Houston-based HealthHelp announced the hiring of Dr. Anthony DeFrance as chief medical officer.

He replaces HealthHelp's former chief medical officer, Dr. Mark Hiatt, who recently left to become executive medical director for Regence Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Utah. DeFrance, whose age was not immediately available, has been a HealthHelp employee since 2009, when he started as director of cardiology. His most recent position within the company was as director of clinical operational efficiency.

“Dr. DeFrance's history with HealthHelp, his well-known national presence, and his passion for quality and safety in healthcare were the defining differentiators for his candidacy,” Cherrill Farnsworth, president and CEO of HealthHelp, said in a release.

HealthHelp, founded in 1999, provides its clients—physicians, providers and healthcare payers—with healthcare utilization management services across a variety of specialties. Their model focuses on helping payers earn a higher return on investment, providing education programs for physicians, and improving quality of patient care.