Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts' Radiology Program Delivers Low Cost, High Quality
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts announced its high tech radiology (HTR) management program reduced medical expenses by an estimated $28 million during 2007, its second full year of operations. Providers in the HTR program saw their radiology utilization trends fall from double digits to roughly 4% in 2007.

In 2005, BCBSMA partnered with American Imaging Management (AIM) to implement the HTR program. Over the past two years the company has used the innovative design to work with providers to ensure a patient receives necessary radiology tests and reduce the chance that members would be exposed to subsequent unnecessary diagnostic care.

BCBSMA hits Globe's "Top Places to Work" list
For being a Massachusetts business that excels at "creating a dynamic, supportive, and inclusive workplace," BCBSMA has earned a spot on the Boston Globe's "Top 100 Places to Work" list. The only health plan to make the list, the company ranks 12th out of 25 in the "large employer" category and was named one of the top five ranked health care organizations. BCBSMA credited its employees for creating for making the company one of the Globe’s Top 100 Places to Work in the state.

Click here to read the Globe story and see the complete Top 100 list, and click here to see the BCBSMA advertisement about the award that appeared in Globe.

BCBSMA Ranks in the Top 10 of America's Best Health Plans...again!
Once again, the America's Best Health Plans 2008 report points to the high quality of health care available in Massachusetts.

U.S. News & World Report and The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) released its annual national rankings of America's Best Health Plans for 2008.

This year, BCBSMA ranked #9 among all Commercial HMO/POS plans, #4 among all Medicare plans in the nation, and received the honor of the highest-ranking large plan – which includes plans with more than 1,000,000 members in the country. In addition, BCBSMA was named the top-ranked Medicare plan in New England and received the second-highest rating of all Blues plans in the nation. BCBSMA is the only plan in New England to be on the Honor Roll for Medicare and Commercial. The Honor Roll is comprised of the Top 10 Commercial and Top 5 Medicare plans.

BCBSMA to Require e-Prescribing to Qualify for its Physician Incentive Programs
October 28, 2008 - BCBSMA announced it is requiring physicians who prescribe medications to electronically prescribe in order to qualify for any of its physician incentive programs effective January 1, 2011. BCBSMA is introducing this initiative in an effort to continuously improve the quality, affordability, and efficiency of care for its members. The new requirement applies to both primary care physicians and specialists. Currently, 99 percent of primary care physicians in the HMO Blue Network and 78 percent of specialists participate in BCBSMA incentive plans.

The new eRx requirement comes one year before the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) deadline for prescribing without penalty. Believing start-up costs continue to be a challenge for wide-spread adoption of e-Prescribing, BCBSMA plans to help doctors by supporting a number of new licenses in 2009. This helps offset the wait for the e-Prescribing incentive payouts from the CMS which begin in 2010.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Announces Decreased Rates for Medex Products
October 06, 2008 - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) today announced the company has received approval from the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) for its 2009 Medicare Advantage products.  In addition, the Massachusetts Division of Insurance has approved BCBSMA’s 2009 rates for direct-pay Medex® health plans.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Shares Lessons Learned About e-Prescribing at National Conference
October 07, 2008 - As part of an ongoing effort to educate health care professionals about the use of e-prescribing, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) today appeared before health care professionals from across the nation to present a comprehensive analysis of initiatives, results and lessons learned from their ongoing e-Prescribing program.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Appoints Bill Fandrich as Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President
October 8, 2008 - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) today announced the appointment of Bill Fandrich as Chief Information Officer and Senior Vice President. Bringing a wealth of experience in technology leadership for both health care and insurance organizations, Fandrich will now bring his expertise to BCBSMA as he takes on leadership of the organization’s Information Technology division.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of MA Encourages All To Take Steps For Better Health At Work
April 29, 2008 - Hundreds of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) Associates will join thousand of Americans across the country for the second annual National Walk @ Lunch Day on Wednesday, April 30, 2008. Sponsored by Blues Plans across the country, National Walk @ Lunch Day encourages people to take 30 minutes during their lunch hour and go for a walk.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Announces Updated Tiered Network Plans
May 13, 2008 - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) announced today that it has updated its Blue Options tiered provider network plan designs that provide meaningful savings to employers and lower out-of-pocket costs for members who visit a doctor or hospital in a preferred tier.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Files First Quarter 2008 Financial Results
May 15, 2008 - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc. (BCBSMA) and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts HMO Blue, Inc. (BCBSMA HMO Blue) filed statutory first quarter 2008 financial results today, reporting a combined after-tax net loss of $2.2 million. This total is comprised of an after-tax net income of $14.5 million for BCBSMA and a net loss of $16.7 million for BCBSMA HMO Blue.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Files Second Quarter 2008 Financial Results
August 15, 2008 - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc. (BCBSMA) and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts HMO Blue, Inc. (BCBSMA HMO Blue) filed statutory second quarter 2008 financial results today, reporting a combined after-tax net gain of $30.8 million. This total is comprised of an after-tax net income of $16.6 million for BCBSMA and net income of $14.2 million for BCBSMA HMO Blue (see attached fact sheet for details).

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Hails State Action on Preventable Medical Errors
June 18, 2008 - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) applauds today's action by state government to no longer pay for costs associated with 28 serious reportable health care events - also known as "never events." This decision is consistent with BCBSMA's own efforts to improve the quality, safety, and effectiveness of the health care system.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Honors Dana-Farber Cancer Institute With 2nd Annual Health Care Excellence Award
April 14, 2008 - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) announced today that Dana-Farber Cancer Institute has been selected as recipient of its second annual Health Care Excellence Award. The recognition comes with a $100,000 award. The award, which was created to recognize exceptional achievement in improving the safety and effectiveness of health care in Massachusetts, will be presented to Dana-Farber today at a luncheon sponsored by BCBSMA that will bring together local and national leaders to explore the critical elements of increasing health care affordability through improved quality of care.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Signs Agreement To Integrate With Google Health
June 13, 2008 - Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) announced today a partnership with Google Health that will expand options for members who want to create their own Personal Health Record (PHR). BCBSMA is the first health insurance company to sign an agreement to integrate on the Google Health platform. After the integration is complete, BCBSMA members can import their claims data into their Google Health profile safely and securely.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts' Managed Care Plans and PPO Recognized Nationally for Excellence
August 25, 2008 - The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) awarded its highest rating of Excellent Accreditation to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) for the company's managed care products including: HMO Blue, Blue Choice and Medicare HMO Blue.

Patient Safety Study Finds e-Prescribing Prevents Potential Medication Errors
August 1, 2008 - Based on a study supported by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA), researchers estimated that the nearly 104,000 prescriptions changed by eRx Collaborative prescribers in 2007 prevented 724 potential adverse drug events (ADEs). An estimated $630,000 in cost savings is attributable to ADEs prevented by the eRx Collaborative.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ®Registered Marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ©2008 Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts, Inc., and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts HMO Blue, Inc.
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