RICHARD WEISBLATT, Ph.D.
2 Anderson Circle
Andover, Massachusetts 01810
Home: (978) 749-9422
Work: (617) 509-7866
Rick_Weisblatt@harvardpilgrim.org
EXPERIENCE
HARVARD PILGRIM HEALTH CARE, Wellesley, MA
Nationally recognized HMO.
2001-present
Vice-President for Network Services
Oversees all functions related to development, management and maintenance of Harvard Pilgrim’s provider network,
including contracting and incentive programs, reimbursement policy, provider relations and Behavioral Health,
Pharmacy and Radiology vendor contracts. Supervises network medical directors.




Developed strategic agenda for network management.
Led Pharmacy Benefit Manager negotiations with net savings to Plan of over $20m/year.
Expanded Pay-for-Performance in quality and efficiency to hospitals and specialties.
Led the development of a tiered network PPO product.
Vice-President for Medical Management
Operational responsibility for Utilization Management, Clinical Policy, Network Medical Management, Behavioral
Health and Pharmacy. Direct reports include Medical Directors responsible for all areas noted above.


Guided the development of a Pay-for-Performance contract model for the HPHC network.
Outsourced management of high-end radiology resulting in significant savings and lower trend.
Medical Director for Behavioral Health and Pharmacy
Responsible for managing vendor relationships with Managed Behavioral Health Organization (MBHO) and
Pharmacy Benefits Manager (PBM). Direct pharmacy operations, contracting and reporting.


Collaborated with MBHO leadership to implement clinical quality improvement programs in depression detection
and management in primary care, mental health access for the elderly and compliance with antidepressant
medications.
Contracted with specialty pharmacies to manage high tech and infertility drugs resulting in 20% savings on
contracts and dose management.
HARVARD VANGUARD MEDICAL ASSOCIATES, Newton, MA
Boston area multi-specialty medical group with 250,000 patients and $600 million in revenue.
1997-2001
Vice-President of Operations (1999-2001)
Directed operations for seven practice sites including clinical departments, ancillaries, pharmacies, patient services and
facilities with a regional budget of $80 million, 575,000 patient visits and 1070 staff. Responsible for corporate departments of
Medical Billing, Medical Records, Central Pharmacy, Health Promotions and Alternative Medicine.


Reduced operating costs by over 15% to meet aggressive budget targets.
Increased cash collections by 20% and over $2 million by reorganizing the front-end business functions and
reconfiguring the billing system to support co-pay collection at check-in.
Health Center Medical Director (1997-1999)
Ran two multi-specialty practices with responsibility for medical, operational and financial performance with a
combined budget of $50 million ($25 million in direct expense and $25 million in utilization and hospital expense).
Direct reports included physician chiefs and site administrators.


Championed a corporate culture change that emphasized the physician-patient relationship and exceptional
customer service. Achieved significant physician buy-in and participation.
Adopted service standards that affected all aspects of patient care, empowered local lead teams and developed
training programs and performance evaluations based on improved patient satisfaction.
RICHARD WEISBLATT, Ph.D.
page Two
HARVARD PILGRIM HEALTH CARE, Wellesley, MA
HARVARD COMMUNITY HEALTH PLAN
Nationally recognized insurer and Staff Model HMO
1988-1997
Health Center Medical Director (1993-1997)
Essentially the same duties as above. Additional responsibilities included local marketing, employer relations, HEDISfocused clinical interventions and participation in NCQA accreditation process.
Chief of Mental Health (1988-1993)
Led department of 20 clinicians and 5 support staff with responsibilities for day-to-day clinical operations and
utilization management.


Turned around a demoralized, high-turnover department to one with stable staff, lower cost and better service.
Improved initial appointment access from 6 weeks to 7 days and for psychopharmacology evaluations from 3
weeks to 3 days.
Decreased hospital days by 60% over four years by designing and implementing an Urgent Care program that
provided same day access, intensive follow-up and hospital diversion.
RHODE ISLAND GROUP HEALTH ASSOCIATION, Providence, RI
Regional Staff Model HMO
1981-1988
Chief of Mental Health (1986-1988)
Launched new department, hired staff and managed all clinical operations.
Coordinator of Children's Services (1981-1986)
Managed child mental health including clinician supervision and hospital relations.
EDUCATION
Ph.D. Clinical Psychology, University of Maryland, 1980
B.S. Psychology, University of Maryland, 1974
TRAINING
Harvard Medical School Post-doctoral fellowship in clinical psychology, 1980
Judge Baker Guidance Center Boston, MA
Harvard Medical School Pre-doctoral internship in clinical psychology, 1978
Children's Hospital Medical Center Boston, MA
ARTICLES AND CONFERENCE PRESENTATIONS
Bambauer, Kara Zivin et. al. Physician alerts to improve antidepressant
adherence, fax or fiction. In Press. Annals of Internal Medicine.
2006
“Focusing on Quality Through Pay-for-Performance.”
National Managed Health Care Conference.
2005
“Managing the Behavioral Health Benefit: Carve in or Carve out.”
National Managed Health Care Conference.
2005
“Medical Trend Management.”
Division of Medical Assistance Annual Symposium. Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
2004
“Managing Behavioral Health Care and Other Carve-Out Arrangements.”
Managed Care Seminar. Boston University School of Public Health.
2004
“Quality Incentives.” World Congress Leadership Summit.
2003
“Managing the Pharmacy Benefit: A Primer.”
Division of Medical Assistance Annual Symposium. Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
2002
RICHARD WEISBLATT, Ph.D.
page Three
“Alternatives Paths to Health: Integrating Alternative and Western Medicine”
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
Conference on Alternative Medicine and the Academic Medical Center
1999
Shames, R., Frampton, J. and Weisblatt, R. Credentialing and QA for Alternative Medicine Providers.
Forum. 1999;19:5-6.
1999
“Defining Quality in Behavioral Health Programs.”
Group Health Association of America Annual Conference.
Behavioral Health Programs in HMOs: Making Quality a Reality
1993
Sovner, R., Baily, K., and Weisblatt, R. An HMO Psychopharmacology Service.
HMO Practice. 1990; 4:162-166.
1990
“Coordinated Adolescent and Family Services in an HMO”
Group Health Association of America Annual Conference.
Providing Mental Health Today: Key Decision Points for HMOs
1988