Richard J. Neeson Named President and CEO of AmeriHealth Administrators

HORSHAM, Pa., June 30 /PRNewswire/ -- Richard J. Neeson has been appointed president and CEO of AmeriHealth Administrators, a leading national third party administrator of health benefits, effective July 1. Neeson will also serve as president and CEO of AmeriHealth Administrators' affiliates, Inter-County Hospitalization Plan and Inter-County Health Plan. Neeson succeeds Daniel J. Pedriani, who will retire from his posts after a 21-year career with AmeriHealth Administrators and its family of companies. Neeson will report to Daniel Hilferty, executive vice president and president of health markets at AmeriHealth Administrators' parent company.

Pedriani joined AmeriHealth Administrators as its president and CEO in 2003 after leading AmeriHealth New Jersey as its president and CEO. He served on the board of directors of Independence Blue Cross from 1989 to 1995. He is an alumni fellow of the Pennsylvania State University and past chair of the advisory board for Penn State's graduate campus.

Under Pedriani's leadership, AmeriHealth Administrators' achievements have included securing the contract to administer utilization review and other services for  Independence Administrators, a third-party administrator for self-funded health plans in the five-county southeastern Pennsylvania region, and outsourcing services for student health plans and third-party administrators and other payers.

"We're grateful for Dan's many years of service. He is an inspiration and recognized leader whose energy and vision have strengthened the competitive position of AmeriHealth Administrators and expanded the company's array of services and products to better serve our customers' changing needs," said Hilferty. "After a very thorough succession planning process, we are confident that Rick is the right person to take AmeriHealth Administrators to the next level. Rick has been a full partner in leading AmeriHealth Administrators and a trusted leader among our employees. He understands our history and the need for us to look forward; he is better positioned than anyone else to build on AmeriHealth Administrators' success."

In 2009, Neeson became senior vice president and chief operating officer of AmeriHealth Administrators, and has been a member of its board of directors since 1993. In his current capacity, he has been leading information systems, operations, planning, and quality and risk assessment for the company.

Neeson has over 25 years' experience in the health care and health services industry, including 21 years in leadership roles at Independence Blue Cross and its related companies. Neeson was responsible for leading several Independence Blue Cross subsidiaries. He was primarily responsible for acquisitions, joint ventures, and strategic partnerships. Neeson has held leadership positions in management and on the boards of several subsidiary operations. Neeson is chairman of the board of supervisors of Vita 34 International AG, Leipzig, Germany, an umbilical cord blood stem cell preservation company. He also served as president and CEO of NewSeasons Assisted Living Communities. Neeson is an alumnus of the University of Notre Dame with a BA in Economics and the University of Connecticut where he earned an MBA in finance/management.

"AmeriHealth Administrators is steadfast in its commitment to fulfill and exceed our customers' expectations for high-value health benefits management services. The organization's success is demonstrated through our continual growth and the loyalty of our clients who entrust us with the management of their health benefits investment and their members' health," said Neeson. "I am honored to have been selected to serve in a greater role with AmeriHealth Administrators. We are on the threshold of transformational events in the health care environment, and we are keenly focused on opportunities and challenges that are evolving for us and our clients."

About AmeriHealth Administrators

AmeriHealth Administrators is one of the largest national third party administrators providing innovative, value-based health benefits programs and outsourcing services for self-funded health plans and other organizations. The company also provides customized outsourcing services for TPAs and other payers, student health plans, and fully-insured products. AmeriHealth Administrators serves over 400,000 plan members representing $1 billion in health benefits. For more information, please visit www.ahatpa.com.

SOURCE AmeriHealth Administrators