Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield Selects MedAssurant for Care Coordination and Enhancement

BOWIE, Md., Feb. 15, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- MedAssurant, Inc., a leading provider of data-driven healthcare solutions, today announced that Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Arkansas' largest health insurer, has selected MedAssurant's SmartCare solution suite to improve care coordination and enhancement.  SmartCare, a solution powered by MedAssurant's advanced data analytics, will enable Arkansas Blue Cross to increase utilization efficiency and improve clinical outcomes for their Medicare Advantage members.

Arkansas Blue Cross will apply MedAssurant's CCS Advantage™, a unique NCQA-accredited disease management chronic disease care solution and component of the SmartCare™ suite, to support the assessment and coordination of care among members who have complex needs associated with diabetes, heart disease, asthma, coronary artery disease (CAD), or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).  MedAssurant uses advanced data management and analytics to identify gaps in care and quality, as well as determining the most effective and efficient ways to resolve them. Linking this insight with MedAssurant's integrated call centers and in-market resources, SmartCare provides for an unparalleled level of patient-specific matching between needs and targeted intervention – one focused upon the member and coordinated with the provider.

"At Arkansas Blue Cross, we recognize that the healthcare needs of each member are unique," said Ron DeBerry, senior vice president of statewide business.  "MedAssurant's SmartCare provides a patient-specific approach to help improve quality and outcomes for our members across Arkansas."

"The commitment of Arkansas Blue Cross to their members and the effectiveness of their care delivery is very evident," stated Keith Dunleavy, M.D., president and chief executive officer of MedAssurant. "The embracing of advanced data systems for the support and achievement of these goals is also clear. We at MedAssurant share this belief – that data drives a more effective and efficient healthcare environment. We are excited to be expanding our relationship with Arkansas Blue Cross and look forward to the meaningful benefits that this will bring to their members."

In addition to the CCS Advantage component of the MedAssurant SmartCare suite, Arkansas Blue Cross has selected MedAssurant's CareSync Advantage™ solution to coordinate member registries among different care management initiatives. Eliminating redundant, wasteful, and confusing overlap between care management programs, while providing detailed reporting regarding performance, CareSync provides for improved efficiency and clarity amongst care management programs, while minimizing the confusion that multiple programs can bring to patients and providers.

The implementation of CCS Advantage and CareSync Advantage is a multi-year expansion of the MedAssurant and Arkansas Blue Cross relationship which began in 2009. Since that time, MedAssurant has provided Arkansas Blue Cross with solutions for clinical data accuracy, risk adjustment, medical record review and claims analytics.

About Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield

Founded in 1948, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is the largest health insurer in Arkansas. Arkansas Blue Cross and its affiliates have more than 2,700 employees. If combined, the 39 independent, locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans collectively provide health care coverage for 98 million — nearly one in three Americans. For more information, visit arkansasbluecross.com.

About MedAssurant, Inc.

MedAssurant, Inc., is a leading technology-enabled healthcare solutions provider focused on the importance of healthcare data and its ability to drive dramatic, objective improvement in clinical and quality outcomes, care management and financial performance throughout the healthcare community. Proprietary healthcare datasets, aggregation and analysis capabilities, combined with a national infrastructure of leading-edge technology, clinical prowess and deep human resources, empowers MedAssurant's advanced generation of healthcare assessment and improvement through highly informed solutions. Driven by a mission to improve today's healthcare landscape, the employees of MedAssurant proudly apply care, ingenuity and dedication to delivering a new approach to healthcare touching more than 100 million Americans – one driven by data and insight – one resulting in meaningful action. Please visit www.medassurant.com for more information.

SOURCE MedAssurant, Inc.