Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas taps tech-enabled pregnancy platforms to improve access for Texas women

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 19, 2023
Knowledge, Education, Stillbirth, Health, Pregnancy, Obesity, Huston–Tillotson University, Obstetrics, Doctor of Philosophy, Research, Infant, Death, Health education, Mother, Hypertension, Special, University, Consultant, Blue Shield, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Woman, Lactation, Patient, Blue Cross, Birth control, Nursing, Central Texas, MD

RICHARDSON, Texas, Oct. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) is collaborating with two tech-based platforms, Delfina and InovCares, as part of its expanded Special Beginnings® initiative to improve maternal and infant health outcomes across Texas. Using funding from BCBSTX, the data platforms will help identify early high-risk pregnancy interventions, implement remote monitoring innovations and bridge gaps in care for women identified as candidates by their doctors.

Key Points: 
  • Using funding from BCBSTX, the data platforms will help identify early high-risk pregnancy interventions, implement remote monitoring innovations and bridge gaps in care for women identified as candidates by their doctors.
  • "It's important to find innovative solutions that scale and support providers and mothers with the latest knowledge for the best care."
  • Delfina will focus on supporting select providers in Central Texas and Houston regions, and InovCares will focus on Dallas-Ft. Worth and Rio Grande Valley regions.
  • "We are eager to bring our perspective as clinicians and technology innovators to serve pregnant moms and improve their outcomes."

OZ Digital Consulting's Dynamic New SVP of Digital Solutions is Focused on Future

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 19, 2023
OZ, Insurance, ABB, Government, Economics, Digital Solutions, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, Microsoft, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Aflac, Ivan Bakanov, Organization, Amazon Web Services, Doctor of Philosophy, DevOps, Creativity, Cigna, Liberty Mutual, Senior, Artificial intelligence, Pfizer, Growth, SAP, Machine learning, AWS, Culture, Lowe's Global Technology Center, Digital Consulting Institute, Amazon, IBM, Management, Automation

"It's very exciting to introduce such a dynamic talent to the OZ leadership team," OZ Chief Solutions Officer Emmanuel Ramos said.

Key Points: 
  • "It's very exciting to introduce such a dynamic talent to the OZ leadership team," OZ Chief Solutions Officer Emmanuel Ramos said.
  • "Steve brings a wealth of experience in strategic technology leadership and business growth, with a focus on driving digital transformation.
  • "I am thrilled to join OZ because of the company's unwavering commitment to innovation and excellence," Bakanov says.
  • To learn more about the wide range of digital consulting services, visit our website .

Tampa General Hospital Earns Region's Only Accreditation as a Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology

Retrieved on: 
Wednesday, October 18, 2023
TGH, Tampa General Hospital, Education, Health, Pain, Physician, Obstetrics, Center of excellence, Oncology nursing, Obstetrics and gynaecology, Certification, Accreditation, Infection, Trauma, News, Division, Bleeding, Surgeon, Risk, SRC, Partnership, Hospital, Women's Institute, U.S. News & World Report, Nursing, Patient safety, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Gynaecology, Newsweek

TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tampa General Hospital (TGH) today announced its accreditation as a Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology through the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC), a nonprofit, patient safety organization that develops and administers best-in-class accreditation programs for hospitals, freestanding outpatient facilities and medical professionals throughout the world.

Key Points: 
  • TAMPA, Fla., Oct. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Tampa General Hospital (TGH) today announced its accreditation as a Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology through the Surgical Review Corporation (SRC), a nonprofit, patient safety organization that develops and administers best-in-class accreditation programs for hospitals, freestanding outpatient facilities and medical professionals throughout the world.
  • As a program of the Surgical Review Corporation, the Center of Excellence in Minimally Invasive Gynecology identifies surgeons and facilities worldwide who perform minimally invasive gynecological procedures and achieve defined standards for patient safety and care quality.
  • In 2022, Tampa General Hospital received accreditation as a Center of Excellence in Robotic-Assisted Surgery from the Surgical Review Corporation.
  • Tampa General is the highest-ranked hospital in Florida and the ninth highest-ranked hospital in the United States for Obstetrics & Gynecology by U.S. News & World Report for 2023-2024 .

Consumer Satisfaction With Health Insurance Hits Record High, While Nonhospital Care Joins Index Leaders, ACSI Data Show

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Professional Services, Health, Hospitals, Insurance, Other Health, Health Insurance, General Health, Traveler, Kaiser Permanente, Hospital, COVID-19, City centre, Cigna, MassMutual, Chubb, AIG, University, Michigan State University, USAA, Index, Humana, American Customer Satisfaction Index, MetLife, Aetna, The Guardian Life Insurance Company of America, State Farm, Marketing, Federation, Policy, Associate, ACSI, P&C, Liberty Mutual, UnitedHealth Group, Farmer, Lincoln National Corporation, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Centene Corporation, Allstate, Health insurance, Mobile phone, New York Life Insurance Company, American Family, Prudential, GEICO

Health insurance satisfaction surges 4% to a record-high score of 76 (out of 100), with customer engagement points like call centers and websites improving 5% year over year, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI ® ) Insurance and Health Care Study 2022-2023 .

Key Points: 
  • Health insurance satisfaction surges 4% to a record-high score of 76 (out of 100), with customer engagement points like call centers and websites improving 5% year over year, according to the American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI ® ) Insurance and Health Care Study 2022-2023 .
  • Health insurers experience widespread policyholder satisfaction gains, with all but one provider upping their ACSI score.
  • Satisfaction with hospitals rises too, driven by improved outpatient care, which climbs 5% to an ACSI score of 81.
  • The ACSI Insurance and Health Care Study 2022-2023 is based on interviews with 12,849 customers, chosen at random and contacted via email between October 2022 and September 2023.

BLUE CROSS ANNOUNCES NEW FLEX CARD LOADED WITH ADDITIONAL SAVINGS THAT LETS MEMBERS CHOOSE THE BENEFITS THAT ARE RIGHT FOR THEM

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 17, 2023
Carbon, SHINE, Forest Law Enforcement and Governance Program, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, Crown, SQM, Medicare Part D, Weight loss, Hearing, Blue Cross, Occupational therapy, Anatomical pathology, Health, HMO, Medicare Advantage, PPO, TTY, Retail, CMS, Insomnia, Nutritionist, Depression, Medicare (United States), Certification, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Disability, Gender identity, Health insurance, Life insurance, Medicare

BOSTON, Oct. 17, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- For 2024, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (Blue Cross) has added even more enhanced benefits to its popular PPO and HMO Medicare Advantage plans, adding flexibility that makes it easier for members to choose the benefits that are right for them. 

Key Points: 
  • Blue Cross also announced the addition of more primary care providers to its Medicare network, offering members convenient and timely access to primary care.
  • A Blue Cross Medex or dental plan can be selected any time of the year.
  • Blue Cross' Medicare PPO plan provides seniors access to both in- and out-of-network providers with no referrals required.
  • SQM is not affiliated with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts or CMS, nor is the award given or endorsed by Medicare.

Empire BlueCross BlueShield Announces Impact of Its 118 Back-to-School Programs In 2023

Retrieved on: 
Monday, October 16, 2023
Professional Services, Family, Philanthropy, Consumer, Primary, Secondary, Education, Health Insurance, Children, Insurance, Other Philanthropy, Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG), Health, Government, Parent, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, School, Student, Empire, Literacy, Organization, Creativity, Organic, Achievement Medal, Local, Health equity, Child, Elevance Health, Nursing

Empire BlueCross BlueShield (Empire), the largest health insurer in New York, made a significant impact on students and families through its 2023 Back-to-School Program.

Key Points: 
  • Empire BlueCross BlueShield (Empire), the largest health insurer in New York, made a significant impact on students and families through its 2023 Back-to-School Program.
  • More than 14,600 backpacks filled with essential school supplies were distributed to students, offering support to families facing economic challenges amid rising costs and inflation.
  • These supplies not only meet students’ immediate needs but also help to ensure equal access to essential resources, promoting educational equity.
  • “Empire’s Back-to-School programs help ensure every child, regardless of economic background, has access to the resources and supplies necessary for academic success,” said Dr. Mark Levy, President and CEO, Empire BlueCross BlueShield HealthPlus.

AM Best Upgrades Credit Ratings of Health Care Service Corporation and Its Subsidiaries

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, October 12, 2023
Insurance, Professional Services, AM Best, Health Care Service Corporation, HCSC, Credit, Risk management, FHLB, Medicaid, Federal Home Loan Banks, AM, Medicare Advantage, EBIT, Tax, Medicare, Growth, FSR, Superior, Pharmacy, News, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, ALL, Health insurance

The rating upgrades reflect HCSC’s well-established geographic diversity, as the company operates Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in five states.

Key Points: 
  • The rating upgrades reflect HCSC’s well-established geographic diversity, as the company operates Blue Cross Blue Shield plans in five states.
  • Through its investment in Collective Health, HCSC delivers a digital platform to help employers navigate the evolving health care ecosystem.
  • For additional information regarding the use and limitations of Credit Rating opinions, please view Guide to Best's Credit Ratings .
  • For information on the proper use of Best’s Credit Ratings, Best’s Performance Assessments, Best’s Preliminary Credit Assessments and AM Best press releases, please view Guide to Proper Use of Best’s Ratings & Assessments .

Medicaid Plans Core Administrative Expense Growth Decelerates in 2022

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, October 10, 2023
Managed Care, General Health, Professional Services, Consumer, Healthcare Reform, Health Insurance, Other Consumer, Practice Management, Finance, Consulting, Health, Public Policy, Government, Medicaid, Comprehensive, Medicare, PMPM, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Account, Growth, Financial management, Core, Health insurance, Health care

Core expenses exclude the plans’ Sales and Marketing expense clusters.

Key Points: 
  • Core expenses exclude the plans’ Sales and Marketing expense clusters.
  • Navigator excerpts from the 2023 Medicaid edition of Sherlock Benchmarks which analyzes and reports on the in-depth surveys of 15 Medicaid plans that collectively served 15.5 million members with Comprehensive products.
  • With other universes, the Sherlock Benchmarks universes analyze the administrative costs of plans serving 17% of all Medicaid beneficiaries.
  • Besides the Medicaid universe, others include Blue Cross Blue Shield plans, Independent/Provider-Sponsored plans and Medicare plans.

Florida Blue Foundation announces $3.1 million in grants to 10 organizations to enhance mental health support

Retrieved on: 
Monday, October 16, 2023
Acute stress disorder, Parent, CBH, Family, Student, Park, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Southeastern University (Florida), Clinical mental health counseling, Case management, Organization, County, Caregiver, Blue Cross, Employment, Infant, Winter Haven Hospital, Piracy, Better, Mental health, Mental, CCCS, Education, GuideWell, Continuing education, Workforce, Trauma, BCBS, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, University of Florida Center for African Studies, Growth, CE, Youth Mental Health Protection Act, Blue Shield, African Americans, Florida Association of Band Directors, Child, Clinical social work, Credit Accumulation and Transfer Scheme, Nova Southeastern University College of Psychology, Nursing, Toy, Jacksonville University

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Oct. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Blue Foundation, the philanthropic affiliate for the state's Blue Cross Blue Shield plan, announced a $3.1 million investment to enhance mental health for children, teens, families and older adults.

Key Points: 
  • Geraghty made the announcement in Tampa just before hosting a community conversation on youth mental health with area nonprofit organizations, mental health experts and teens.
  • Over the past four years, Florida Blue Foundation has awarded 51 grants totaling $16.5 million to nonprofit organizations addressing mental health needs in Florida.
  • The 10 organizations receiving grants include:
    AMIkids, Inc. (Tampa Bay) - The Youth Mental Health First Aid (YMHFA) initiative provides preventative youth mental health education throughout Florida.
  • Together with the Florida Association for Infant Mental Health , the Florida Center will advance mental well-being for Florida's young children and their families by helping mental health clinicians earn the credential: Endorsement for Culturally Relevant, Relationship-Focused Practice Promoting Infant and Early Childhood Mental Health®.

InfoBionic Secures Series D Funding to Catalyze Growth of its New MoMe® ARC Virtual Telemetry Solution

Retrieved on: 
Monday, October 16, 2023
Diagnosis, Mayo Clinic, Kardia, Economics, Medicine, SII, Zaffre, FDA, Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, Patient, Arrhythmia, Medical device

WALTHAM, Mass., Oct. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- InfoBionic, a digital health company focused on virtual telemetry and cardiac remote patient monitoring, announces the initial closing of its Series D financing round to support continued domestic growth and international expansion of its newly FDA approved MoMe® ARC system for virtual telemetry and remote wireless monitoring and detection of cardiac arrhythmias. "We're very proud of our role in the evolving transformation of virtual telemetry for remote cardiac monitoring and we are excited at the prospects of what we can accomplish in this next phase of virtual care," said Stuart Long, CEO of InfoBionic, the leading digital health company that created the MoMe® ARC remote cardiac monitoring platform. The series D funding round includes participation by Security International Investments (SII), Mayo Clinic and Excel Venture Management while distinguished existing investors like Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA (Zaffre Investments), Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas and Safeguard Scientifics remain actively involved. "We are pleased by the completion of this latest round which was based on the strong market traction of our proprietary MoMe® Kardia system," noted Long.

Key Points: 
  • InfoBionic, the virtual telemetry company focused on efficiency and economics of cardiac remote patient monitoring, announces initial closing of Series D funding to support continued commercial expansion of its MoMe® ARC system for remote, wireless monitoring and diagnosis of cardiac arrhythmias.
  • The financing round includes participation by Security International Investments (SII), Mayo Clinic and Excel Venture Management.
  • WALTHAM, Mass., Oct. 16, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- InfoBionic, a digital health company focused on virtual telemetry and cardiac remote patient monitoring, announces the initial closing of its Series D financing round to support continued domestic growth and international expansion of its newly FDA approved MoMe® ARC system for virtual telemetry and remote wireless monitoring and detection of cardiac arrhythmias.
  • "We are pleased by the completion of this latest round which was based on the strong market traction of our proprietary MoMe® Kardia system," noted Long.