Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield: Anthem earns NCQA accreditation status of excellent in Wisconsin

November 23, 2009– MILWAUKEE– Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield (Anthem) today announced that its Wisconsin plan has earned the accreditation status of Excellent from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). Anthem’s Accreditation status – the highest possible level – is based on a voluntary review of how a health plan ensures that its members are receiving high quality care.

“NCQA’s Excellent Accreditation status is reserved for the best health plans in the nation,” said Margaret E. O’Kane, president of NCQA. “It is only awarded to those plans that meet or exceed NCQA’s rigorous requirements for consumer protection and quality improvement and deliver excellent clinical care.”

NCQA is an independent, not-for-profit organization dedicated to assessing and reporting on the quality of managed care plans, managed behavioral healthcare organizations, preferred provider organizations, new health plans, physician organizations, credentials verification organizations, disease management programs and other health-related programs.

“At Anthem, we committed to improving the lives of the people we serve,” said Larry Schreiber, president of Anthem in Wisconsin. “Receiving objective recognition from the NCQA for our efforts at the Excellent Accreditation level is a true honor. We look forward to building upon this success as we work to further improve the health and wellness of all our members.”

The initial NCQA Accreditation survey process includes on- and off-site evaluations of more than 60 standards and selected HEDIS® (Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set) performance measures conducted by a team of physicians and managed care experts. HEDIS is a tool used by more than 90 percent of America’s health plans to measure performance on important dimensions of care and service. Anthem’s excellent status is based on 2009 HEDIS results.

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin (“BCBSWi”) underwrites or administers the PPO and indemnity policies; Compcare Health Services Insurance Corporation (“Compcare”) underwrites or administers the HMO policies; and Compcare and BCBSWi collectively underwrite or administer the POS policies. Independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ® ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

*HEDIS(R) is a registered trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

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Contact: Scott Larrivee, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, 262-523-4746, scott.larrivee@anthem.com