Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan members have elected a slate of 34 individuals to the company’s board of directors. The individuals, who constitute the full board in addition to the CEO, will serve staggered terms of one to three years. The election process is the result of BCBSM becoming a nonprofit mutual insurance company on Jan. 1, 2014. “We are now a nonprofit mutual company which gives members a stronger voice in the company. As part of the change to a mutual, for the first time in our company’s 76 year history, the board was elected by mutual members,” said Daniel J. Loepp, BCBSM president and CEO. Gregory A. Sudderth of Gladstone in Michigan’s Upper Peninsula will continue as board chairman, and Spencer C. Johnson of Okemos will serve as board vice chairman. Sudderth is president of Executive Labor–Management Services Inc., a company specializing in addressing the needs of private and public sector employees and their respective local unions. The company has offices in Gladstone and Farmington Hills. “Greg Sudderth is the right leader to guide us to fulfill our mission as a nonprofit mutual insurance company,” said Loepp. “His business knowledge and commitment to fulfilling the unique mission of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan will help us anticipate and respond to the changing landscape of health care.” Johnson is the president of the Michigan Health & Hospital Association. The MHA is the principal statewide advocate for hospitals, health systems and other health care providers committed to improving community health status. “Spencer Johnson has played a key role in helping strengthen the relationship between our company and hospitals to focus on value-based care that has improved health services for residents throughout the state,” Loepp said. “These partnerships continue to grow and attract national recognition.” The 2015-2016 BCBSM board seats 35 directors. Eight seats are filled by medical professionals, six seats are filled by individual subscribers and small groups, and four seats are at-large. A seat is filled by the company’s chief executive officer. The remaining 16 seats are filled by Blues customers from large group management and labor. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit mutual insurance company, is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BCBSM provides and administers health benefits to more than 4.4 million members residing in Michigan in addition to employees of Michigan-headquartered companies who reside outside the state. For more company information, visit bcbsm.com and MiBluesPerspectives.com.
