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Innovations in Chronic Care

March 2007 

A compendium of health plan programs to improve quality of life for members with cancer, chronic pain, depression, asthma, diabetes, and other chronic conditions, and to address obesity among children and adults.

Download the full report. 

Report by Topic

1. Disease-Specific Initiatives
• Pain (see also pp. 21, 25, 27)
• Hepatitis C 
• Osteoporosis 
• Cancer 
• Behavioral Health (see also pp. 23, 31)
2. Home-Based Medical Care 
3. Wellness and Fitness
   (see also pp. 8, 14, 19)
4. Medication Safety 
5. Addressing Health Disparities and Health Literacy 
6. Payment Incentives to Promote Quality 
7. Health Coaching and Disease Management 
8. Case Management for Patients with Heart Disease 

Report by Company

Aetna 

• Promoting Effective Migraine Relief to Boost Energy and Productivity 
• Taking a Multi-Faceted, Bilingual Approach To Diabetes Care 
• Taking a Global Approach to Chronic Care for Medicare Beneficiaries 
• Offering Tools for a Healthy Life for Members with Heart Failure 

AMERIGROUP Corporation 

• Keeping Medicaid Beneficiaries Healthy at Home 

Blue Care Network of Michigan 

• Helping Members with Heart Failure Take Charge of their Health 
• Getting a Perfect Score in Post-Heart Attack Care 
• Guiding Members to Lower Cholesterol 

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida 

• Collaborating in Real Time to Keep Heart Failure Patients Healthy 
• Creating a Road Map to Better Health for Members with Asthma 
• Providing an Actionable Blueprint for Effective Diabetes Care 

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois 

• Providing Blue Stars and Rewards for High-Performing Physician Groups 

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts 

• Streamlining Support Services for Members with Chronic Conditions 

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina 

• Offering Members Incentives and Support for Using Effective Care 

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee 

• Promoting Effective Care for Hepatitis C 
• Extending the Lives of Heart Attack Patients with Effective Care 

Blue Shield of California 

• Helping Members with Complex Conditions Live Comfortably at Home 

Capital District Physicians’ Health Plan, Inc. 

• Making Fitness Fun to Help Children and Adults Lose Weight 

CIGNA HealthCare 

• Joining Forces Across Specialties to Address a Full Spectrum of Member Needs 

Community Health Plan 

• Pursuing a Community-Wide Strategy to Prevent Asthma Emergencies 

Empire BlueCross BlueShield 

• Building Skills at Work Sites to Help Employees Maintain Healthy Weight 

Geisinger Health Plan 

• Taking a Proactive Approach to Osteoporosis Prevention 

Great-West Healthcare 

• Offering Support and Guidance For Members with Cancer 

Group Health Cooperative 

• Using Electronic Medical Records to Promote a New Model of Planned Care 

Harvard Pilgrim Health Care 

• Reducing Health Care Disparities for Latino Members with Diabetes 

Health Alliance Plan 

• A High-Tech and High-Touch Approach to Chronic Care 

Health Net, Inc. 

• Providing House Calls and Round-the-Clock Physician Access to Seniors at Risk 

HealthNow New York 

• Closing Gaps in Care for Members with Chronic Conditions or ADHD 

HealthPartners 

• Giving Members Tools to Stay Fit and Maintain Healthy Weight 
• Guiding Members with Depression to Effective Treatment 

Health Plan of Nevada 

• Partnering with Members and Physicians to Promote Effective Care 

Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield and Health Dialog 

• Staying On Call For Chronic Care 

HIP Health Plan of New York 

• Forging a Path to Independence for Frail Elderly Members 

Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield 

• Providing a Continuum of Care to Meet Member Needs 

Humana Inc. and Healthways 

• Giving Older Adults a New Way to Get Fit and Socialize 
• Guiding the Way to Good Health With Personal Nurses 

Independence Blue Cross 

• Helping Members Connect to Effective Care 

Independent Health Association 

• Providing Physician Incentives for Practice Excellence 

Kaiser Permanente 

• Attacking Chronic Pain on Multiple Fronts 
• Going ALL Out to Prevent Heart Attacks and Stroke 

Medica and United Behavioral Health 

• Providing Tips and Tools For Members with Depression 

MVP Health Care 

• Giving Members and Physicians Tools to Eliminate Back Pain 
• Keeping Members with Diabetes on Track with Effective Care 

Neighborhood Health Plan 

• Guiding Members to Relief from Chronic Migraines 

Optima Health 

• Taking a Team Approach to Care for Asthma, Diabetes, and Sickle Cell Disease 

PacifiCare^®, a UnitedHealthcare Company 

• Building a Full Suite of Programs For Wellness and Chronic Care 

Presbyterian Healthcare Services 

• Finding Many Ways to Excellence in Diabetes Care 

Rocky Mountain Health Plans 

• Driving Physician Performance to New Levels in Diabetes Care 

Sterling Life Insurance Company 

• Helping Seniors Sort Out their Medications 
• Helping Medicare Beneficiaries Navigate the Way to Good Health 

Tufts Health Plan 

• Providing Intensive Care for Members with Complex Needs 

UnitedHealthcare 

• Placing a Premium on Outstanding Performance 

UnitedHealth Group 

• Closing Treatment Gaps for Individuals in Need 

UnumProvident 

• Paving the Way to Productivity For Employees on Short-Term Disability 

WellPoint, Inc. 

• Teaming Up to Improve Complex Care