The month of March is Women’s History Month, and it coincides with Independent Health’s 45th anniversary – which is occurring thanks to a woman named Mary Lundberg, the company’s first president.
Lundberg joined the early beginnings of what ultimately became Independent Health. In 1975, a visionary group of volunteers planning organization known as the Western New York Health Planning Corporation (WNYHPC) formed to study the feasibility of offering a new type of health plan, called a Health Maintenance Organization, in the region.
As the WNYHPC developed the concept and acquired federal grant funding, it consulted with a management professor at the University at Buffalo. Two of the professor’s graduate students – Frank Colantuono and Bill McHugh – accepted a volunteer opportunity to help with the project. The organization soon found itself in need of someone to lead the entire planning and development process. In July 1976, Lundberg was hired as executive director of WNYHPC. As the work progressed, she hired Colantuono to focus on the finances, and McHugh to work on marketing.
Lundberg, a native of Rochester, MN, earned a bachelor’s degree from Macalester College in St. Paul, MN, a master’s degree from the University of Minnesota and did a fellowship at the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania.
Over the next four years, Lundberg tirelessly led her staff of four through the nascent startup through some challenging moments to the company’s birth. On February 11, 1980, Independent Health officially began operations. By the end of that year, the new company had 2,785 members through 55 employer groups.
Lundberg served as Independent Health’s first president until 1984, when she moved on to a health care consulting career, and served on many boards and committees where she lived in Rochester, N.Y. Frank Colantuono succeeded her as president and CEO until 2004. Lundberg passed away in 2009.
“The four years Mary spent at the head of this organization were fundamental to the establishment of our company,” said Michael W. Cropp, M.D., current chief executive officer, Independent Health at a tree dedication ceremony in her memory a few months after her passing. “She was a true pioneer and helped blaze a trail for Independent Health to become an elite health care solutions company. Her groundwork set the standard on which Independent Health has built its reputation for quality, value, dedicated employees and world class service.”
Forty-five years on, Independent Health has evolved from a small Health Maintenance Organization into a major employer in Western New York with a comprehensive portfolio of health coverage products and services to meet the varied needs of the region – and beyond. Its 1,200 employees, who mostly all live in Western New York, provide health benefits and services to more than 345,000 individuals in Western New York and throughout the country.
Along with its four lines of business offering coverage in the commercial, Medicare, Medicaid/State and Self-funded markets, Independent Health has created affiliate companies, including: specialty pharmacy Reliance Rx, pharmacy benefit manager Pharmacy Benefit Dimensions, third-party administrator Nova Healthcare Administrators, and the Independent Health Foundation, which provides health and wellness programs for at-risk communities throughout the region. Overall, Independent Health and its family of companies provide benefits and services to nearly 540,000 lives across the country.
Throughout its history, Independent Health has earned national benchmark standards and top honors for operational excellence and customer service. Its consistently strong Star Ratings for Medicare, Medicaid, and commercial business are a testament to its long-standing commitment of delivering high-quality coverage and outstanding service to our members, and it was made possible through the pioneering efforts and vision of Mary Lundberg.
Read more about Independent Health’s beginnings: Part 1 and Part 2
Leave a Reply