Leaders & Achievers 2022
PETER MARINO
CEO and president, Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island
FRONT-LINE HEALTH PROFESSIONALS, as well as the Rhode Islanders they care for, have been challenged throughout the COVID-19 pandemic since March 2020. Peter Marino has seen that firsthand.
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With an extensive background in the public and private sectors, Marino became CEO and president of Neighborhood Health Plan of Rhode Island in 2014. The majority of the Smithfield-based nonprofit health insurer’s HMO members are eligible for Medicaid. Neighborhood’s provider network also spans more than 1,800 primary care practitioners, more than 5,000 specialists and more than 5,000 behavioral health providers. At least half receive their primary care at one of more than 30 community health centers around the state, and many live in vulnerable communities.
“At the beginning of the pandemic, we had three goals,” Marino said. “Keep employees safe, provide support to our health care providers and take care of our members. Fortunately, I was a Boy Scout when I was growing up; I learned to be prepared.”
Specifics on that checklist: making it easier for staff to work remotely, strengthening the strategy for vaccinating members and smoothing out the paperwork required from health care providers. The stress, particularly on health professionals, has been enormous, Marino said.
‘Kindness and a smile go far.’
Marino leads the organization’s strategic direction and day-to-day operations. Since he’s helmed the organization, Neighborhood has grown from a 250-employee, $450 million company serving 100,000 members to a $1.5 billion enterprise with more than 600 employees and caring for more than 220,000 Rhode Islanders. Neighborhood is the state’s second-largest health insurer, with only Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island having more subscribers.
Marino grew up in a military family – his dad spent time in Vietnam – and they moved around. He attributes his successful career to mentors he met along the way. Marino has also learned the value of being surrounded by people who really believe in what they’re doing. Marino’s most important lesson was reinforced by his grandmother.
“She told me kindness costs you nothing, except maybe a smile,” he said. “It doesn’t matter whether you’re having a hard discussion or shopping in the grocery store. Kindness and a smile go far.”
