HEALTH - Blue Cross Blue Shield

Transcription

INVESTING
IN
AMERICA’S
HEALTH
2013
Across every ZIP Code in the U.S., one in three Americans rely on Blue Cross and Blue Shield
companies for access to safe, quality and affordable healthcare. The Blues pioneered health insurance
85 years ago to help individuals afford the quality care they deserve. As the industry evolves, so do
we. We are as committed as ever to our members and the communities where we also live and work.
With local roots in every community, we are uniquely positioned to create and maintain lasting
partnerships with doctors, hospitals, schools and other organizations to jointly invest in the health of
our communities. In 2013, Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies collectively invested $363 million in
programs to help neighbors and neighborhoods attain a higher quality of life.
I am proud to share Investing in America’s Health, which highlights just some of the innovative
programs supported by Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies in collaboration with our community
partners across the country.
Together we are helping to create stronger, healthier communities. That’s The Power of Blue — the power to make a difference.
Yours in good health,
Scott P. Serota
President and CEO
Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
Contents
The Power of Blue: Creating Healthier Communities..................2 – 5
Improving Healthcare Access........................................................8 – 18
Enabling Healthier Living...............................................................22 – 43
Improving Healthcare Quality and Affordability.............................46 – 49
Index..............................................................................................50
Investing in America’s Health – 2013
1
THE POWER OF BLUE: Creating Healthier Communities
For 85 years, generations of Americans have trusted Blue Cross and Blue Shield
companies to provide the best health insurance for them and their families. The
37 independent and locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that
comprise the Blue System provide health insurance to more than 105 million
Americans — ensuring access to quality and affordable healthcare coverage no
matter where they live.
We strive to be a source of strength, leadership and compassion for the
communities we serve and the members we protect. As the industry evolves,
so do we. Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are working together with
patients, doctors and employers not only to provide the best health insurance,
but also to make positive, measurable changes to the healthcare system, giving
families the freedom to look to the future without fear.
This is The Power of Blue: The commitment of Blue Cross and Blue Shield
companies to build healthier communities — so together, we can meet the
challenge of creating a healthier America.
The Power of Blue works to:
•
Improve Access to Healthcare
•
Improve Healthcare Quality and Affordability
•
Enable Healthier Living
•
Support Communities
MORE THAN
105
MILLION
MEMBERS
96%
92%
&
OF HOSPITALS
OF PHYSICIANS
In 2013, as a part of The Power of Blue commitment, we collectively invested
more than $363 million in communities across the country to help address
some of our nation’s most pressing healthcare challenges.
CONTRACT DIRECTLY
WITH BCBS
BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD COMPANIES COVER ZIP CODES
IN ALL 50 STATES, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA AND PUERTO RICO.
8%
2013 Blue System Community
Investments by Focus Area:
Improving Healthcare Access
Improving Healthcare Quality
& Affordability
Enabling Healthier Living
Community and Social Causes
2
$363 Million
16%
Charitable Community Investments
44%
32%
Chronic diseases, such as heart disease, cancer and diabetes, are responsible for seven out of every 10 deaths among
Americans each year.1 Many of these diseases are preventable. Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies have developed
programs that engage members and their communities to take steps to live healthier lives, and reduce the burden of
chronic disease on patients, their families and their neighborhoods.
Each year, Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies develop and fund programs aimed at making a lasting impact on
communities by reaching the pillars of all neighborhoods — schools, families, and individuals. We support:
•
Adult and child obesity prevention programs.
•
Disease prevention and management programs.
•
Community health initiatives.
Play Streets
Children need places to play in order to stay active and healthy.
To help create those places, the Blue Cross Blue Shield
Association and Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies joined
forces with The Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) in
2013 to develop the “Play Streets” program. Play Streets closes streets to traffic
and opens that space to the community to encourage physical activity and family
fun. Twelve Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies partnered with PHA and their
local government officials to host 48 events across 10 cities.
“Lack of safe places to play, limited access to playgrounds or parks, and
busy schedules are just a few of the reasons kids aren’t as active as they
used to be. As a leader in the health insurance industry, the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association understands that ending the childhood obesity
epidemic is going to take work from all of us, at all levels — including
addressing the challenges that lay before us in a creative manner.” — Lawrence A. Soler, CEO, Partnership for a Healthier America
SERVED NEARLY
72,000
ATTENDEES
GENERATED
192+
HOURS OF ACTIVITIES
CREATED OVER
42
MILES OF OPEN PLAY
Second Opinion
As Americans turn to television or the Internet for health information, Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are there.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association-sponsored series, Second Opinion, is an award-winning public television series
dedicated to health literacy and improving patient-physician communication. In 2013, Second Opinion extended its content
beyond TV programming, creating online videos and social media content to reach more people. To date, thousands of
social media posts have reached more than 15 million consumers online.
3
With a strong local presence, Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are uniquely positioned to understand community
needs in a way only a neighbor can. Serving both urban and rural communities, the Blue System’s national reach
combined with deep local insight gives the power to bring solutions to the whole country — ensuring that all Americans
gain access to the quality care they deserve.
It is predicted there will be a shortage of up to 159,300 doctors by 2025.2 In an effort to ensure Americans have access
to physicians, nurses, hospitals and other healthcare facilities wherever they live, work and play, Blue Cross and Blue
Shield companies are investing in education and development programs for America’s healthcare workforce. Additionally,
our partnerships with local hospitals and colleges focus on patient-centered primary care, address medically underserved
areas, and reach patients of all cultural and economic backgrounds.
Millions of families and individuals are touched by our support of:
•
Financial assistance for medical education.
•
Partnerships with safety-net hospitals.
•
Maternal and child healthcare.
•
Health professional training.
Improving Healthcare Quality
and Affordability
Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are committed to helping make healthcare better for our members. We work with doctors and hospitals to develop innovative tools, products and programs to ensure all families receive the best
possible care.
Today, Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are using their unmatched reach and community roots to lead the
healthcare industry in a shift toward care delivery programs that provide incentives for better health outcomes for
patients, while reducing costly duplication and waste.
More than 24 million members are in 350 locally tailored programs that reward doctors for better coordinated care and
improved health outcomes. Other highlights of work to improve healthcare quality and patient outcomes in 2013 include:
•
Blue Distinction® — a designation for doctors, hospitals and other healthcare facilities that meet national quality and
affordability criteria — providing members with a guide to meet their healthcare quality and cost needs.
•
Blue Health Intelligence® — the nation’s premier health intelligence resource, delivering data-driven insights about
healthcare trends and best practices, resulting in more affordable access to effective care.
•
Center for Clinical Effectiveness — assesses the effectiveness of medical devices, procedures and biological products
through comprehensive review and clinical evidence.
4
Supporting Communities:
Neighborhood Impact Where
We Live and Work
As neighborhood institutions, Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies have
the unique ability to work closely with local chapters of national organizations
for the greatest impact, closest to home. In 2013, Blue Cross and Blue Shield
companies supported:
•
Alzheimer’s Association
•
The Leukemia and Lymphoma
Society
•
American Cancer Society
•
American Diabetes Association
•
Make-a-Wish Foundation
•
American Heart Association
•
March of Dimes
•
American Lung Association
•
Muscular Dystrophy Association
•
American Red Cross
•
•
Arthritis Foundation
National Multiple Sclerosis
Society
•
Big Brothers Big Sisters
•
Special Olympics
•
Easter Seals
•
Susan G. Komen Foundation
•
JDRF
•
United Way
•
YMCA
•
YWCA
Neighborhoods become the focus of Blue Cross and Blue Shield company
employee volunteer efforts. We support:
•
Playground builds
•
Community gardening
•
Meals to the homeless
•
Community walks supporting non-profits
•
School mentoring
•
Blood donations
•
Board service
1
BCBSA -- http://www.bcbs.com/healthcare_costs/facts.html
2
Association of American Medical Colleges – “The Complexities Of Physician Supply And Demand 2008”
370,361
HOURS OF EMPOYEE
VOLUNTEER TIME SPENT
IN LOCAL COMMUNITIES
MILLION
DISTRIBUTED THROUGH
EMPLOYEE VOLUNTEER
MATCHES AND GRANTS
$
8.9 MILLION
IN EMPLOYEE DONATIONS
82%
BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD
COMPANIES HAVE AN
ENVIRONMENTAL
SUSTAINABILITY INITIATIVE
5
6
Improving
Healthcare Access
Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies work alongside local
physicians and hospitals to help provide safe and efficient care while
helping to keep healthcare costs down. Additionally, Blue Cross
and Blue Shield companies are providing education and funding
resources to build a strong front-line team of future doctors, nurses
and other healthcare providers.
8
Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas
Educating Physician Assistants for Arkansas
Much of the population in Arkansas lives
in rural areas, which have a shortage
of primary care physicians. To help fill
this gap in patient care, the Blue & You
Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas
partnered with the University of Arkansas
for Medical Sciences (UAMS) to increase
the primary care workforce by employing
more physician assistants (PA).
Physician assistants are valuable additions
to the healthcare team. They take patient
histories, perform physical exams,
order labs and tests, diagnose and treat
conditions, prescribe medication and
perform other procedures under the
supervision of a physician. Arkansas,
however, ranks 49th in the nation in its
use of physician assistants.
With Blue & You Foundation funding,
the Educating Physician Assistants for
Arkansas program achieved the following
results in 2013:
• Increased PA student applications by
250 percent, from 100 applicants to 350 applicants in a single year.
• Admitted 26 high-quality students in
its inaugural class and 30 in its second
class, with more than 80 percent
residing in Arkansas.
• Launched a website (AboutArkansasPA.
com) that raised awareness of the role
of the PA among potential students,
medical practitioners and patients.
With additional funding from the
foundation in 2014, the program will
continue to expand the primary care
workforce in Arkansas, helping to bring
better health to underserved areas of the state.
www.blueandyou
foundationarkansas.org
99
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield
TeleMedicine Program
The shortage of behavioral health
providers serving adults, adolescents and
children is well documented nationally.
The problem is especially acute in rural
and underserved areas. Fortunately,
advancements in telemedicine technology
are providing new tools for how and when
patients in remote areas can access
healthcare.
To expand the use of telemedicine in rural
and underserved areas in Maryland and
Washington, D.C., CareFirst BlueCross
BlueShield (CareFirst) is providing
multiyear grants to four community health
organizations:
• Associated Catholic Charities (ACC)
— CareFirst’s grant will enable ACC’s
Mindcare for Marylanders’ program
to expand its video-conferencing
technology services to about 120
underserved children in schools in
Baltimore and the counties of Anne
Arundel and Allegany.
www.carefirstcommitment.com
• Sheppard Pratt Health System —
With its grant, Sheppard Pratt will
use teleconferencing and videoconferencing tools to provide access
to its psychiatrists based in Towson,
Maryland, to about 1,200 patients of
federally qualified health centers.
• La Clinica del Pueblo — The clinic will
expand remote access to its bilingual
counselors and healthcare providers
through teleconferencing to about 650
patients in the greater Washington area.
• Atlantic General Hospital (AGH) —
The hospital is partnering with the
internationally renowned Baltimorebased Kennedy Krieger Institute (KKI) to
provide initial evaluations and follow-up
visits to about 325 children and young
adults with learning disabilities and
behavioral health issues. For current
KKI patients, the partnership with AGH
will reduce travel costs for patients and
their families.
An independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.
10
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield
Sister Rose Vincent Family Medicine Center Mammography Services
In 2012, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield,
St. Elizabeth Medical Center and the
Mele Family Fund partnered to purchase
new state-of-the-art digital mammography
equipment that improves access to
lifesaving mammography services for
uninsured and underinsured women in
the Utica area. Convenience matters
for women who have work and family
responsibilities, and now that St.
Elizabeth’s Sister Rose Vincent Family
Medicine Center has new mammography
equipment, women in the Utica area
can have their annual mammography
screening during a primary care visit.
The family medicine center also used
funding to increase education and
outreach efforts and provide on-site
translation services for the many women
in the local refugee community who
speak English as a second language.
Screening rates already have increased.
Between June 2012 and June 2013,
the family medicine center identified
1,343 patients ages 40 to 70 who met
the eligibility criteria. Of those patients,
the family medicine center performed
mammograms on 854 women, raising
the compliance rate from 54 percent
(baseline) to 64 percent. Because
screening services are available when
patients receive primary care, the
mammography appointment no-show rate
has decreased 20 percent since 2012.
www.excellusbcbs.com/wps/portal/
xl/our/news/caringcommunity
11
11
Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) Foundation
Project Vision Hawai‘i — Better Vision for the Keiki of Waianae
The HMSA Foundation supports Project
Vision Hawai‘i, an Oahu-based, mobile
screening program that provides muchneeded vision services to remote,
underserved communities across the
state. Children from 11 schools along
Oahu’s Leeward Coast have access to free
vision, retinal, hearing, and developmental
screenings from this nonprofit. Parents are
also educated about their children’s needs,
potential health issues, and options for
further care, and the children are provided
with follow-up services.
“Early detection and preventive care saves
millions of dollars each year,” said Mark
Forman, HMSA Foundation executive
administrator. “But the real reward is
when a simple screening can save a child’s
vision.” More than 2,500 people receive
vision screenings through Project Vision
Hawai‘i each year. Of those, at least 40
percent are found to have abnormalities in at least one eye.
This pilot project was a successful
collaboration with the Learning Disabilities
Association of Hawai‘i (LDAH), the Hawai‘i
Lions District 50 clubs, and Read Aloud
America to screen and provide triage
follow-up services for children.
In this pilot project:
• 1,095 children received screenings.
• 224 children were referred to their
doctors for further care.
• 28 children showed signs of previously
undiagnosed vision or hearing problems,
including a potential case of type 1
diabetes.
• 22 children showed signs of undiagnosed
learning disabilities including dyslexia,
autism spectrum disorder, and attention
deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).
• 335 parents participated in educational
workshops and 295 received screenings.
• 196 school officials and teachers
participated.
• Educational services were provided at
14 events, which reached 2,200 children
and 2,280 adults.
www.hmsafoundation.org
12
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas
Disaster Response Team
Six members of The Disaster Response Team were
called to Corning, Kansas after an EF-3 tornado.
Kansans helping Kansans is a perfect
complement to the Blue Cross and
Blue Shield of Kansas (BCBSKS)
philosophy of community involvement
and improving the health and wellbeing of those BCBSKS serves. The
partnership established between
BCBSKS and the Kansas chapters of
the American Red Cross (Red Cross)
was written by a group of employees
participating in a company-led 18 month
leadership development program.
The three pillars of the partnership are
engaging employees to assist with the
aftermath of destructive storms in the
BCBSKS service area, providing additional
financial resources, and preparing
employees for disaster through education.
The BCBSKS Disaster Response Team
is a unique partnership with Red Cross
and represents a new endeavor for
not only BCBSKS, but also Red Cross,
which provides required basic training
to the 30-member team. BCBSKS
allows employees to deploy to a major
disaster for as long as Red Cross needs
their assistance. BCBSKS has also
provided company-branded clothing
that is given to people whose homes
have been affected by disasters.
In addition, a contribution per year for
a minimum of three years is being
given to the Kansas Red Cross chapters
from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield
of Kansas Foundation to fulfill healthrelated purposes such as improving
access to necessary services.
Finally, company-wide sessions, led
by qualified Red Cross employees
and volunteers, will teach BCBSKS
employees how to create an
emergency plan in case of disaster.
www.bcbsks.com
13
13
Blue Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania
LifeCenter Health and Wellness Storefront
BACK TO SCHOOL
SCREENING DAY
Thursday, August 8 • 10 am–2 pm
The LifeCenter, Bon-Ton/JCPenney wing, Lycoming Mall
Send your child back to school on the right foot by taking advantage
of a variety of fun activities, safety tips and free health screenings
during Susquehanna Health’s Back to School Screening Day.
Screenings include:
• Body mass index (BMI)
• Hearing
• Height and weight
• Spinal screening to
test muscle tension
• Vision
Pick up helpful tips on safely walking to school, encountering animals,
proper posture for sports activities and carrying backpacks as well as
food safety and easy lunch ideas.
Free child identification DNA test kits will also be available.
To register your child for the hearing or vision screenings, please call
1-877-883-4791.
Brought to you by:
SusquehannaHealth.org
Thanks to an innovative partnership
between Blue Cross of Northeastern
Pennsylvania (BCNEPA) and
Susquehanna Health, a leading healthcare
system in the area, residents of north
central Pennsylvania have access
to wellness education and free or
reduced-cost health screenings.
Since 2007, BCNEPA and Susquehanna
Health have operated a health and
wellness storefront, The LifeCenter, in the
Lycoming Mall in Pennsdale, Pennsylvania.
The facility includes an extensive health
library, Internet-enabled PCs, a flatscreen
television, a multipurpose meeting room
and a private exam room for consultations.
In 2013, The LifeCenter recorded more than
30,600 individual interactions, with 2,300
consumers logged as first-time visitors.
www.bcnepa.com/community
The LifeCenter’s clinical staff conducts
regular health screenings, as well as
evaluations of risk factors for stroke, colon
cancer and osteoporosis. In addition,
the staff presents educational seminars
on diabetes, asthma, heart disease, and
other diseases. The facility also hosts
healthy cooking demonstrations, a walking
program for senior citizens, breast cancer
education through BCNEPA’s Gallery
of Hope and individual consultations
on stress and cholesterol reduction.
SH13-B-11-0126_BackToSchoolScreening_WEBB_3eighth-4c.indd 1
7/12/2013 11:03:02 AM
“This partnership for prevention
complements our mission of improving
the health status of those we serve,”
says Nina M. Taggart, MA, MD, MBA,
chief medical officer and vice president of
clinical operations at BCNEPA. “We believe
the free screenings, classes and programs
at The LifeCenter encourage individuals to
take a more active role in their health.”
14
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation
Family Medicine Teaching Health Center
The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of
North Carolina Foundation is supporting
the state’s first “Teaching Health Center”
to increase the number of North Carolina
family medicine residency graduates who
begin their careers caring for underserved
populations. Studies demonstrate that
residents who train in community health
centers are three times more likely to
work in those settings after graduation.
In fact, 100 percent of resident graduates
to date have accepted positions in
North Carolina health centers.
The program is a partnership between
the family medicine residency program
at the University of North Carolina in
Chapel Hill and Piedmont Health, an
organization that runs seven federallyqualified health centers. The program
is beginning its fourth year with six
residents active in the track. Residents
who train in the program are exposed
to a different type of medicine than is
practiced in a large academic setting. The
team-based approach to practice; access
to comprehensive services, including an
onsite dental clinic and pharmacy; and
fewer referrals of patients to specialty
care increase residents’ confidence
and deepen their scope of practice.
One of the program’s significant lessons
has been the importance of mission
alignment and collaboration between
partner organizations. The program’s
success has been dependent upon
a shared commitment to improve
training opportunities to support
care for underserved populations.
These efforts align and support the
Foundation’s strategy to improve health
outcomes for vulnerable populations
served by safety net organizations.
www.bcbsncfoundation.org
15
15
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island
AccessBlue
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode
Island (BCBSRI) is committed to helping
its members gain access to affordable,
high-quality healthcare. One of the
many ways BCBSRI demonstrates that
commitment is through a program called
AccessBlue, which provides premium
assistance to BCBSRI subscribers who
purchase health insurance plans directly
(Direct Pay members) and who also
meet income eligibility requirements.
BCBSRI’s Direct Pay plans (plans for
individuals and families) are available to
Rhode Islanders who are not eligible for
health insurance through an employer
or government-sponsored programs
(like Medicare or Medicaid). Until 2013,
BCBSRI was the only health insurer in
Rhode Island that offered coverage to this
population. In all, BCBSRI offers six health
plans directly to individuals and families.
www.bcbsri.com
In the mid 2000s, Rhode Island, like so
many states across the country, began
to experience a challenging economic
downturn with, at times, an unemployment
rate second highest in the nation and an
estimated 12 percent of Rhode Islanders
(about 120,000 people) living without
health insurance coverage. Launched in
2006 as the Premium Assistance Program,
BCBSRI initially set aside funds to the
program now known as AccessBlue. In
2009, BCBSRI added additional funds
and expanded the income guidelines so
that more people would be eligible to
receive assistance. To date, $15.5 million
has been distributed to approximately
28 percent of Direct Pay subscribers.
BCBSRI pledged an additional support
to fund AccessBlue through the end of
2013, when federal subsidies became
available through the Affordable Care Act.
16
BlueCross and BlueShield of South Carolina Foundation
Horry Georgetown Technical School Community Dental Clinic
Labeled a “silent epidemic” by the
U.S. Surgeon General, poor oral health
has a substantial impact on overall
physical and mental health. Recognizing
this, the BlueCross and BlueShield
of South Carolina Foundation is
investing in innovative projects to
improve access to dental care for
economically disadvantaged adults.
In early 2013, the Foundation awarded a
grant to the Horry Georgetown Technical
School’s community dental clinic to
meet a critical community health need
by expanding adult dental services for
low income, medically underserved
and uninsured individuals in a threecounty region that has the highest rate
of tooth decay in South Carolina.
Expanded services include restorative
dental treatment, such as dental fillings,
that complement existing preventive care.
This innovative project has established
a system of client referrals from local
community service organizations, local
hospitals and safety net providers. In
addition, discussions with the local bus
system resulted in the addition of a stop
directly at the community dental clinic.
During the first six months that the
expanded clinic was open, it received 857
new telephone calls, which resulted in
364 uninsured patients being seen. These
services provided more than $58,000 in
free dental care primarily by volunteer
dentists assisted by the technical
school’s dental hygienists students.
www.bcbsscfoundation.org
17
17
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont
Interpreted Enrollment Meetings
While Vermont remains one of the
least diverse states in terms of nonEnglish-speakers, its dynamic refugee
resettlement effort is bringing to Vermont
new Americans from many places, who
speak a wide variety of languages. As
Vermont Health Connect, Vermont’s
state exchange, reached its deadline for
enrolling, Blue Cross and Blue Shield
of Vermont (BCBSVT) realized that
pockets of new Vermonters were unaware
of changes to the healthcare system
because there were no meetings and
materials about the exchange available
in their native languages. BCBSVT quickly
organized an effort to inform their new
neighbors. Many of the new arrivals were
on state-subsidized programs, some
of which would go away as the state
implemented the Affordable Care Act.
“We hoped to help new Americans, who
are still learning English, to understand the
new healthcare system in Vermont and the
www.bcbsvt.com
help they can get in paying for coverage,”
said Megan Peek, community outreach
coordinator at BCBSVT. “We targeted
the Nepali and Somali Bantu groups
because they’re among the more recent
arrivals and may not know how to access
coverage through Vermont Health Connect.
We translated some of our brochures
and videos for use during the sessions.
We also provided interpreters from
Vermont Refugee Resettlement to answer
questions and state navigators who could
sign up new Vermonters for coverage.”
Not only did the attendees at these
sessions get help enrolling on the
exchange; they asked questions about
choosing doctors, getting preventive
care and understanding costs.
“We looked at these two meetings
as a pilot,” Peek noted. “We hope
to reach more refugee groups in
other languages in the future.”
Vermont
An Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
18
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming
The Caring for Women Program
A yearly wellness exam is critical to good
health, and a mammogram is a vital
part of early breast cancer detection.
These services, along with a Pap
smear, should be part of every woman’s
preventive healthcare. However, many
Wyoming women do not receive these
services because they lack insurance
coverage or cannot afford them.
Wyoming has one of the lowest breast
cancer screening rates in the nation, so
the primary goal of The Caring for Women
Program is to increase screening rates
across the state. Supported by Blue
Cross and Blue Shield of Wyoming,
The Caring for Women Program
provides a wellness visit, mammogram
and Pap smear to eligible women.
A statewide network of healthcare
professionals provides these services
at reduced fees. Contracted providers
are reimbursed directly at no cost to the
women participating in the program.
In partnership with The Caring for Women
Program, other statewide healthcare
organizations and providers, Susan G.
Komen and General Electric introduced
Wyoming Women First, an initiative to
improve breast cancer outcomes. With
the additional financial support and
navigation services available through this
initiative, The Caring for Women Program
provided more than 1,300 wellness
exams and 1,000 mammograms in 2013.
www.bcbswy.com/
company_info/community
20
Enabling
Healthier Living
Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are committed to improving
the health and wellness of the communities we call our own by
providing a variety of resources to organizations, schools, families
and individuals to help create a healthier living environment for all.
The Blues also create local initiatives that are helping individuals
and families adopt and maintain healthy living habits.
22
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama
Be Healthy School Grant Program
Childhood obesity rates in America are at
an all-time high. According to the Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC),
12.5 million children in the United States
are overweight. Among Alabama’s youth,
more than 17 percent are considered
overweight.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Alabama
(BCBSAL) created the Be Healthy School
Grant Program as part of its commitment
to help tackle the issue of childhood
obesity. The program awards grants
to elementary schools statewide to
start school-based health and wellness
programs that emphasize increased
exercise, nutrition education and parental
involvement during the school year.
In 2013, the 10,700 students who
participated in the program reached many milestones:
• Seventy-five percent of the students
were able to achieve the “meets
expectations” level on the Department
of Education physical education testing
standard, as compared to 50 percent
before the program began.
• When tested on nutritional choices,
90 percent of students were able to
correctly answer the questions.
• Eighty percent of students can correctly
read nutrition labels found on food
packaging.
For the 2014-15 school year, BCBSAL
has awarded grants to 28 schools across
the state that enroll students in grades K
through six.
www.bcbsal.com
23
23
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield*
Triple Play
In 2013, Boys & Girls Clubs of America
(BGCA) and six Blue entities in 14
states (CA, CO, CT, GA, IN, KY, ME,
MO, NH, NJ, NV, OH, VA, and WI)
completed a three-year grant focusing
on reducing childhood obesity. The
grant was used to support Triple Play,
BCGA’s holistic health and wellness
program that uses a multiplatform
healthy lifestyle curriculum and activities
at BGCA locations across the country.
Since launching in 2005, Triple Play
has made more than 7.6 million
connections with kids to share the
importance of physical activity and proper
nutrition through the program’s three
components, focused on mind, body
and soul. Although 2013 results are not
yet final, the year-to-year growth trend
indicates that the 2013 numbers will far
exceed the 2012 measurements, which
saw almost 1.5 million BGCA youth
connected to the Triple Play program.
As a result of the success of this
partnership, the Foundation has
committed to enhance Triple Play and
increase its reach over the next five years.
The 2013 partnership also included the
first-ever recognition of the BGCA Military
Youth of the Year. Founded in 2013 with
support from the Foundation’s National
Government Services Foundation, Military
Youth of the Year is a distinct component
of BGCA’s longstanding National Youth
of the Year initiative. The award honors
outstanding teens from BGCA-affiliated
youth centers on U.S. military installations
worldwide and recognizes one to serve
as an advocate for military youth.
*Together with the Boys & girls Clubs
of America in this campaign are the
Anthem Foundation, Anthem Blue Cross
Foundation, Anthem Blue Cross and
Blue Shield Foundation, Blue Cross Blue
Shield of Georgia Foundation, Empire
Blue Cross and Blue Shield a nadn d
EmEpmpire BlueCross Foundation.
Independent Licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association
https://www.anthem.com/healthinsurance/about-us/charity-guidelines
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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona
Fresh Express Mobile Produce Market
A retired city bus, now known as the
Fresh Express, has been given new life
as a mobile produce market, traveling
to underserved neighborhoods to sell
fresh, affordable fruits and vegetables.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Arizona
(BCBSAZ) is one of several area
businesses that are partnering with the
Discovery Triangle Development Corp. to launch this new mobile food initiative.
Discovery Triangle is a redevelopment
initiative that focuses on a 25-squaremile region in the urban cores of
Phoenix and Tempe, Arizona. This area
is considered a “food desert” because
of the limited access to grocery stores.
The retrofitted bus is traveling to schools,
senior centers, parks, churches and
other community gathering places in the
Discovery Triangle to provide access to
fresh, affordable produce.
Providing this mobile option is of huge
value as many of these metro residents
are dependent on public transportation
to reach grocery stores. With Fresh
Express, residents can now purchase
fruits and vegetables at convenient,
nearby locations. To further assist area
residents, produce is sold at cost.
Residents can pay with cash, debit/credit
cards and even SNAP (Supplemental
Nutrition Assistance Program) cards.
Fresh express also features onboard
health resources such as nutrition
education, healthy food demonstrations
and health screenings.
Fresh Express not only provides
underserved members of the community
convenient access to fresh produce but
it also empowers them to make healthier
choices for lifelong health and wellness.
www.azblue.com
Florida Blue
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25
Foundation
Walking School Bus Program
Sulphur Springs is one of the most
impoverished communities in Tampa,
Florida. Children in Sulphur Springs face
deep, intergenerational poverty and
obstacles such as unstable homes, lack of
medical care, lack of access to nutritious
food and exposure to wide-ranging social
issues and pressures.
Five years ago, the Tampa Metropolitan
YMCA (Tampa Y) spearheaded a
community collaborative aimed at
addressing key challenges, and the
Florida Blue
Foundation provided
seed funding for the Creating a Healthier
Sulphur Springs for Kids (CHSSK)
initiative. A needs assessment identified
promoting healthy lifestyles as a critical
issue.
www.bluefoundationfl.com
A mini-grant from the Foundation helped
jumpstart the Walking School Bus
Program. A walking school bus is a group
of children who walk to school with one or
more adults who have completed training
conducted by the Center for Urban
Transportation Research. The Walking
School Bus Program fulfills a vital need
for families who need support for getting
their children to and from school. For
example, a terminally ill grandmother had
a difficult time walking her granddaughter
to school every day. A Walking School
Bus group now picks up the child from
her home in the morning, and the
granddaughter has a community mentor
who makes sure she arrives to school
every day.
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Health Care Service Corporation
Healthy Kids, Healthy Families®
Healthy Kids, Healthy Families® (HKHF)
began in 2011 as a three-year initiative
designed to improve the health and
wellness of at least one million children
through community investments in
Illinois, New Mexico, Oklahoma and
Texas. This initiative enables Health
Care Service Corporation’s (HCSC)
health plans to find and fund local
nonprofit partners offering sustainable
and measurable programs that reach
children and their families in the areas
of nutrition, physical activity, managing
and preventing disease, and supporting
safe environments. So far, more than
6.7 million children have benefited
from this initiative and will continue
for years to come as part of HCSC’s
ongoing commitment to its community.
While the HKHF initiative supports a
variety of local partners in each of these
four states, pillar partners have also been
identified within each focus area with
multi-state, consistent programming
to create a larger and more collective
impact within these communities.
In the area of nutrition, HCSC’s plans
have partnered with more than 20 food
banks and other organizations to help
eliminate barriers to receiving food and
target the needs of hungry residents.
To increase physical activity among kids,
HKHF partners with KaBOOM! to build
and enhance community playgrounds
and communicate about the importance
of play and maintaining an active
lifestyle. HCSC’s 18 mobile health vans
travel to underserved communities
providing essential health screenings
and immunizations to children and
adults to prevent and avoid obtaining
certain conditions and diseases.
The HKHF initiative partners with the
American Lung Association of the
Upper Midwest to work directly with
more than 60 health centers that
serve high-risk populations with the
goal of better managing and improving
pediatric asthma care for children. To
ensure the safety of the youth across
HCSC’s states, HKHF partners with
Loveisrespect, a collaborative program
that fosters healthy dating attitudes
and relationships for teens with
comprehensive expert-created content
on the Web, in addition to on-the-ground
resources for these four states.
www.healthykidshealthyfamilies.org
www.hcsc2013srr.com
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27
The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey
Austin the Unstoppable
As part of its efforts to combat childhood
obesity, The Horizon Foundation for
New Jersey underwrote George Street
Playhouse’s musical comedy, “Austin the
Unstoppable.” Now in its third year, the
play is on a statewide tour that travels
to 70 New Jersey schools each year and
reaches more than 26,600 students,
primarily in grades four through eight.
This fun and upbeat musical addresses
obesity and wellness through a plot
focusing on 11-year-old Austin, whose
family faces lifestyle challenges after
Austin’s mother is diagnosed with Type 2
diabetes. Through the musical, students
learn the benefits of a healthy diet and
exercise.
http://www.HorizonBlue.com/Foundation
The production provides information
and strategies for students, families
and schools to use in the prevention
and control of obesity and other chronic
diseases. The play empowers students to:
• Increase physical activity.
• Increase their consumption of fruits and vegetables.
• Decrease their consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages.
• Decrease their consumption of energy
dense foods.
• Watch less television and play fewer
video games.
The tour includes pre- and post-play
activities and supplementary classroom
materials. The production was developed
in collaboration with the New Jersey
Department of Health’s ShapingNJ
program, a state partnership for nutrition,
physical activity and obesity prevention.
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is the sole member
of The Horizon Foundation for New Jersey. Both are independent
licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Associaation.
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Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation for Health
High Five Children’s Health Collaborative
One out of three children in Idaho is
overweight or obese. The Blue Cross
of Idaho Foundation for Health
is a major supporter of numerous
projects, campaigns and other efforts
to promote healthy eating and physical
activity among Idaho’s children.
Recently, the Foundation launched
the High Five Children’s Health
Collaborative, which is a statewide
effort to fight childhood obesity.
High Five is using five proven
strategies to combat the problem:
• Improve access to healthy
and affordable foods.
• Increase physical activity opportunities.
• Help parents and caregivers
make healthy family choices.
• Create healthy schools and
child care facilities.
In October 2013, the Foundation
awarded grants to four Idaho cities to
combat childhood obesity. High Five
will distribute funds over a three-year
period to promote the five strategies for
addressing obesity and drive sustainable
change for healthier environments.
After the four cities were selected,
the Foundation conducted a needs
assessment to determine the needs and
assets within each community. Based
on these assessments, the Foundation
developed an action plan for each city
that outlined how the grant funds will
be allocated. Each city has a unique
plan that expands its strengths and
addresses its needs in fighting childhood
obesity. Grant projects include building a
skate park, developing a mobile farmers
market, creating an after-school program
and revitalizing parks and playgrounds.
• Promote public policies that increase
access to healthy foods and
opportunities for physical activity.
www.bcidahofoundation.org
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29
Independence Blue Cross Foundation
Healthy Futures Initiative
The Independence Blue Cross (IBC)
Foundation’s Healthy Futures Initiative
is a three-year program and prospective
research study to improve childhood
health and wellness and reduce childhood
obesity. The IBC Foundation is partnering
with 25 elementary schools throughout
southeastern Pennsylvania that receive
tools and resources to encourage
children to “eat right,” “get fit,” and
“stay well” from expert regional and
national leaders in childhood wellness.
Programming includes soccer clinics
led by the Philadelphia Union soccer
team, wellness sessions conducted by a nurse from The Children’s Hospital
of Philadelphia, culinary classes taught
by a chef from the Vetri Foundation
for Children, “Eatiquette” Vetri-style
healthy lunches, visits from Greener
Partners’ Farm Explorer or Seed to
Snack Program, and fitness sessions
from a Fit Essentials personal trainer.
www.ibxfoundation.org
@ibxfdn
To measure the results of the program,
IBC Foundation has engaged Drexel
University to conduct a research study
of fourth grade students who will be
followed over three years, tracking
changes in body mass index (BMI),
waist circumference, prevalence of
chronic disease, compliance with
mandatory screenings and fitness
assessments. The Villanova University
College of Nursing MacDonald Center
for Obesity Prevention and Education
is conducting focus groups to assess
nutritional awareness, and InnerLink has
provided Health eTools software to the
schools to track the students’ wellness
measures and screenings. The study’s
findings will help the Foundation and
its partners shape recommendations
for future child wellness initiatives.
30
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas City
Healthy Concessions
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas
City (Blue KC), in partnership with the
Kansas City Royals, has incorporated
and promoted healthy eating and
active lifestyle activations into the
fan experience at Kauffman Stadium.
The partnership includes the Healthy
Concession Initiative, the Blue KC Little
K and in-game features designed to get
fans out of their seats and moving.
Healthy concession options, which are
identified with a Blue KC logo, include
veggie burgers, veggie dogs, grilled
chicken sandwiches, garden salads
and apple slices. Since the program
started in 2013, sales of healthier food
options have increased tremendously,
with healthy food selections more than
tripling in 2013 compared to 2012.
At the Blue KC Little K, future big
leaguers can start their careers. The
outfield experience encourages activity
as young baseball fans step up to bat
and run the bases. Inside the stadium,
the Royals and Blue KC offer fun and
interactive in-game features that promote
health and wellness, including Steal-aBase, which gives fans the opportunity to
run the field and test their speed. Other
activities include Healthy Habits Trivia,
with fun questions and resources to
support active living and healthy habits,
and the Blue KC Dance Cam that gets
fans of all ages out of their seats and
moving to the beat between innings.
www.BlueKC.com
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31
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana Foundation
2 Step in the Classroom
In 2013, the Smart Bodies program
introduced a new component, 2 Step in
the Classroom, jointly created by the Blue
Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana
Foundation and the Louisiana State
University AgCenter. Children from
kindergarten through fifth grade have fun
while learning about physical activity and
nutrition, all with a Louisiana flair. Red
Bean and the Brown Rice Twins guide
children and their teachers through the
lessons, reinforcing state agriculture and
www.ourhomelouisiana.org
cuisine, while engaging children with
examples relevant to where they live,
learn and play. The lessons also adhere
to Common Core standards and gradelevel expectations to make them easier
for teachers to implement. In spring
2013, 2 Step in the Classroom was
launched as a pilot program, resulting
in a 7 percent increase in step counts
for second, third and fourth graders. It was fully implemented in fall 2013.
32
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts
Playworks
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of
Massachusetts (BCBSMA) is
addressing Massachusetts’ childhood
obesity epidemic and increasing
physical activity is widely discussed as
an important method for tackling this
problem. But an overlooked opportunity
for increasing daily physical activity exists
at every school: on the playground at
recess. In too many public elementary
schools recess, however, has become
the most concentrated time of conflicts,
bullying and discipline issues.
For the past four years, BCBSMA has
partnered with Playworks, a unique
nonprofit that is leveraging recess to
increase physical activity and improve
the school climate. Playworks is the only
organization in the country to send welltrained, full-time program coordinators,
called coaches, into low-income schools
to become part of the community
through play. Playworks creates a place
for every kid on the playground — a place
where every kid belongs, plays hard,
cheers loud and gives high fives with joy.
Playworks schools have less bullying,
students feel safer at school and children
are engaged in more vigorous physical
activity. Playworks Massachusetts
was launched in 2006 and now serves
15,000 students in 33 schools.
BCBSMA associates high five at recess.
This collaborative relationship began
with the sponsorship of a corporate
kickball challenge. It has grown to
include BlueCrew volunteers helping
to run monthly recess at the Dever
Elementary School in Dorchester,
Massachusetts. Additionally, a team
of more than 60 volunteers annually
enhances and beautifies the playground
during BCBSMA’s companywide
service day. BCBSMA also donated
winter essentials so Playworks
students can get outside year-round,
mentored Playworks students and
Playworks junior coaches, and partnered
with Playworks leaders through its
skills-based volunteer program.
www.bluecrossma.com
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33
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Breakfast in the Classroom
Fuel for learning.
Health for life.
Obesity rates are a significant health
concern in Michigan and nationwide;
obesity leads to health challenges with
diseases such as diabetes and heart
disease. Blue Cross Blue Shield of
Michigan (BCBSM) has taken this
challenge head on, leading efforts
to improve overall health across the
state — in schools, organizations and
communities — and at all ages.
When students start their day off right
with a nutritious breakfast, they are
better prepared to learn and improve their
chances for success in the classroom.
That’s why state Superintendent
Mike Flanagan issued a challenge to
all Michigan schools: Raise breakfast
participation to at least 60 percent of
www.bcbsm.com
lunch participation rates by moving
breakfast into the classroom. To help
schools meet that goal, BCBSM and
United Dairy Industry of Michigan teamed
up to provide support to 75 schools
across the state to start, grow or sustain
a breakfast in the classroom program.
Schools receiving the grant responded
by customizing their breakfast service
to meet their individual needs — graband-go breakfasts, breakfasts in the
classroom, breakfast vending machines,
breakfasts on the bus and more.
The benefits for students have been
outstanding. Breakfast is now part of the
school day, with 35,000 more students
starting their day with a healthy meal.
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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota Foundation
Public Libraries for Health
Participants in Public Libraries for Health work
together to learn healthy food options.
As part of its health equity work,
the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of
Minnesota Foundation developed a
program, in collaboration with public
libraries, called Public Libraries for
Health. This program is part of a larger
health equity initiative that seeks
to ensure that all Minnesotans can
reach their full health potential.
In late 2012, the Foundation awarded four
Minnesota libraries grants for projects
that promoted health equity in their
communities. The libraries worked in
collaboration with other area nonprofits
to develop library-based projects that
engaged low-income communities
and communities of color to improve
health, build employment skills, increase
educational opportunities and promote
social connections and family support.
For example, Austin Public Library held
40 cooking classes in a year that taught
400 people how to prepare healthy
meals. The library conducted special
outreach to the Latino community, as
well as to HeadStart parents, English
language learners, new immigrants
and special needs adults. Participants
learned how to use the library to find
health information, and the library also
hosted an herb garden workshop.
Based on the success of the first
year, the Foundation provided
financial support to three additional
Minnesota libraries. These grants
were used to develop health insurance
enrollment and literacy programs,
attract more low-income patrons,
and enhance services to transitional
housing and homeless patrons.
The Foundation currently is
collaborating with all the library
grantees to create a toolkit to help
libraries across the country replicate
the program in their communities.
www.bcbsmnfoundation.org
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35
Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi Foundation
Laurel Police Department Healthy Heroes Initiative
Members of the Laurel Police Department
encourage students to make healthy food choices.
Funded through a grant from the Blue
Cross & Blue Shield of Mississippi
Foundation, the Healthy Heroes
initiative aims to improve health and
quality of life among members of
the police force, as well as educate
students on the importance of healthy
behaviors. This project includes a
program focusing on healthy lifestyles,
community-sponsored walks, and a
children’s Healthy Heroes initiative.
Highlights of the program include
biometric screenings among members
of the police department, monthly
children’s fitness walks and officer
visits to area schools. Employees of
the police department have access to
an onsite fitness center 24 hours a day
and are encouraged to exercise one
hour per week on company time.
“The Laurel Police Department holds
firm that healthy lifestyle practices
have a direct impact on performance,
not only in law enforcement, but in the
www.bcbsms.com
classroom,” said Officer Doug Dickerson
of the Laurel Police Department. “As
community leaders, officers are taking
the Healthy Heroes nutrition and exercise
program to elementary school students
and encouraging them to adopt good
health and wellness practices.”
Police officers visit local elementary
schools monthly to teach kids
the value of making healthy food
choices, as well as leading them in
fun physical activity opportunities.
“This is an exciting and unique
opportunity for the Laurel Police
Department to lead by example
and extend their role as community
leaders,” said Sheila Grogan, executive
director, Blue Cross & Blue Shield of
Mississippi Foundation. “With police
officers as community role models,
we expect this initiative will further
encourage children to adopt the
healthy habits they are learning.”
36
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana
Governor’s Cup
In 2013, Blue Cross and Blue Shield
of Montana (BCMSMT) celebrated
the 40th anniversary of its Governor’s
Cup races. The Governor’s Cup is
Montana’s premier running event, with
a marathon, half-marathon, 10K, 5K
and 1-mile fun run. The Governor’s Cup
marathon is home to the fastest-ever
men’s and women’s times recorded
on Montana soil. In 2013, Heather
Lieberg, of Helena, Montana, set
the women’s record in 2:45.59. Jim
Hatcher set the men’s record in 1985
in 2:20:35. Last year BCBSMT had
the marathon course certified as an
official Boston Marathon Qualifier.
Each year between 4,000 and 5,000
runners descend upon Helena (where
BCBSMT is headquartered) for this
fast, scenic, affordable and top-notch
event. There is a significant focus on
health, wellness and getting in the best
shape of one’s life. The event caters
to the elite runner as well as families
and children who just want a fun jaunt
through Helena’s historic downtown.
www.bcbsmt.com
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37
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska
Nebraska Moves!
After successfully piloting Everymove — a Seattle-based start-up specializing in an
innovative Web application that rewards
individuals for active lifestyles — to all
employees, Blue Cross and Blue Shield
of Nebraska launched the Nebraska
Moves! program for its members.
Members translated their fitness activities
into merchandise discounts. In addition
to these rewards, BCBSNE donated $1 to
a charity every time members reached a
fitness milestone, also referred to as an
“Active Day” bonus. Donations went to
the members’ choices of the American
Lung Association, Leukemia & Lymphoma
Association, March of Dimes, Multiple
Sclerosis Society or Susan G. Komen.
www.nebraskablue.com
To promote the Nebraska Moves!
program, BCBSNE created numerous
marketing collateral, including posters,
press releases, flyers and FAQs, and
also promoted it through social media
outlets such as Facebook and Twitter.
BCBSNE also worked with local news
outlets and the participating charities
to generate awareness of the benefits
of participating in Nebraska Moves!.
The Nebraska Moves! program was highly
successful, garnering 919 participants,
80 percent of whom selected a charity.
At the end of the seven-week program,
BCBSNE donated $13,087 to the charities.
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Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota
The Official Sponsor of Recess
Blue Cross Blue Shield of North
Dakota (BCBSND) sponsored and
helped redesign a new indoor play
area that opened at Fargo’s West
Acres Shopping Center in 2013.
BCBSND collaborated with the mall to
renovate and redesign the mall’s indoor
playground, creating a more inviting
and stimulating play environment and
helping young children stay active.
The new Recess West play area is part of BCBSND’s statewide platform
— The Official Sponsor of Recess —
that advocates, promotes and
supports North Dakotans striving
to live healthy lives. The new play
area is part of BCBSND’s efforts
to help encourage children to be
more physically active and to fight
childhood obesity in North Dakota.
www.bcbsnd.com
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39
Premera Blue Cross
Puget Sound Heart and Stroke Walk
In 2013, H.R. Brereton (Gubby) Barlow,
President and CEO of Premera Blue
Cross, served as chair of the American
Heart Association’s (AHA) Puget Sound
Heart and Stroke Walk. In addition to
Barlow’s leadership and a corporate
sponsorship, a team of approximately
500 Premera associates participated in
the walk and raised funds for the cause.
Barlow also mobilized an executive
leadership team which engaged
companies and their associates from
throughout the Puget Sound region.
With the support of more than 10,000
walkers, the AHA was able to raise
more than $1.7 million for the walk.
Since 2009, the AHA has recognized
Premera as a Platinum Fit Friendly
Company, and Premera continues to
promote workplace fitness through
a partnership with the AHA that
www.premera.com
includes development and sponsorship
of the Fit Friendly Worksite Mentor
Program, an offshoot of the AHA’s
Fit Friendly Worksite program.
In this initiative, Premera and other
organizations that have been recognized
by the AHA as a Fit Friendly Worksite
mentor other organizations that are
interested in establishing worksite
wellness programs and applying for
the related recognition. The Fit Friendly
Worksite Mentor Program sponsorship
encompasses support for the regional
Heart Ball, the Go Red for Women
Luncheon, Heart Chase and National
Eating Healthy Day. More than 85
organizations are now recognized
locally for their wellness programs.
H.R. Brereton (Gubby) Barlow, President and CEO
of Premera Blue Cross, served as Chair of the
American Heart Association’s 2013 Puget Sound
Heart and Stroke walk.
40
Regence BlueCross BlueShield
Community Partner Organization
As the cornerstone of corporate
philanthropy work at Regence BlueCross
BlueShield (Regence), the Community
Partner Organization (CPO) program
has provided community nonprofits
with significant financial support —
as well as more than 17,000 hours
of employee volunteer time — since
the program’s inception in 2008.
The CPO program provides support at a
level that allows a nonprofit organization
to strengthen its infrastructure in the
short term, so it may increase its
ability to deliver vital programs and
services in the long term. An example
of that kind of game-changing impact
is illustrated in Regence’s partnership
with the Oregon Food Bank (OFB).
In 2011, Regence funded a three-year
partnership with OFB toward a specific
initiative to strengthen OFB and enhance
its service for both its network of
statewide agencies and the clients it
serves. With Regence’s investment, OFB
was able to conduct a national search for
a new executive director following the
retirement of its former one, automate
its personnel and payroll processing
systems, and add an organizational
intranet and instant messaging system.
The outcomes have far exceeded
OFB’s expectations. As the organization
noted, “Never in a million years
could we envision the impact this
partnership would have on each and
every employee and board member of
Oregon Food Bank.” In fact, based on
the effectiveness of the partnership in
2013, OFB presented Regence with its
Hunger Heroes Leadership Award.
www.regence.com
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41
Triple S Salud
Government Health Plan Health Education Program
During 2013, Triple-S Salud stepped
up its health education program
for Government Health Plan (GHP
or Medicaid) beneficiaries. The
comprehensive initiative is designed
for a population with a high prevalence
of chronic conditions, such as asthma,
diabetes and cardiovascular diseases.
It also focuses on promoting breast
cancer screenings for early detection.
Last year Triple S-Salud health educators
offered more than 5,000 educational
activities, covering the eight GHP
regions. The activities included asthma
family encounters, town hall meetings,
and mammogram clinics. Although the
program just started in 2012, HEDIS
quality indicators have improved.
• Breast cancer screenings —
16.6 percent rise from 2012.
• Cholesterol screenings —
19 percent rise from 2012.
• HbA1C, or glycohemoglobin tests
— 27 percent rise from 2012.
• Blood pressure control — 287 percent
rise in patients who achieved blood
pressure readings below 140/90.
www.ssspr.com
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Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Sponsorship of Health Ways’ Blue Zones Project
Currently, more than two-thirds of
Iowans are either overweight or obese.
If Iowa continues its current trajectory,
one in three will be considered obese
in just a few short years. The cost
of this epidemic to Iowans could be
as much as $1.6 billion by 2018.
The good news is, our citizens control
70 percent of the factors influencing
their health. While there is no silverbullet fix, there are hundreds of things
that we can do to nudge individuals into
making healthier choices. The key is to
use behavioral economics principles
to set up the environments where
people live, work and play so that the
healthy choice is the easy choice.
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield
sponsored Healthways’ Blue Zones
Project® in Iowa as a way to put these
principles into action. As the centerpiece
of Iowa Governor Terry Branstad’s
Healthiest State Initiative — its aim
is to make Iowa the healthiest state
by 2016, as measured by the GallupHealthways Well-Being Index®.
Fifteen communities in Iowa have taken
on this charge and became demonstration
sites. Spencer, Cedar Falls and Mason
City have already earned designation
as a certified Blue Zones Community®.
They accomplished this by implementing
community policy provisions like:
• Grocery stores promoting
healthy food choices.
• Restaurants re-vamping their menus
to provide healthy dining options.
• Employers implementing changes to
create a healthier work environment.
• Schools increasing activity and healthy
food choices.
When environmental changes occur
in these sectors, it is believed the
community will reach a tipping point
where citizens begin to naturally
live better. Soon, Iowa will began
to slow the current trajectory and
save Iowans millions, and maybe
even billions, in health care costs.
www.wellmark.com
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43
BlueCross BlueShield of Western New York
Family Days at the Healthy Zone Fieldhouse
Family Days at the Healthy Zone
Fieldhouse were a series of events
designed to engage BlueCross
BlueShield of Western New York
(BCBSWNY) members and the
community in free, healthy activities
during the winter — a time when
it can be difficult to find affordable,
family-friendly ways to be active.
From January through March 2013,
BCBSWNY hosted five free events
at the practice facility for the Buffalo
Bills. The program leveraged one of the
BCBSWNY corporate sponsorships
to provide fun, healthy activities
that families could participate in
during Buffalo’s coldest months.
www.bcbswny.com
These events featured a number of
interactive games and drills, activities
at the BCBSWNY Healthy Zone Cruiser,
and information about BCBSWNY
wellness programs. Also included were
special appearances from the mascot
of the Buffalo Bills, Billy Buffalo.
The response from BCBSWNY members
and the community, including staff
members who volunteered, was
overwhelmingly positive. Almost
2,000 people attended Family Days
at the Healthy Zone Fieldhouse.
44
Improving Healthcare
Quality and Affordability
Healthcare must be safe, coordinated, evidence-based and
affordable. Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are leaders in
healthcare innovations to ensure that all Americans receive the
high-quality healthcare that they deserve.
46
Improving Healthcare Quality and Safety
Blue Shield of California Foundation
Transforming the Patient Experience
As more and more low-income
Californians gain health insurance
under reform, there is more incentive
than ever for safety net providers to
innovate, evolve, and rethink the way
that they provide care. To help inform
community health centers and gain
an inside look at what underserved
patients think about their healthcare,
Blue Shield of California Foundation
invested in a body of research to
examine the healthcare preferences and
experiences of low-income Californians.
The research findings indicate that
patients want clear information about
their health, close relationships with their
providers, and a say in important medical
decisions. Yet, low-income patients’
satisfaction with their care experience
is still much lower than their higherincome counterparts, with underserved
patients reporting less satisfaction
and more distrust of their providers.
To help community health centers
reduce income-related disparities
and improve patient engagement,
the Foundation took three years of
research and boiled it down to 10 clear
approaches. In California, the Foundation
is supporting health centers to test
these strategies, which include teambased care, telemedicine and text
messaging campaigns, e-consultations,
and new partnerships with county and
private hospital systems that expand
their capacity to provide high-quality
care. Effectively leveling the playing
field for low-income Californians across
the entire safety net will depend on
health centers’ ability to successfully
adopt these 10 critical components.
www.blueshieldcafoundation.org
47
47
Capital BlueCross
Hamilton Health Center Capital Campaign
In 2013, Hamilton Health Center, a
health facility serving people with lower
incomes, embarked on a capital campaign
to complete a two-phase project to
expand and provide more medical
services to people in need throughout the greater Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, area.
After setting an aggressive goal to raise
$7 million in one year, Hamilton Health
Center turned to Capital BlueCross,
a community partner that could lead
the campaign, connect with other
community leaders and successfully
reach their goal of raising the necessary
funds to improve access to care.
Hamilton Health Center named board
chairman Bill Lehr as the Capital
Campaign chair and Dave Skerpon, Capital BlueCross vice president of
strategic growth and community relations,
to the Capital Campaign team. Under
www.capbluecross.com
the leadership of Capital BlueCross
and with generous contributions from
corporate leaders, the Capital Campaign
exceeded its goal, raising $8.26 million.
The success of the campaign allowed
Hamilton Health Center to build on
phase one of its project, which included
the expansion of medical and dental
services, by increasing the facility space
from 50,000 to 84,000 square feet.
Hamilton Health Center patients
can benefit from new and expanded
services such as pediatric rooms,
social services, integrated behavioral
health services, and expanded HIV/
AIDS and hepatitis C programs. There
is also plenty of room for administrative
support, training, board meetings, and
growth of other medical services, such
as optometry/ophthalmology and
physical therapy.
48
Highmark Foundation
Patient Navigation Pilot Program
The Highmark Foundation Patient
Navigation Pilot Program is a one-year
collaboration between, Accenture LLC,
the Harold P. Freeman Patient Navigation
Institute in New York and Gateway
Health. The program uses nonclinical,
cost-effective patient navigators to
help underserved, underinsured and
uninsured individuals access health
care services and understand their
healthcare needs, and it works! By
removing cultural, logistical, financial
and provider barriers to timely quality
care, the program improved patient
outcomes by connecting patients to
primary care and appropriate resources. Two community navigators
were placed in each of the three
southwestern Pennsylvania hospitals
participating in the program:
• Allegheny Valley Hospital — Health
literacy regarding colon cancer
improved through education at 63
community and hospital events and
produced an impressive 32 percent
return rate for at-home diagnostic
kits used to detect colon cancer
(compared with a national average
return rate of 15 percent), resulting
in 118 additional hospital laboratory
diagnostic colorectal screenings
and 5,900 people impacted.
• Saint Vincent Hospital — Patient
navigators have referred 185 “super
utilizers” to a Federally Qualified
Health Center, Community Health
Net, in Erie, Pennsylvania, for nonemergent emergency room visits.
There are, on average, 8.6 navigation
interactions per patient. The results of
their efforts have shown a 41 percent
decrease in Level 1 non-emergent
visits in the pilot-targeted population
with greater than three emergency
department visits within 12 months.
• Jameson Health System — The
patient navigation team developed
structured patient discharge plans that
have resulted in lower readmission
rates for cardiothoracic disease
states. The program resulted in
44 fewer readmissions at a cost
of care reduction of $267,000 in
four diagnosis related groups.
www.highmarkfoundation.org
49
49
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Health Foundation
Improving Patient Safety
The BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
Health Foundation (THF) is working to
improve the quality of care and safety for
patients throughout the state. Through
education and awareness campaigns,
hospitals are seeing a direct impact in
regards to lower infection rates and less
instances of surgery complications.
The THF has supported the Tennessee
Surgical Quality Improvement
Program (TSQIP) since 2008. TSQIP
partners with a “surgical champion”
at hospitals across the state. These
champions are dedicated to improving
their hospital’s safety statistics.
The Tennessee Center for Patient
Safety (TCPS) program (also supported
by the THF) specifically aims to
www.bcbst.com/why-bcbst/about-us/
corporate-responsibility/tennesseehealth-foundation
protect the patient’s right to quality
and safe care. TCPS has raised the
bar on patient care in Tennessee.
Both TSQIP and TCPS programs focus
on ensuring that patients receive
quality care and surgeons provide a
strict standard of care and safety with
each interaction and procedure.
Improvements in both patient safety
and quality of care continue to be an
ongoing need. Programs like these,
implemented by the Tennessee Hospital
Association and the Tennessee Medical
Association, help to address the
recurring issues and work to improve
processes and procedures to ensure
the best care possible for patients.
Index:
Blue Cross and Blue Shield
of Alabama.....22
of Louisiana Foundation.....31
Blue Cross Blue Shield
of North Dakota.....38
of Arizona.....24
CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield.....9
Regence....40
of Massachusetts.....32
Blue Cross of Northeastern
Pennsylvania.....13
of Michigan.....33
Capital BlueCross.....47
Blue & You Foundation
for a Healthier Arkansas.....8
Blue Shield of California
Foundation.....46
Florida Blue
Florida Blue
/
Foundation.....25
Anthem Foundation, Anthem Blue
Cross Foundation, Anthem Blue Cross
and Blue Shield Foundation, Empire
BlueCross BlueShield Foundation,
Empire BlueCross Foundation,
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia
Foundation.....23
Hawaii Medical Service
Association Foundation.....11
Blue Cross of Idaho Foundation
for Health.....28
of Minnesota Foundation.....34
Blue Cross & Blue Shield
of Mississippi Foundation.....35
of Kansas City.....30
of Montana.....36
of Nebraska.....37
Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield
of New Jersey.....27
Health Care Service Corporation.....26
BlueCross BlueShield
of Western New York.....43
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield.....42
Excellus Blue Cross Blue Shield.....10
of Kansas.....12
of North Carolina.....14
Highmark Foundation.....48
Independence Blue Cross.....29
Triple-S Salud....41
of Rhode Island.....15
of South Carolina Foundation.....16
of Tennessee Foundation.....49
of Vermont...17
Premera Blue Cross.....39
of Wyoming.....18

HEALTH - Blue Cross Blue Shield

Transcription

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