Christopher Risher

About Christopher Risher

Christopher Risher is a senior executive leader with a proven track record of results as a developer of complex client relationships, operator, P&L owner, and general manager. He delivers effective leadership across a variety of strategic objectives, including fast-growing new value pools, turnarounds, and industry-changing transformation. His ability to translate consumer, client, and colleague needs into effective leadership of cross-functional organizations consistently leads to financial growth, operational service level achievement, and high levels of employee engagement.Christopher has experience in pharmacy benefit management and pharmacy payer relations. He has worked with all aspects of pharmacy benefit management including leadership roles in client implementations, strategic initiatives, and client relations. His consultative approach to business development serves clients in all lines of business including self-funded commercial accounts, health exchange, Medicare, and Medicaid. His knowledge of the complex pharmacy pricing chain, payers, and plan sponsors enables him to lead the pharmacy team responsible for the transformational shift in retail pharmacy reimbursement, CVS CostVantage. In addition, by understanding the needs of plan sponsors he has driven the creation and adoption of new value pools for pharmacy services. This experience gives him a unique perspective on the value of pharmacy services and benefit management.Christopher’s authentic and transparent leadership style connects teams with a lifetime purpose generating high engagement and loyalty amongst his colleagues.Christopher demonstrates his passion for longevity by participating in triathlons, woodworking, spending time with family, and giving back both time and financially to his local community.

Experience

1. Senior Vice President, Payor Relations

   CVS Health

   Feb 2023 — Present · Irving, TX, US

   Senior Executive responsible for all aspects of PBM, Plan Sponsor, and Managed Care relationships with CVS Specialty and retail pharmacies including contracting pharmacy agreements to achieve financial plans, establishing and developing external leadership relationships, and developing and execution of reimbursement and pharmacy services strategies. Represented payer and other client interests to pharmacy products, operations, and finance colleagues to better align company objectives with market opportunities.Developed and guided teams through the implementation of CVS CostVantage, a transformationalpharmacy reimbursement model.Designed templates to assess and address contract-level profitability and business development guidesReduced pharmacy margin erosion year over year while simultaneously maintaining network participationleading to increasing market share in all lines of business.Implemented unit-based reimbursement methods leading to rational third-party program offerings, growing volume by 28% in one year and increasing profitability.Achieved revenue and profitability targets in each quarter and reduced operating expenses of the business unit.

Education

• Texas McCombs School of Business

  Master of Business Administration

  2009 — 2011

• University of Phoenix

  Bachelor of Science in Business Management

  2003 — 2004

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  Associate of Arts and Sciences - AAS

  1995 — 1996

Skills

• Process Improvement
• Financial Services
• Strategy
• Regulatory Compliance
• Medicaid
• Client Services
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Recruiting
• Compliance Management
• Management
• Team Building
• Pharmacy Benefit Management
• Relationship-Builder with Unsurpassed Interpersonal Skills
• Managed Care
• Training
• Operations
• Pharmacy
• Medicare Part D
• Competitive Advantage
• Employee Benefits
• Pharmaceutical Industry
• Business Process Improvement
• Client Relations
• Account Management
• Sales
• Leadership
• Program Management
• Medicare
• Healthcare