The Tech-Savviest Health Programs
Health care consumers are benefiting from the latest efforts of health plans to integrate health information technology and develop high-quality health care programs.
The National Business Coalition on Health (NBCH), a non-profit organization of employer-based health coalitions, honored four plans in November during its annual employer conference held recently in New Orleans. The 2006 eValue8 Innovation Awards identify and recognize the innovative and creative work of health plans.
The 2006 eValue8 Health Plan Innovation Award winners are:
Aetna's Rx Check
One of the nation's leading diversified health care benefits companies, Aetna's Rx Check analyzes pharmacy claims daily and interacts with physicians to take advantage of opportunities to improve the quality of care, avoid adverse events and save money on drug costs for both members and their employers.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida's Culture Competence eLearning Program
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida was recognized for implementing a comprehensive Cultural Competence eLearning Program for physicians and physician offices. This online tool provides two hours of case-based instruction on cross-cultural healthcare. By focusing on common clinical and cross-cultural scenarios the interactive program helps providers understand important cultural nuances, and deliver more effective, relevant care.
Kaiser's HealthTRAC
HealthTRAC (Tracking, Registry, and Alert Companion) is a demonstration project for the national Kaiser Permanente Population Care Information Solutions. HealthTRAC has allowed participation in several community efforts such as the Colorado Business Group on Health's Hypertension in Diabetics study and the Colorado State Immunization Registry. The interactive registry is a web-based Population Management application that affords Colorado Kaiser Permanente's health care providers the means to view and utilize extensive aggregate clinical data to improve clinical, service, safety and business outcomes across the entire service area population.
Paramount's NICU Program
Paramount HMO is a regional health plan serving northwest Ohio and southeast Michigan. Its NICU Graduate Home Health Care Program enables babies discharged from the neonatal intensive care unit to receive a minimum of two visits by a nurse from a Paramount Advantage home health care provider often catching complications earlier or preempting the need for hospital readmittance.
—Source: eValue8
CVS Opens MinuteClinic Centers: $59 Treatments
Quick, convenient, quality medical care has come to Northern New Jersey at nine MinuteClinic health care centers now open in Bergen, Morris, Middlesex, Monmouth and Passaic counties. MinuteClinic health care centers are staffed by board-certified nurse practitioners who specialize in Family Medicine and are trained to diagnose, treat and write prescriptions (when clinically appropriate) for common family illnesses such as strep throat and ear, eye, sinus, bladder and bronchial infections. MinuteClinic also offers common vaccinations, such as flu shots, tetanus, MMR, and Hepatitis A & B.
Examinations typically take 10-15 minutes and no appointment is necessary.
"MinuteClinic health care centers are an answer to consumers' overwhelming demand for more patient-centric health care," said Michael Howe, chief executive officer for MinuteClinic. "As more patients look to take control of their health care options, we provide a high-quality, convenient and affordable service for common maladies that is available seven days a week."
MinuteClinic is working closely with the larger insurance carriers in New Jersey to be a participating provider in their networks. For patients who are a member of Aetna (PPO), Beech Street, CBSA, ChoiceCare Network (PPO), First Health Direct, Great-West Healthcare, Humana (PPO only), Medicare, TRICARE Standard, and Wausau, MinuteClinic will accept as payment the office visit co-pay indicated on their insurance card. For patients paying cash or credit, treatment prices are posted outside each health care center. Most treatments cost $59.
—Source: Medicalnewstoday.com
The 'Healthy Living' Credit Card
Aetna and Bank of America have teamed up to develop the Aetna Healthy Living(TM) credit card for Aetna's medical, dental, pharmacy and behavioral health members. The innovative credit card, available later this year to qualifying Aetna members, is a rewards-based credit card that facilitates payment of out-of-pocket medical expenses as well as everyday purchases while promoting healthy living at the same time.
The card offers a convenient way for consumers to manage their healthcare dollars. Members who apply for and are issued the Aetna Healthy Living credit card will have access to a base rewards program that offers one point for every qualifying retail dollar charged to the card and access to a wide variety of redemption options. Additionally, Aetna Healthy Living credit card members will be rewarded with the following unique features that provide incentives for healthy living.
Earn points for money spent on certain health-related purchases including hospital treatments, doctor and dentist charges, sporting goods stores, fitness and weight loss centers, vitamin stores and more.
Receive a discount on dozens of health-related items - gym equipment, spa set, bicycles, blood pressure monitors and more from the WorldPoints catalog.
Redeem points to help pay for medical co-payments made with the Aetna Healthy Living credit card.
Redeem points for cash rewards that can be used to help pay for health care and other expenses, or deposited to a checking account or a Health Savings Account.
The credit card is currently available to Aetna's Small Group customers and will be expanded to other customer groups in 2007.
-Source: Aetna
The 85 million Americans who use the Internet to gather health information need to know who is giving them advice - - and when it was last updated. But according to a study released Oct. 29 by the Pew Internet & American Life Project, three-quarters of health seekers say they check the source and date "only sometimes," "hardly ever," or "never."