Business Briefs

BlueCross hires TennCare chief

The former head of the state's TennCare program has joined BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee as chief executive of the Volunteer State Health Plan, the BlueCross' TennCare managed care organization.

Dr. J.D. Hickey, a medical doctor and lawyer who served in Gov. Phil Bredesen's Cabinet, will serve as a senior vice president for the Chattanooga-based BlueCross. He will oversee administration of BlueCross' Medicaid operations and the management of the Cover Tennessee program.

TVA says its reactors safe

HUNTSVILLE, Ala. - Two Tennessee Valley Authority nuclear executives said Tuesday that the utility's six reactors "would have weathered" the earthquake and tsunami that have caused a nuclear emergency in Japan, and TVA will open one of its nuclear plants to a media tour.

TVA's senior nuclear communications manager Ray Golden and chief nuclear officer Preston Swafford discussed Japan's nuclear emergency Tuesday with reporters. Swafford said some of the differences with Japan's plants stem from "redundant" safety and power systems installed after the September 2001 attack.

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