The Texas Department of Insurance ("TDI") has created a new division to focus exclusively on the issues facing health insurance and has selected Richard Lunsford as the deputy commissioner of the new life and health division.
"Most health insurance is regulated at the federal level, but the states can be innovators," said the TDI's commissioner, Kent Sullivan. "We want to be part of the national discussion about finding solutions to this industry's many problems. The system is broken, and we've got to fix it."
Previously, policy decisions related to life and health insurance were part of the agency's regulatory policy division. That division has been split into two areas, one for life and health issues and the other for property and casualty insurance. Mark Worman, a 23-year agency veteran, will continue to lead the property and casualty division.
Both divisions are charged with monitoring insurance products sold in Texas to ensure coverage is available and affordable. They also keep consumers and industry informed about market and regulatory trends that could affect them.
Mr. Lunsford has 23 years of experience in insurance, financial planning, and banking. He has held various positions with USAA, State Farm, and Morgan Stanley.
In another move, the TDI named Leah Gillum deputy commissioner of the enforcement division. She has been with the TDI since 2004 and has been associate commissioner of enforcement since 2017. She is board certified in administrative law and serves on the Administrative and Public Law Section Council of the State Bar of Texas.
Ms. Gillum is a graduate of the University of Texas School of Law and has a bachelor's degree from Rice University.
In addition, James Person has been named general counsel. He had served as interim general counsel since April. Before joining TDI, Mr. Person was an assistant general counsel to Governor Greg Abbott.
He also has been an assistant attorney general at the Texas attorney general's office and an assistant general counsel at the Texas Lottery Commission. He has a law degree from Southern Methodist University School of Law and a bachelor's degree from the University of Texas at Austin.
Finally, Michael Nored was named special counsel to the commissioner. He joined TDI as an attorney in the enforcement section in 2012. He moved to the legal section in 2013, became director of financial counsel later that year, and was selected to lead the legal and enforcement division in 2017.
Mr. Nored has 14 years of private sector insurance law experience. He earned his bachelor's degree from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi and his law degree from Texas Tech University.
Victoria Spears
Victoria Prussen Spears is senior vice president of Meyerowitz Communications Inc., a law firm marketing communications consulting company. A graduate of Sarah Lawrence College and Brooklyn Law School, Ms. Spears was an attorney at a leading New York City law firm before joining Meyerowitz Communications. She may be contacted at [email protected].