Dr. Monica Berner has been named president of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana (BCBSMT), becoming the first physician and second woman to assume that role since Blue Cross and Blue Shield merged in 1986.
"I am humbled and excited to build on our past successes and celebrate innovation as we continue to navigate the ever-changing health care environment," Berner said. "We are dedicated to making the health care system work better and to making Montana a healthier place to live, work and play."
Berner leads BCBSMT, Montana's largest and longest-standing insurer with nearly 300,000 members. BCBSMT has provided health insurance plans and administrative services to Montanans for more than 77 years and is a division of Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC).
BCBSMT employs more than 400 Montanans and is headquartered in Helena, with a call center based in Great Falls and five regional offices in Billings, Bozeman, Great Falls, Missoula and Kalispell.
"Monica has developed strong working relationships with key stakeholders across the state to improve health care delivery in Montana," said former BCBSMT president Mike Frank, who continues in his role overseeing the Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans in Montana, New Mexico and Oklahoma as senior vice president of Tri-State Plans for HCSC. "This promotion will better enable her to focus on the needs of Montana patients, providers, producers and communities."
Berner will oversee all BCBSMT operations, including sales and account management, government and public relations, provider network management, and medical management. Previously, she served as chief medical officer and medical director.
Berner joined BCBSMT in April 2009, after working in direct patient care for 12 years. Berner received her medical degree in 1994 from Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, Texas. She had a private medical practice in Aloha, Oregon, before joining the Lewis and Clark County Community Health Center in Helena. Berner then became a Veterans Affairs staff physician in the outpatient clinic at Fort Harrison, Montana's Veterans Hospital. She was named the Montana Medical Association's 2016 Merit Award winner for her leadership in health care innovation and her extensive work on behalf of Montana physicians.
Berner lives in Helena with her husband, Paul. They have two children, Grace and Arleigh.