Andruszkiewicz leaving BCBSRI

BLUE CROSS & Blue Shield of Rhode Island President & CEO Peter Andruszkiewicz is retiring in May. / PBN FILE PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY
BLUE CROSS & Blue Shield of Rhode Island President & CEO Peter Andruszkiewicz is retiring in May. / PBN FILE PHOTO/RUPERT WHITELEY

PROVIDENCE – Peter Andruszkiewicz, president and CEO of Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island, will retire on May 1, the company announced Tuesday.

“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,” Andruszkiewicz said in a statement. “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.”

Randy Wyrofsky, chair of the Blue Cross board, said the board is grateful for Andruszkiewicz’s leadership.

Andruszkiewicz, who has worked in the health insurance industry for nearly 35 years, came to Blue Cross in 2011 from Kaiser Permanente, an integrated health care system. Blue Cross, in a press release, said he brought with him “a vision for how Rhode Island’s fragmented health care system could become a model of coordinated, patient-centered, affordable health care.”

- Advertisement -

A national search will be held to find Andruszkiewicz’s replacement.

“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,” Wyrofsky said in prepared remarks.

Andruszkiewicz pushed Blue Cross to form 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, the company said.

The company said that recent study results show that BCBSRI patients who receive care in a patient-centered medical home had a 16 percent reduction in inpatient admissions and a 30 percent reduction in readmissions over a four-year period.

Before his arrival, Blue Cross had recorded a $92 million premium deficiency reserve. By 2013, Blue Cross made its first positive contribution of $22 million to reserves since 2007, the company said, crediting Andruszkiewicz for the turnaround.

The company said it broke even in 2014 and expects a positive result in 2015.
The company also noted that Andruszkiewicz led it through the implementation of the Affordable Care Act.

Blue Cross recognized Andruszkiewicz for creating Blue across Rhode Island. During one day, 75 percent of Blue Cross’ workforce volunteers around the state at more than a dozen nonprofit agencies, to serve Rhode Islanders in need.

“It’s been an honor to serve an organization that advocates for affordable, simple health care for Rhode Islanders,” Andruszkiewicz said. “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.”

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

No posts to display