Wisconsin Ranks 8th Nationwide in Health Status; Anthem Blue Cross and Blue
Shield Develops Innovative Program to Track and Improve the Health of
Wisconsin Residents
MILWAUKEE – November 14, 2007 – Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin today launched its new State Health Index, a program that incorporates public health data to identify and help address major health issues in the state. Anthem has assembled a dedicated team to collaborate with local and state officials, as well as community organizations, to research the reasons behind the prevalent health deficiencies and to design policy solutions and implement or enhance programs aimed at improving overall health in the state.
Developed from data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the State Health Index ranks Wisconsin eighth in the nation based on a comprehensive assessment of 23 measures of health status. Anthem has selected the following measures of improvement for its focus during the first several years of the State Health Index program as they have the most potential to be positively influenced by the actions of the company:
Prenatal Care in First Trimester Physical Activity Levels
Low Birthweight Infant Rate Cigarette Smoking Rate
Adult Influenza Immunization Rate Diabetes in Adult Population
Adult Pneumococcal Immunization Rate Heart Disease Death Rate
“As one of the largest health insurers in the state, we have a unique responsibility to understand and improve not only the health of our members, but also the overall health of the communities in which they live,” said Steve Martenet, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin. “The State Health Index will provide Anthem and our public and private partners- state and local government, insurers, health care professionals and consumers- with a roadmap to guide our work to improve the overall health of our state.”
Based on the outcome of the assessment, Anthem has identified adults in the state who smoke cigarettes and mothers who engage in prenatal care during the first trimester of their pregnancies, as two areas in Wisconsin where the most improvement is needed.
“The guiding measures we have selected for the State Health Index provide a broad snapshot of Wisconsin’s overall health,” said Anthem Medical Director Michael Jaeger, M.D. who leads Anthem’s State Health Index efforts. “The State Heath Index will serve as a tangible scorecard of the most pressing health issues, which will enable us to work with local and state officials and health care providers to design programs that will improve health across our state.”
The State Health Index is a companion program to Anthem’s Member Health Index, an initiative announced earlier this year, through which Anthem uses the data it collects on its own members to track its progress in helping to improve the quality of health care they receive as well as health outcomes.
“Together, these innovative programs clearly demonstrate Anthem’s commitment to measurably improving the lives of its members and the health of its communities,” said Angela F. Braly, president and CEO of WellPoint, Anthem’s parent company. “Our company has made an unprecedented commitment to improving health on both the member and state levels, and we have set goals that are both ambitious and transparent. We look forward to using initiatives such as the Member and State Health Indices to drive innovation in the industry and help improve health care across the United States.”
In Wisconsin, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name used by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin (“BCBSWi”) and Compcare Health Services Insurance Corporation (“Compcare”), independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
In Wisconsin, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield is one of the largest health insurers. BCBSWi and Compcare are subsidiaries of WellPoint, Inc. WellPoint, Inc. is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and serves its members as the Blue Cross licensee for California; the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, New York (as Blue Cross Blue Shield in 10 New York City metropolitan counties and as Blue Cross or Blue Cross Blue Shield in selected upstate counties only), Ohio, Virginia (excluding the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.), Wisconsin; and through UniCare. Additional information about WellPoint is available at www.wellpoint.com.
Contact: Jill Becher
(262) 523-4764
Jill.becher@anthem.com
PRNewswire — Nov. 14
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Source: Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin
