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President and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, Matthew D. All.
Posted October 3, 2023
"Recessions in health care behave a little differently, though. If there is a recession, we might see some of the groups we cover shrink and some members forgo elective procedures, but people will still need care."
Q: What do you consider your organization’s most significant achievement or highlight over the past year?
A: Continuing to transform our 80-year-old company while still excelling in the day-to-day work. We’re proud of who we’ve been over the decades, but we know health care is changing and we need to change with it. Doing both at the same time is challenging, but our employees always make it work.
Q: What do you see as the odds of a recession between now and the end of 2024?
A: I think the odds of a recession are fairly low, but they’re not zero. There’s still plenty of energy in the economy. Recessions in health care behave a little differently, though. If there is a recession, we might see some of the groups we cover shrink and some members forgo elective procedures, but people will still need care. And we’ll still be here to make sure they get it.
Q: We have the new KCI up and running; what do you believe is the Next Big Thing we should pursue in the Kansas City region?
A: The obvious answers involve sports. The Royals will probably choose a location for their new stadium and the Jayhawks will have broken ground on their new football complex. But I’m still holding out for that bullet train to Lawrence, Topeka, and Wichita.
Q: Did you have a key mentor on your way to leadership? If so, who was it, and what was the most important thing you learned from him or her?
A: Kathleen Sebelius. I had the privilege of working for her when she was the insurance commissioner and governor. I saw how hard she worked and how much she held herself accountable. She was a demanding boss, but only in the best possible ways. She made me better, and she was patient with me through a challenging part of my life. That’s what you hope for in a mentor.
Q: What’s first on your reading list each morning?
A: Depends on what book I’m reading. I try to start every day with a chapter or two of the book I’m reading. It’s one of the best, most peaceful moments each day. In recent weeks, I’ve read The Candy House by Jennifer Egan, What We Owe the Future by William MacAskill and No Country for Old Men by Cormac McCarthy. I’m about to dive into some sci-fi next.
Q: If you could start a charity, what would the mission be?
A: Improving mental health for young people. I have five children, including two in middle school and one in grade school. They’re doing great, but I see every day how much harder it is to grow up these days. We didn’t know it back then, but we had it easy in the 1970s and 80s. Kids need our help in managing all the things being thrown at them.
Q: What’s your current employee headcount?
A: About 1,600. And we’re hiring!
Q: Over the coming year, do you plan to add/reduce staff or hold at current levels?
A: Add staff. We’re investing in capabilities that will make health care less confusing and less expensive. And we need great people to do it. Have I mentioned we’re hiring?
