HELENA — The state’s leading health insurer did not have to look far to replace its retiring president.
Lisa Kelley, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana’s general counsel for the past four years and a 13-year veteran of the legal department, has been named the company’s new president, effective Jan. 1, 2024. Kelley replaces Collette Hanson, who is retiring after nearly four years as president and 39 years with the Helena-based health insurer.
Lisa Kelley
“I am honored to have served as president of BCBSMT for the past four years,” Hanson said. “Our employees are dedicated to making health care in Montana more affordable and accessible, and I couldn’t be more proud of the accomplishments we’ve made together. I’ve worked closely with Lisa for many years. She is equally committed to addressing the health and social challenges facing Montanans, and I am confident that she will be a strong leader and advocate for our members and for all Montanans.”
Kelley joined the BCBSMT legal division in 2010 and has served as general counsel since 2019. In this role, Kelley oversees the legal department and supports overall plan operations in provider network, sales and account management, and government relations. She is part of the BCBSMT leadership team and serves as corporate brand counsel and supports the company’s national accounts sales team.
Before joining BCBSMT, Kelley clerked for Justice Jim Rice on the Montana Supreme Court, and was an attorney at Hughes, Kellner, Sullivan, & Alke. She earned an undergraduate degree in business administration from Washington State University and a juris doctor from Gonzaga University School of Law. Kelley currently serves on the Montana Life & Health Insurance Guaranty Association and the Glacier National Park Conservancy boards of directors. She is also an adjunct professor of health law at the Alexander Blewett III School of Law.
As plan president, Kelley will be responsible for developing and executing strategies to accelerate access to affordable health care and achieve membership and financial targets for BCBSMT. Kelley will oversee all plan operations, including sales and account management, government and public relations, provider network management, and health care management.
“I am incredibly honored to lead this great organization and have the opportunity to follow Collette and continue the successes BCBSMT had under her leadership,” Kelley said. “I look forward to building on her progress as we continue to play a pivotal role in the ever-changing health care landscape. I am grateful to be part of an amazing team of employees at BCBSMT, who are committed to serving our members, providers, and communities.”
During her tenure as president, Hanson led her team to a successful bid for the State of Montana Employee Health Plan and grew membership by more than 46,000 members, reaching the highest membership in the company’s 80-plus year history. Hanson began her career with BCBSMT as an entry-level claims examiner and, over the course of nearly four decades, served various leadership roles including overseeing operations and sales and account management.
“At the heart of my service to Blue has been my work family and our members,” Hanson said. “I have quite literally grown up here – married my husband, Harry; raised my children, Alex and Regan; experienced the joys and heartaches of my colleagues. BCBSMT and its people own a special place in my heart and always will.”
BCBSMT, the state’s largest and longest-standing insurer, employs more than 500 Montanans, has an economic impact of nearly $85 million, and serves nearly 350,000 members in Montana.
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About Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana is a division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BCBSMT is the largest and longest-standing statewide, customer-owned health insurer and full-service health benefits administrator in Montana. BCBSMT has provided high-quality health insurance plans and administrative services to Montanans for more than 80 years. BCBSMT’s purpose is to do everything in our power to stand with our members in sickness and in health.
John Doran
Divisional Vice President of External Affairs
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana
(406) 422-6894
John_Doran@bcbsmt.com