CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) announced Kurt C. Small as President and Chief Executive Officer, effective May 4. Currently President of Medicaid for Elevance Health, Small will step into the top position at CareFirst, one of the country’s largest not-for-profit healthcare organizations, serving 3.5 million members with a strong presence in the District of Columbia, Maryland, Northern Virginia and a broader national reach.
Small, a respected executive with more than 25 years of healthcare leadership experience, joins the Mid-Atlantic based CareFirst following nearly seven years at Elevance Health. He most recently led one of the country’s largest Medicaid businesses with approximately 8.5 million members. Prior, Small served in executive roles across the commercial and federal business segments. He also held executive leadership roles at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and Highmark, after more than a decade at Aetna.
CareFirst Board Chair Jeff DiLisi said, “Kurt brings leadership, vision and deep regional understanding that will further strengthen CareFirst’s mission-driven approach. At a strong moment for our company, our Board is confident Kurt’s operational expertise and commitment to better health will help CareFirst build on its momentum strengthening affordability, expanding access to care and delivering even greater impact for the people and communities we serve.”
CareFirst Interim President and CEO Ja’Ron Bridges will work closely with the Board of Directors and executive leadership team throughout the transition before resuming his role as the company’s Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer. ”I want to personally thank Ja’Ron for his leadership, thoughtfulness, and commitment to CareFirst and the community during this period,” DiLisi added.
Small said, “I am honored to join CareFirst and build on its mission and long-standing commitment to the region. Together, with executive leaders and the passionate team of Difference Makers, we will build on CareFirst’s legacy and progress to make care simpler, more affordable and more equitable for the people and communities who depend on us to live full and healthy lives.”
Small earned his Bachelor of Arts from the College of William and Mary and a Master of Business Administration from the Yale School of Management. He is a native of the greater Washington region who has demonstrated a strong personal commitment to community service, including chairing the American Heart Association, Baltimore & Greater Maryland division.
Over the past year, CareFirst continued its commitment to driving people-centered solutions that solidify the organization’s role as an indispensable partner in the region. The company dedicated more than 110,000 hours to volunteer service in 2025. It also ranked first for customer, brand and total experience in Forrester’s U.S. Health Insurers Total Experience Score Rankings, 2025, and recently was recognized by Ethisphere as one of the World’s Most Ethical Companies® for the 14th consecutive year.
