FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE      
Contact:  
Margaret Jarvis
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
972-766-7165
or margaret_jarvis@bcbstx.com

INNOVATIVE BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF TEXAS PROGRAM IMPROVES MENTAL HEALTH FOLLOW-UP CARE BY 25 PERCENT
HMO Blue Texas was Selected for Honors by Harvard Medical School's Department
of Healthcare Policy for Innovative Quality Programs.

     Richardson, Texas (Sept. 26, 2006)  - Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX), a division of Health Care Service Corporation, announced today it is being honored for its innovative approach and high quality performance in improving the delivery of mental health care follow-up services.  Entries for the BlueWorks quality program were judged by members of Harvard Medical School's Department of Healthcare policy, who selected the initiative submitted by BCBSTX as one of four award winners for the BlueWorks for Consumers week, Sept. 25-29, 2006.

    "We are proud to be recognized for this innovative quality improvement program because we recognize that mental health patients are among the most likely to receive fragmented treatment, becoming separated from the follow-up care so essential to their improvement," says Dr. Paul Handel, vice president and chief medical officer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas.  "Not only does this new follow-up program address barriers to follow-up care and efficient management of health care costs, but the program can be replicated by others who want to achieve similar results."

   Each year, millions of Americans suffer from mental illnesses like depression, schizophrenia and bipolar disease.  With depression and related mental illnesses consistently ranking in the top five diagnoses in frequency and cost, consistent care following hospitalization is critical to successful treatment.  

   This innovative program was based on improved follow-up of Blue Cross members in the HMO Blue Texas plan who were treated for mental illnesses.  The program worked with both patients and providers to eliminate obstacles to timely, appropriate follow-up care after a hospital stay for mental health treatment.  In just three years, HMO Blue Texas' 'Improving Follow-Up After Mental Health Admission' program was able to help its members make better, more informed decisions and improved mental health 7-day follow-up care by 20 percent and 30-day follow-up care by 25 percent among its members.

   The BlueWorks award for this program was presented to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas by the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an organization made up of 38 independent, locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies that collectively provide healthcare coverage for more than 94 million Americans. Blue Works is a unique partnership with the Harvard Medical School Department of Health Care Policy.  Harvard's researchers evaluate and select Blue Companies' local programs based on innovation, efficacy, robust design and potential for replication.  Since the program's inception in 2004, Harvard has selected more than 30 Blue programs that are working to help consumers manage their health care choices.

   Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is the only statewide, non-investor owned health coverage provider in Texas, serving more than 3.3 million members in all 254 counties.  Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is a division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

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