Health Care Service Corporation Names New President and Chief Operating Officer

CHICAGO, Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), which operates the Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, today announced that its board of directors has elected Patricia Hemingway Hall as the company's new president and chief operating officer. Hemingway Hall will report to Raymond F. McCaskey, HCSC chief executive officer.

Hemingway Hall previously served as executive vice president of internal operations for HCSC, overseeing the company's finance, claims and customer service, information technology, tax and actuarial divisions. She served as president of the company's Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas plan from 2001 to 2006, responsible for sales and marketing, managed care network operations, medical policy, contracting, provider affairs, government relations and public affairs. Hemingway Hall is a member of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Health Policy and Legislation Committee, and serves on the boards of Availity LLC, TriServ LLC and Dental Network of America. She received a master's degree in public health, health planning and administration from the University of Michigan and a bachelor's degree in nursing from Michigan State University.

"This appointment is a logical step in a succession planning process that has been under way for several years," said McCaskey. "Pat, the HCSC board of directors and the entire senior management team will continue that process, as HCSC continues delivering efficient and effective operations for our members."

Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, is the largest customer-owned health insurer in the United States and the fourth largest health insurer in the country overall, with 11.5 million members in its Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. HCSC has a rating of AA- (Very Strong) from Standard and Poor's, Aa3 (Excellent) from Moody's and A+ (Superior) from A.M. Best Co. HCSC is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.