Dana Erickson

In her role as president and chief executive officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Dana Erickson is responsible for overseeing the strategy and operations of the state’s largest non-profit health plan.

Prior to being promoted to president and CEO, Erickson served as senior vice president and president of health services at Blue Cross. In that role, she was responsible for the overall strategic planning, development, implementation and administration of care management, provider relations, pharmacy and medical management. Erickson joined Blue Cross in 2015 as senior director of care management before being promoted to vice president of the same division the following year.

Soon after arriving at Blue Cross, Erickson led the creation of the High Complexity Case Unit (HCCU), a patient-centric care management program focused on members with multiple diagnoses and complications. Starting as a pilot program with six registered nurses, the HCCU team grew to include more than 30 health coaches who reach thousands of members each year. HCCU continues to be a signature program in Blue Cross’ overall efforts to reduce hospital readmissions, improve overall patient outcomes and lower overall medical costs.

Before coming to Blue Cross, Erickson held clinical and medical leadership roles at Univita Health and Optum Health, where her tenure included serving as vice president of strategic accounts. Additionally, Erickson spent two years serving in Anoka County as a nursing leader, a role in which she oversaw home-based services for the senior and at-risk populations. A registered nurse and respiratory therapist, Erickson has administered direct patient care in addition to leading rehabilitation center operations.

Erickson studied social work at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire and holds a bachelor’s degree in nursing from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She currently serves on the boards of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation, BCS Financial, Greater MSP, Medical Alley, and of Portico Healthnet, a Minnesota-based nonprofit that works to help uninsured individuals and families access affordable coverage and care.