Blue Cross Blue Shield Association

Don't miss this opportunity to attend the Project Management Institute Chicagoland chapter's 13th Annual PM Symposium: Project Power Unleashed

Retrieved on: 
Monday, September 25, 2023

PALATINE, Ill., Sept. 25, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- PM Symposium offers attendees an all-day interactive learning experience. Presenters will share the personal experiences, insights, and best practices that enabled them to deliver exceptional client value and successful project outcomes. You'll learn innovative ways to approach problems, grow your understanding of the latest trends and how they impact your projects, and gain skills to elevate your performance.

Key Points: 
  • Join us at our 13th Annual PM Symposium to learn what it takes to be a next-generation Project, Program, or Portfolio Management leader.
  • This PMI Chicagoland chapter signature event occurs Friday, October 6, 2023 (7:30 AM- 4:00 PM CDT).
  • Participants can earn up to 15 PDUs representing all areas of the PMI Talent Triangle® by participating in this Symposium and six other on-demand sessions.
  • Presenters will share the personal experiences, insights, and best practices that enabled them to deliver exceptional client value and successful project outcomes.

AM Best Affirms Credit Ratings of Highmark Inc. and Its Subsidiaries

Retrieved on: 
Friday, September 22, 2023

AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICRs) of “a+” (Excellent) of Highmark Inc. (Highmark) (Camp Hill, PA) and its life/health (L/H) subsidiaries, collectively known as Highmark Inc. Group.

Key Points: 
  • AM Best has affirmed the Financial Strength Rating (FSR) of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings (Long-Term ICRs) of “a+” (Excellent) of Highmark Inc. (Highmark) (Camp Hill, PA) and its life/health (L/H) subsidiaries, collectively known as Highmark Inc. Group.
  • Lastly, AM Best has affirmed the Long-Term Issue Credit Rating (Long-Term IR) of “a” (Excellent) of Highmark’s existing senior unsecured notes.
  • 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 .

Swift Medical’s Growth Continues with Appointment of Drew Narayan as SVP of Sales and Marketing

Retrieved on: 
Tuesday, September 19, 2023

Narayan is a seasoned healthcare professional with over 20 years of experience successfully leading commercial functions across the healthcare continuum, building teams across sales, marketing and business development functions.

Key Points: 
  • Narayan is a seasoned healthcare professional with over 20 years of experience successfully leading commercial functions across the healthcare continuum, building teams across sales, marketing and business development functions.
  • Most recently, Narayan served as the Chief Commercial Officer for PeriGen, Inc., the global leader in AI-powered perinatal care solutions and doubled the company’s sales to nearly $15M in four years.
  • “I am honored to welcome Drew to the Swift team and thrilled to work closely with him as we continue to accelerate Swift’s impact in new markets,” said Neil Sharma, Chief Commercial Officer at Swift.
  • “Drew brings the energy and urgency needed to drive meaningful change for our business and the patients and providers we serve.”
    “Swift’s innovative technology and dedicated workforce has the power to transform wound care and help the patients most in need,” said Drew Narayan, SVP of Sales and Marketing at Swift.

Kaiser Permanente Announces New Health Plan Leadership

Retrieved on: 
Friday, September 22, 2023

OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Brandon Cuevas has been selected as executive vice president for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan with national accountability for health plan strategy, capabilities, and operations, effective October 1, 2023. Cuevas' responsibilities will span consolidated operations for the organization's 8 regional health plans covering 12.7 million members with revenues of $95.4 billion, managing a national infrastructure committed to the performance, growth, and expansion of value-based care within Kaiser Permanente's existing markets and beyond. 

Key Points: 
  • Brandon Cuevas has been named EVP for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, and Tom Curtin has been promoted to SVP, Commercial Group Business
    OAKLAND, Calif., Sept. 22, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Brandon Cuevas has been selected as executive vice president for Kaiser Foundation Health Plan with national accountability for health plan strategy, capabilities, and operations, effective October 1, 2023.
  • As executive vice president, Cuevas will oversee all health plan capabilities including sales, account management, product, pricing, underwriting, forecasting, provider relations and network analytics, marketing and other health plan services.
  • He brings expert health plan leadership with deep customer, market, and line of business experience.
  • Before joining Kaiser Permanente, Curtin held sales and marketing leadership roles at the Segal Co., Group Health, Inc., CIGNA, HealthSource, and Blue Cross Blue Shield in Massachusetts.

BLUE CROSS® BLUE SHIELD® OF MICHIGAN RECOGNIZES ARROW STRATEGIES WITH SUPPLIER CHAMPION AWARD

Retrieved on: 
Monday, September 18, 2023

ROYAL OAK, Mich., Sept. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross® Blue Shield® of Michigan announced at their eighteenth (18th) Annual Supplier Diversity Achievement Awards Ceremony that Arrow Strategies had won the Supplier Champion Award.

Key Points: 
  • ROYAL OAK, Mich., Sept. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross® Blue Shield® of Michigan announced at their eighteenth (18th) Annual Supplier Diversity Achievement Awards Ceremony that Arrow Strategies had won the Supplier Champion Award.
  • This award is given to a Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Supplier in recognition of their contributions to Blue Cross' or Blue Cross subsidiary corporate goals and objectives.
  • "We have had the pleasure of supporting Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan for the past twenty-one years" said Tom Picot, Arrow Strategies president.
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF MASSACHUSETTS NAMED ONE OF TOP HEALTH PLANS IN COUNTRY FOR QUALITY AND EXPERIENCE

Retrieved on: 
Monday, September 18, 2023

BOSTON, Sept. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (Blue Cross) once again has been named one of the top health plans in the country, according to the nation's authority on health plan quality.

Key Points: 
  • BOSTON, Sept. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (Blue Cross) once again has been named one of the top health plans in the country, according to the nation's authority on health plan quality.
  • The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) awarded Blue Cross' Commercial HMO/POS plan and Commercial PPO plan 4.5 out of 5 stars,(1) putting the not-for-profit health plan in the top 10% of commercial health plans in the country for clinical quality and member experience.
  • "We're delighted to be recognized as a top health plan in the country for the eighth straight year," said Blue Cross President and CEO Sarah Iselin.
  • NCQA rated over 1,000 health plans for their:
    Effectiveness of wellness and prevention efforts, including immunizations and cancer screenings
    Blue Cross also earned an "Accredited" rating from NCQA.

Daniel J. Loepp, President and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, chooses to retire at the end of 2024 after more than 20 years of service

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 14, 2023

During Mr. Loepp's tenure as CEO, BCBSM revenue more than doubled – from $15.3 billion in 2005 to $32.8 billion in 2022.

Key Points: 
  • During Mr. Loepp's tenure as CEO, BCBSM revenue more than doubled – from $15.3 billion in 2005 to $32.8 billion in 2022.
  • In 2023, Mr. Loepp led efforts by BCBSM and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont to formally affiliate.
  • Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit mutual insurance company, provides health benefits to nearly 5.2 million members.
  • BCBSM is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

DentaQuest Donates $45,000 to Michigan Organizations Increasing Oral Health Care Access

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 14, 2023

BOSTON, Sept. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- DentaQuest, part of Sun Life U.S., today announced a series of contributions to Michigan nonprofits to help increase oral health care access and education among underserved communities. DentaQuest provides dental benefits to more than 2 million people across Michigan, through state-based Medicaid and Medicare programs, as well as individual and commercial plans.

Key Points: 
  • Michigan Dental Society to increase access to oral health care across the state.
  • "By supporting local, community-based organizations and academic institutions that are committed to increasing access to oral health care and new workforce pathways, we're investing in the future of health care in Michigan and improving oral health outcomes for all."
  • DentaQuest's donation to Cherry Health Foundation will be applied to the organization's Patient Care Fund, which will help provide oral health care services, including screenings, cleanings, sealants, implants and dentures to eligible patients.
  • Today's announcement is DentaQuest's latest investment in organizations increasing oral health care access in Michigan.

Costs for Common Health Care Procedures Significantly Higher When Performed in Hospital Outpatient Departments

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 14, 2023

WASHINGTON, Sept. 14, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- When common medical procedures were performed in a hospital outpatient department (HOPD) rather than a doctor's office, costs were substantially higher according to a national analysis of tens of millions of claims. The analysis, released by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), shows the costs for prevalent procedures like mammograms or colonoscopies were consistently higher — as much as 58% more expensive — when performed in HOPD settings. These higher hospital prices mean higher costs to consumers.

Key Points: 
  • These higher hospital prices mean higher costs to consumers.
  • To examine the cost disparities at different health care locations, Blue Health Intelligence® analyzed deidentified claims data for six common, everyday outpatient procedures, covering 133 million Blue Cross and Blue Shield members from 2017 through 2022.
  • Price differences in 2022 for common procedures based on setting were:
    Mammograms cost 32% more in an HOPD than in a doctor's office.
  • These commonsense solutions address the root causes of rising health care costs and prioritize the needs of patients," continued Merritt.

Introducing the XRP Healthcare Decentralized Mobile Wallet: Empowering Users with Unparalleled Control, Savings, and Rewards

Retrieved on: 
Thursday, September 14, 2023

This feature comes with unlimited use, ensuring that users can save on their healthcare expenses without limitations.

Key Points: 
  • This feature comes with unlimited use, ensuring that users can save on their healthcare expenses without limitations.
  • The XRPH Wallet makes it effortless for users to monitor their transactions on the XRP Ledger.
  • A Glimpse into the Future: Decentralized Marketplace Connectivity
    The XRPH Wallet is also poised to connect XRP Healthcare's forthcoming decentralized marketplace.
  • Business Development & Co-founder of XRP Healthcare Laban Roomes added:
    "Today marks an important milestone for XRP Healthcare as we proudly unveil our XRPH decentralized Mobile wallet.