. While leadership transitions are common, this cadence suggests Cambia is actively refining its strategy for HMA and is determined to install leadership with a very specific skill set to drive the next phase of growth. Zalewski, with her extensive experience in scaling payer solutions on a national level, fits the profile of a leader tasked with elevating HMA’s capabilities beyond its regional stronghold.

Proving What's Possible: Innovation and the Path Forward

HMA’s tagline, “Proving What’s Possible in Healthcare®,” sets a high bar. For Zalewski, meeting that standard will mean harnessing technology and data to deliver tangible results for employers. The industry is rapidly moving toward AI-powered platforms for benefit administration, real-time analytics to proactively manage costs, and digital health tools that improve member engagement and access to care. Her success at Evernorth was tied to similar initiatives.

Her vision, as she stated, is to “build on the company’s momentum and create even greater value together.” For HMA’s clients—the self-funded employers navigating the complexities of American healthcare—that value will be measured in their ability to offer competitive, sustainable health benefits. Zalewski’s appointment is a clear signal that HMA intends to be an indispensable partner in that effort, leveraging deep industry expertise to turn market pressures into opportunities for innovation.