FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact:
Margaret Jarvis
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas
972-766-7165
or margaret_jarvis@bcbstx.com
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas to Provide Affordability and Performance Transparency for Physician Services Online for All Texans
Texans Don’t Need to be Members of BCBSTX to Obtain Information on its Statewide Network of More Than 38,000 Physicians, Using BlueCompare, The First Insurer-developed Tool to Provide Access to Both Members and Non-Members.
(Richardson, Texas) – Dec. 5, 2006 – Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) today announced the January 2007 launch of BlueCompare, the first enhanced consumer information tool in the industry that allows open-access to affordability and evidence-based medicine performance information for the largest network of doctors in Texas. BlueCompare, a component of the BCBSTX online physician-search tool, will allow consumers to access doctors’ care practices and general affordability prior to receiving treatment, without the need for a member password. This tool builds upon an array of online health and wellness programs and utilizes the vast member data available to BCBSTX to evaluate physician affordability and evidence-based medicine performance.
"As more and more Texans see the cost of health care services shifted to their family budgets, consumers are increasingly searching for the information they need to make informed health care decisions,” says Darren Rodgers, senior vice president, Health Care Management, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. “When consumers use BlueCompare, they can see how their physicians perform compared to their peers, based on evidence-based medicine guidelines and affordability. While we recognize that BlueCompare should not be the only basis for families to make health care decisions, it will definitely help families see the big picture before making their final health care choices."
BlueCompare’s open access feature, with no requirement for a password, highlights the importance of getting the best health care information available in the hands of the highest number of consumers. With over 24.5 percent of Texans uninsured, there is a greater need than ever before for open access to information so that both insured and uninsured consumers can make the best and most affordable heath care choices for their families. Choices made by both insured and uninsured families, especially on the basis of affordability, will have a direct impact on health care costs for millions of Texans. The more consumers are able to assess their health care needs, evaluate the quality/cost of physician services and plan care options in advance, the lower the cost of care for everyone.
After identifying the information consumers consider easiest or most helpful in evaluating physician services and affordability, the next step for Blue Cross was to develop an open-access, online tool accessible to everyone. To give consumers a more complete view of how their physicians compare to those in their peer group, BlueCompare rates physicians on the delivery of health care that meets selected evidence-based medicine guidelines. BlueCompare’s affordability rating scale uses the following rankings: more, average or less affordable. The scale gives consumers an overview of which doctors have historically been more affordable when managing the care of patients with similar medical conditions, within the same geographic area. These standards ensure that Texas physicians, in a certain specialty, are compared with other Texas doctors who practice in the same area of specialty.
BlueCompare is the next step in BCBSTX’s plan to provide members with tools to enable more informed health care. BlueCompare joins the growing list of BCBSTX’s Web-based consumer information capabilities that also includes tools for physician and pharmacy research, hospital comparisons, treatment cost advice and personal health management.
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.
BlueCompare Home Page
BlueCompare Flash Tour
FAQs about BlueCompare
- What is BlueCompare?
BlueCompare is a resource to help members who would like more information on affordability and evidence-based medicine performance. This online tool provides information for physicians participating in BlueChoice and BlueChoice Solutions provider networks across Texas. . No other health insurer has access to as much claims and enrollment data as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX). Because BCBSTX has one of the largest networks, we can provide a depth of research and comparative data that no one else can match.
- What Does Evidence-Based Medicine Performance Mean?
BlueCompare recognizes physicians who meet specified levels of performance for selected evidence-based medicine indicators. Evidence-based medicine (EBM) is treatment known to be effective. Based on the information available to Blue Cross, these physicians are recognized for the delivery of effective care.
- What does Affordability Mean?
The BCBSTX Affordability Index is based on participating physicians’ Risk Adjusted Cost Index (RACI). To determine a provider’s RACI, we compared doctors in the same specialty and location, who managed similar conditions. Cost includes physician fees, lab, X-ray, hospital and other facility or therapy.
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