News release: Colorado - Denver/Boulder

March 7, 2002

For more information, call:
Laura H. Marshall
Kaiser Permanente
Phone: (510) 271-5826
E-mail: Laura.H.Marshall@kp.org

Kaiser Permanente names new health plan and hospitals chairman and CEO

Retiring chairman and CEO Dr. David M. Lawrence to stay on through end of year

Photo of Dr. David M. Lawrence Oakland, CA – George C. Halvorson, president and CEO of HealthPartners in Minneapolis, Minnesota, has been selected chairman and CEO of Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospitals. Halvorson will step into his new role May 1.

"I have always looked to Kaiser Permanente for ideas and inspiration as a key leader in providing not-for-profit, integrated health care," Halvorson said. "The next several years will present some challenges as well as some great opportunities to model quality health care for the world. No one is better positioned than Kaiser Permanente to achieve that goal."

"I have known George professionally for some time, and I have always held his values and his leadership in the highest regard," said David M. Lawrence, MD, current chairman and CEO of KFHP/H, who will serve as chairman emeritus through December 2002. During that time, Dr. Lawrence will help Halvorson transition into his new role. "George not only has the experience but also the character to be a great leader for Kaiser Permanente."

Halvorson's experience at HealthPartners will translate well to the country's largest not-for-profit health care organization. HealthPartners is one of the largest health plans in its home state, Minnesota, the only state in the union where for-profit health plans are prohibited by law.

Halvorson himself is recognized as a leader in health care reform and quality of care. While at HealthPartners, he championed release of information on the health plan's outcomes to the public. His plan pioneered a flexible benefit system that allows consumers to choose options that suit their health care needs. HealthPartners recently created a screening system that uses computerized data analysis to watch for potential bioterrorism attacks in the health plan's members.

Halvorson is held in such high esteem in his home state that in 1995, the governor of Minnesota held a "George Halvorson Day" when he was named Executive of the Year by a state business magazine.

Halvorson led the formation of HealthPartners by completing the merger of Group Health Inc. and MedCenters Health Plan in 1992. He had been named CEO of Group Health, Inc. in 1986. Both health plans are considered "integrated systems," in which physicians, hospitals and the insurance function operate jointly to coordinate the spectrum of medical care.

"I believe in the kind of care that Kaiser Permanente provides," said Halvorson. "Integrated care, delivered by teams of great doctors in a not-for-profit environment, is the most successful way to provide high-quality health care as affordably as possible. At a time when health care costs are on the rise again, it's more important than ever to keep our eyes on what's truly important. Quality care and best value."

Halvorson is an accomplished author; he published Strong Medicine in 1993 to rave reviews. The book examines the health care system in America and recommends sweeping changes, and it gets five stars from Amazon.com. Halvorson is working on its follow up, Avalanche of Care.

HealthPartners is a 700,000-member not-for-profit health plan with about $2 billion in annual revenue. As not-for-profit organizations with excellent medical group and union relationships, HealthPartners and Kaiser Permanente have much in common, giving Halvorson a head start on transitioning to his new role.

Kaiser Permanente is America's leading integrated health care organization. Founded in 1945, it is a not-for-profit, group-practice prepayment program with headquarters in Oakland, California. Kaiser Permanente serves the health care needs of 8.3 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Today, it encompasses Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc.; Kaiser Foundation Hospitals; and the Permanente Medical Groups, as well as an affiliation with Group Health Cooperative based in Seattle. Nationwide, Kaiser Permanente includes approximately 90,000 technical, administrative and clerical employees and about 11,000 physicians representing all specialties.

Dr. Lawrence and Mr. Halvorson will be available to media representatives at 11 a.m. PST/2 p.m. EST today. Call Kaiser Permanente's National Media Relations office at (510) 271-5826 for call-in information.