Maryland insurance commissioner Ralph Tyler leaving to fill FDA post

Maryland's insurance commissioner of just over two years has announced his resignation to take a position with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.  Ralph S. Tyler, the state's top insurance regulator since September 2007, said today (Dec. 16) that he will accept an appointment as chief counsel to the FDA.

Tyler's resignation is effective Jan. 8, 2010, at which point the governor's office will appoint his successor.

Shaun Adamec, a spokesman for Gov. Martin O'Malley's office, told IFAwebnews.com that 'there is no timeline' to name Tyler's successor and that the office will conduct a search and make an announcement at a later date. If, Adamec said, no one is selected by Jan. 8 of next year, the governor will appoint an interim insurance commissioner.

Tyler, 62, told IFAwebnews.com that the new opportunity with the FDA allows him 'to return to being a lawyer,' referring to his time prior to joining the Maryland Insurance Administration (MIA) serving as Baltimore City Solicitor and chief legal counsel for the O'Malley administration.

'There have been in the past and there will be certain challenges in the field of public health where the FDA plays an important role,' he said.
Baltimore connection

It was, in fact, his link as a former city solicitor that led to the FDA post, Tyler said.

In June, President Barack Obama appointed Dr. Joshua M. Sharfstein, Baltimore's health commissioner, as the FDA's principal deputy commissioner. Tyler said Sharfstein recently asked him whether he would be interested in joining the FDA as chief counsel and the Baltimore resident accepted, ready to report to the FDA's White Oak, Md., campus early next year.

'I've enjoyed tremendously my time as insurance commissioner and am keenly aware of the importance of the work here in protecting consumers,' Tyler said. 'We've made progress in important areas in the time here and I credit the staff at the MIA for that.'

Tyler said he believes the MIA has strengthened consumer protection activities in solvency, complaints, rate review and other areas, 'the job of any insurance commissioner,' he said.

His one regret, however, is leaving prior to facing the challenge of other state regulators in dealing with the impact of pending federal health reform.

'There are a number of issues that will need to be addressed and it will be very important for the states to figure those out in a rational way,' he said. 'I would have really enjoyed that.'
Succession plan

Tyler said between now and his departure in January, he will work with the governor's office to assure a smooth transition to new leadership at the MIA. He deferred comment on who should succeed him to the governor's office.

Tyler and the MIA recently promoted Karen Stakem Hornig from associate commissioner to deputy commissioner, the same title as Beth Sammis, who was appointed to that role shortly after Tyler came to the agency.

The commissioner recently told IFAwebnews.com that it should be Sammis who would succeed him if he would be unable to fulfill his duties or leaves office, as described in state law.  The governor's office, however, said 'both deputies as well as others could possibly be considered,' according to a deputy press secretary.

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