Tyler leaving for FDA job 

Posted: 6:56 pm Wed, December 16, 2009
By Danielle Ulman
Daily Record Business Writer

Maryland Insurance Commissioner Ralph S. Tyler announced his resignation Wednesday to become chief counsel of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Tyler’s resignation will be effective Jan. 8, according to the insurance administration.

“I’ve very much enjoyed my time as insurance commissioner,” he said. “I certainly know that the work here is tremendously important and rewarding.”

He has served as commissioner since September 2007 and before that was Baltimore City solicitor for two years. Tyler spent 14 years in the Office of the Attorney General and later worked in private practice for Hogan & Hartson LLP.

He has worked on many state and federal administrative law cases, but Tyler said the new job will be a challenge because he has never worked on cases related to food or drugs.

Tyler said he will be leaving an insurance administration that is in “good shape.” The administration has put together a “modest” agenda for the legislative session beginning in Annapolis in January, mostly because of uncertainty related to federal health care reform.

“The big challenge for this department and more generally for the state in the next year and beyond is going to be preparing for implementation of health care reform, assuming, as I do, that health care reform is going to pass,” he said.

As insurance commissioner, Tyler ordered hearings on the nearly $18 million post-employment compensation package of William L. Jews, who was CEO of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield.

The insurance administration cut Jews’ pay in half, finding that he had steered CareFirst to abandon its mission with the attempted conversion from a nonprofit into a for-profit entity in order to sell it to California-based WellPoint Health Networks Inc.

Last month, a Baltimore County Circuit Court judge overturned that ruling, saying Tyler’s ruling was “unlawful.” Tyler said the Maryland Insurance Administration has appealed the ruling.

Tyler said he plans to work with Gov. Martin O’Malley to ensure a smooth transition at the insurance administration. A new leader has not been announced, and a spokesman for the governor said a search will be conducted for a new insurance commissioner.

Tyler said whoever fills the role will need to understand that the mission of the Maryland Insurance Administration is consumer protection.

“I would say the most important criteria is the person be committed to that mission,” he said. “You certainly have to be fair and operate within the law. You need to keep in mind it’s consumers who need protection.”