Blue Cross Names Two New Senior Vice ...( Jim Eppel to Oversee Health Managemen...),Health

Jim Eppel to Oversee Health Management Division; Kathy Mock Responsible for Public and Health Affairs

EAGAN, Minn., April 28 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (Blue Cross) today announced the promotions of two executives as part of a realignment among company divisions.

Kathy Mock has been named senior vice president of Public and Health Affairs, giving her senior leadership over Prevention Minnesota, the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation, and the company's community affairs department. Mock will retain the areas she managed in the capacity of vice president, including legislative affairs, public relations and internal communications. Additionally, she will continue to serve as chief executive officer for Blue Plus, the company's health maintenance organization.

The medical and network management functions of Blue Cross are consolidating under the leadership of Jim Eppel, who has been appointed as senior vice president of health management. This new position expands Eppel's responsibilities beyond the administration of provider networks, which he has managed since joining Blue Cross in May 2007. In addition to overseeing all aspects of provider contract negotiations and network management, Eppel will have accountability for the company's integrated disease management program (Whole Person Health Support).

"Kathy Mock and Jim Eppel are well-known and highly respected in their particular fields and in the health care community overall," said Blue Cross President and CEO Pat Geraghty. "By putting in place this kind of strategic integration, where all medical and network functions are under Jim, while prevention and community initiatives are aligned with Kathy's work in the public health and public policy areas, Blue Cross has strengthened our abilities to achieve even better health outcomes for members."

About Jim Eppel'/>"/>