Birds fly for life’s big events 5A Xcel plans Burnsville plant upgrades 5A Domestic abuse shelter reopens in Hastings 27A
LAURA ADELMANN JOHN GESSNER JESSICA HARPER
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DATE 21, ##, 2011 2009 JULY
VOLUME 30, NUMBER # VOLUME 32, NUMBER 21
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Blue Cross CEO moving to Florida by Jessica Harper DAKOTA COUNTY TRIBUNE
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota CEO Patrick Geraghty astonished everyone last week when he announced his plans to take up the same position in Florida. “I decided it was a good business opportunity as well as a good fit personally,� said Geraghty, who will leave the Eagan-based nonprofit Aug. 1. The transfer will make it easier for his wife to care for
Patrick Geraghty her elderly parents, who live on the East Coast. Geraghty starts his new job in September, replacing former CEO Robert Lufrano, who retired from the Jacksonvillebased nonprofit last spring. Pamela Wheelock, chair of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota board of trustees, will step in as interim president and CEO upon Geraghty’s departure. Geraghty became head of the nonprofit health insurance giant in 2008 amid $15.7 million in losses, which resulted in 300 layoffs in 18 months between 2008 and 2009. Since then, Blue Cross has turned around, ending 2009 with $132.1 million in net income. The company’s earnings +&//: 800%4 "/ 45"$&: "$,&3. "/%3&8 .*--&3
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and legislators for earning large margins on taxpayerfunded plans. In April, Blue Cross and three other insurers agreed to cap next year’s profits at 1 percent. Geraghty said his mission has always been to ensure that consumers receive high-quality care at a reasonable cost. Blue Cross’ most notable effort has been its Do campaign, which encourages consumers to adopt healthy and active File photo lifestyles. Efforts like When CEO Patrick Geraghty arrived at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota in 2008, the nonprofit was facing a $15.7 million loss. By the following these are what year, the company had turned around with $132.1 million in net income. The make Geraghty an accomplished leadcompany has continued to grow since. er, said Julie Brunner, executive director of the Minnesota Council of Health Plans. “Pat is an open and accessible leader in the company and certainly in the community,� she said. In addition to his work at Blue Cross, Geraghty, who serves as the council’s chair, has championed an effort that enables Minneapolis residents to rent bicycles for daily use. Blue Cross implemented a similar program at its Eagan campus. Prior to joining Blue Cross continued to grow the follow- providers for cutting costs while and Blue Shield of Minnesota, ing year, which ended with $271 still delivering high-quality care. Geraghty served as senior vice Allina and Fairview were the president of the service division million in net income. Geraghty took home $1.5 first to jump aboard. Now seven of Horizon Blue Cross and Blue million in compensation that providers have signed contracts. Shield of New Jersey. Before that, he held leaderHis greatest accomplishment, year, making him the highest paid Minnesota nonprofit lead- Geraghty said, was stabilizing ship positions with Prudential er, according to the Star Tribune. costs to a point that enabled Insurance Co. and has been a Geraghty said he believes Blue Cross to raise its premiums senior leader for teams in health the company’s push to cut costs and co-pays at a rate lower than care management, marketing and operations. Geraghty is a while improving quality care led the national average. However, Blue Cross and graduate of Colgate University to its recovery. As CEO, he promoted an ini- other insurers have been scolded in Hamilton, N.J. See Geraghty, Page 28A tiative that rewarded health care this year by Gov. Mark Dayton
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