Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas Introduces the Largest Medical Home Pilot Project in Texas to Five North Texas Counties
Richardson, TX — Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) has announced that it is implementing a 'Medical Home' pilot program, beginning today, February 1, 2010, which will include over 90 primary care physicians (PCPs) in Dallas, Denton, Tarrant, Collin and Johnson Counties. The 'Medical Home' is not a building or hospital. It's a primary care physician-based concept designed to improve coordination of care within the medical care system with emphasis on wellness, prevention and disease management.
"The Medical Home program is part of our commitment to improving the health and wellness of Blue Cross members by collaborating with physicians who serve as the clinical leader, the quarterback, guiding patients through the complex health care system and making decisions about their health," says Eduardo Sanchez, vice president and chief medical officer, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. "We are excited about our collaboration in this effort with two physician groups, Medical Clinic of North Texas, P.A. and Village Health Partners, which provide care for more than 20,000 members."
"We are very pleased to have entered into an agreement to participate in this innovative, two-year pilot program. With our electronic medical records system and advanced technological capabilities, our clinical team will be coordinating care and collaborating with a network of physicians, facilities and Blue Cross," noted Karen Kennedy, CAO, Medical Clinic of North Texas PA. "In partnering with Dr. Sanchez and his team, we will be pro-actively engaging patients in a different manner and empowering them to work closely with their physician in managing their health needs."
One of the program's primary goals is to foster strong patient-physician relationships and more effective patient care. The collaborative nature of the program is expected to produce improved outcomes for the patient at a lower cost.
"The medical home is really the new model of care for the 21st century," said Dr. Christopher Crow, president, Village Health Partners. "It combines the traditional hands-on approach that Family Medicine has always been known for with the latest technology to ensure patients receive the right care, at the right time, in the right setting. The focus on access, convenience and quality is tightly aligned with the mission of Village Health Partners. This new delivery model will raise the bar for chronic disease management, preventive screenings and health education."
The benefits of a Medical Home to patients include a better relationship with their doctors and the doctor's team, enhanced care coordination, and more support for patient self-management of their health and any diseases. The new patient-centered 'Medical Home' health care delivery model has already gained national attention for its effectiveness in fostering collaboration between primary care physicians and other health care professionals. Improving the management of patients with chronic illnesses has been a priority for BCBSTX for years and this program is designed to strengthen that effort.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas — the only statewide, customer-owned health insurer in Texas — is the largest provider of health benefits in the state, working with nearly 40,000 physicians and 400 hospitals to serve 4.5 million members in all 254 counties. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), the country’s largest customer-owned health insurer and fourth largest health insurer overall. HCSC is a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
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For More Information Contact:
- News Media Contact: margaret_jarvis@bcbstx.com, (972) 766-7165
- Corporate Headquarters: (972) 766-6900
