Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island President and CEO Peter Andruszkiewicz Announces Intent to Retire in 2016

PROVIDENCE, RI – Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode
Island today announced that the company’s president and CEO, Peter
Andruszkiewicz, will retire effective May 1, 2016. The board will conduct a
national search for Andruszkiewicz’s replacement. Andruszkiewicz’s
retirement will bring to a close a remarkable career of nearly 35 years of
leadership in the health insurance industry.

“It has been a great privilege to have the opportunity to lead Blue Cross &
Blue Shield of Rhode Island and to work with such a committed group of
employees who care so deeply about the company, our customers and the
community” said Andruszkiewicz. “It has long been part of my plan to retire
at this point in my life and I am excited about what the next chapter will
bring.”

“The board of directors is grateful for Peter’s leadership during the past
five years,” said Randy Wyrofsky, chair of the Blue Cross board. “The board
has had a CEO succession planning process in place for several years which
it will now execute. Since a thoughtful internal and external search
process takes time, we are announcing Peter’s retirement now. Peter will
continue to serve in his role until we can identify a successor. This will
ensure a seamless transition to the next leader of Blue Cross.”

Andruszkiewicz joined Blue Cross in 2011 from Kaiser Permanente, an
integrated health care system, and brought with him a vision for how Rhode
Island’s fragmented healthcare system could become a model of coordinated,
patient centered, affordable health care. During his tenure,
Andruszkiewicz pushed Blue Cross to accelerate its partnerships with
providers and align reimbursement with improved quality of care and
outcomes, as well as better integrate care delivery through primary care
centered systems of care. Recent study results show that BCBSRI patients
who get their care in a patient centered medical home had a 16% reduction
in inpatient admissions and a 30% reduction in readmissions over a 4 year
period. Today over half of Blue Cross members are cared for in systems of
care.

Andruszkiewicz played an instrumental role in bringing financial stability
back to the company. Shortly before his arrival, Blue Cross had recorded
a $92 Million premium deficiency reserve. By 2013, Blue Cross was able to
make its first positive contribution of $22 million to reserves since 2007.
The company recorded breakeven financial results in 2014 and expects a
positive result in 2015.

Andruszkiewicz’s arrival in Rhode Island coincided with the implementation
of the Affordable Care Act. He led the company through the transition,
which included participation in Rhode Island’s state based exchange, as
well as enabling consumerism with the opening of the company’s first retail
stores, a private health insurance exchange, and mobile platform. The
company also achieved a four star quality rating from CMS, as well as
accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

Andruszkiewicz recognized Blue Cross’ responsibility to the broader Rhode
Island community. He strengthened the company’s commitment to providing
access to primary care for the uninsured and worked to reduce childhood
obesity in Rhode Island through targeted charitable giving and community
partnerships. Andruszkiewicz also led the creation of Blue across Rhode
Island, where each year during a single day, 75% of Blue Cross’ workforce
fans out across the state to volunteer at more than a dozen nonprofit
agencies, serving Rhode Islanders in need.

“It’s been an honor to serve an organization that advocates for affordable,
simple health care for Rhode Islanders,” said Andruszkiewicz. “I’m grateful
to have had this platform to campaign for change in the way care is paid
for and delivered. I am proud of the partnerships we have created and the
progress that has been made in the state.”

“Peter came to Rhode Island five years ago with a desire to help drive
change,” said Wyrofsky. “While we knew this day would eventually come,
Peter leaves the company well positioned for the next leader of Blue
Cross.”

About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Rhode Island
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island is the state’s leading health
insurer and covers more than 450,000 members. The company is an independent
licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more
information, visit www.bcbsri.com, follow us on Twitter @BCBSRI, and like
us on Facebook at fb.com/bcbsri.

Leave a comment