Russ Thomas, JD

The Claims Infrastructure Gatekeeper

CEO, Availity

Health IT / Claims ProcessingJacksonville, FL· Member, confirmed on the Nov. 9, 2026 agenda

Last verified November 6, 2026

Overview

Runs Availity: the nation's largest health information network, processing more than 14 billion healthcare transactions a year across 3.4 million-plus physicians, hospitals and other billers (Availity, March 2026) and 2,000 health plans. Availity is owned by a consortium of the nation's largest health insurers: Elevance Health (Anthem), Humana, HCSC (BCBS IL/NM/OK/TX), GuideWell (Florida Blue), and BCBS Minnesota. Thomas sits on a committee that wants to "expand real-time data and speed claims processing": which is literally what Availity sells. He leads the committee's Crushing Fraud, Waste and Abuse working group, whose recommendations go to a vote on November 9, 2026. In 2026 Availity launched Availity Extend, an automation and AI layer on its network, and hired its first chief medical officer. He also sits on the boards of Jacksonville University and Iodine Software.

Since March 2026

What has changed

April 28, 2026Availity announced Availity Extend, a layer for building automation and AI workflows on its network; limited rollout in first-half 2026, broader availability later in 2026. Thomas quoted as CEO. source
July 21, 2026Availity appointed Hannah Alphs Jackson, MD, MHSA, as its first Chief Medical Officer; Thomas quoted as CEO. source

Career arc

Professional timeline

Current

CEO

Availity

CEO

Gold Standard: drug information database sold to Reed Elsevier 2006

Senior Executive

Reed Elsevier

Chair

Florida Chamber of Commerce Healthcare Policy Council

Business interests and affiliations

•Availity: 14 billion-plus transactions a year, 3.4 million-plus physicians, hospitals and other billers (March 2026), 2,000 health plans, 1,000 technology partners.
•Owned by: Elevance Health (Anthem), Humana, HCSC, GuideWell (Florida Blue), BCBS Minnesota, Novo Holdings.
•Founded 2001 as joint venture between Florida Blue and Humana.
•AI-powered prior authorization and utilization management workflows.
•Boards: Jacksonville University; Iodine Software; Florida Chamber of Commerce (chairs its Healthcare Policy Council).

Red flags

Conflicts and concerns

Direct commercial interest in committee priorities: "real-time data for claims processing" is Availity's core product.

Owned by major insurers who participate in every program this committee advises on.

CMS's Prior Authorization Final Rule reshapes the market Availity dominates. Thomas advises the agency writing rules his company must comply with and profit from.

Dual policy influence: chairs Florida Chamber Healthcare Policy Council while advising CMS federally.

Leads the committee working group on fraud, waste and abuse: a claims-network company sets the agenda for policing the claims it carries.

Physician-owned hospitals

Availity's payer-owned transaction infrastructure is the claims backbone for the incumbent system. Real-time data initiatives that benefit Availity's insurer owners do not serve physician-owned hospital access. No stated interest in physician ownership.

Sources