Rich Snyder, MD, SVP, chief medical officer and clinical care transformation officer at Independence Blue Cross (Independence), was recently named one of Main Line Today’s 2018 Healthcare Heroes, an annual awards program that recognizes local healthcare professionals who are tackling some of modern medicine’s toughest challenges.
It was Dr. Snyder’s unwavering commitment to combatting the opioid epidemic that earned him the title Healthcare Hero. Under his leadership, Independence reduced inappropriate opioid prescribing and use among members, removed barriers to the life-saving drug Narcan, and established partnerships that unite the community in the fight to save lives.
In addition to making an impact locally, Dr. Snyder is an advocate for federal policy that supports the cause. He has lobbied Congress and Health and Human Services leadership to pass legislation that requires physicians and pharmacists to check and document the distribution of opioids in centralized databases to share across states to reduce fraud and abuse. He also promotes substance abuse awareness by regularly speaking at local and national events.