Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota and Allina Integrated Medical Network to offer "BluePrint"

Collaboration leads to new product for 2014, designed with physician and patient input

MINNEAPOLIS and EAGAN, Minn., Aug. 6, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, the state's largest health insurer, and the Allina Integrated Medical Network of Allina Health, one of the region's most comprehensive networks of clinics, hospitals and health care services, are bringing a new health plan offering to the Twin Cities metro area that changes the way health care providers and health insurers work together to best serve members.

More than one year of joint research, development and design have produced BluePrint by Blue Cross and Allina Health. With a focus on greater patient engagement, collaborative clinical care management between the health plan and providers, and guided patient care services, BluePrint brings a new level of personalization opportunities to the health care experience.

Care options will encompass the extensive services available through the Allina Integrated Medical Network, including all Allina Health's hospitals, clinics, and specialty care services such as Abbott Northwestern, United, Mercy and Unity Hospitals, the Penny George™ Institute for Health and Healing, Virginia Piper Cancer Institute^®, John Nasseff Neuroscience Institute, Courage Kenny Rehabilitation Institute™, Minneapolis Heart Institute^®, United Heart and Vascular Clinic and Metropolitan Heart and Vascular Institute, as well as a comprehensive group of 53 leading independent primary and specialty care practices and 13 independent regional health systems participating in the Allina Integrated Medical Network. BluePrint will be available as a plan offering of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota on January 1, 2014, throughout the 11-county Twin Cities metro area.

Leaders of the organizations cite the ongoing collaboration among Blue Cross, Allina Health and the Allina Integrated Medical Network that led to the development of BluePrint, which included significant input by the very individuals—physicians and patients—who are most impacted by health plan design.

"As we continue to explore ways to 'rethink the model' in optimizing health plan coverage, we have developed increasingly collaborative relationships with providers, including an ever closer working relationship with Allina Health," said Michael Guyette, president and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.  "That collaboration was fundamental in bringing about BluePrint.  It represents a new approach in working directly with a major health care provider to build a product from the ground up, in a way that respects the foundational patient-physician relationship, while moving forward on the goal of delivering better care, lowering costs, and providing a better experience."

"BluePrint represents a very different health plan design for the health care market," said Kenneth H. Paulus, president and CEO of Allina Health.  "Physicians, patients and employers were instrumental in the design process. We asked them to help us construct a health plan that would enhance the caregiver-patient relationship, providing the best possible outcomes and patient experience.  It is this collaboration, in conjunction with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota, that created this unique opportunity. We are confident that BluePrint will raise the bar in helping patients achieve optimal health – and provide a template for creating more effective alignment between health plan coverage and care delivery."

BluePrint is the latest in a series of Blue Cross, Allina Health and Allina Integrated Medical Network collaborations.  In 2012, the organizations developed Blue Choice^® featuring the Allina Health Network, a defined contribution plan offering available to employer groups.  Allina Health is one of 10 major, integrated care systems participating in Blue Cross' Aligned Incentives Contracts, developed to incent providers via a value payment model designed to lower the medical cost trend and to improve measures of care quality and health outcomes.  Blue Cross and Allina Health have a shared history of working to improve health outcomes and build healthier communities throughout Minnesota through a range of initiatives.

About Blue Cross:
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota (bluecrossmn.com), with headquarters in the St. Paul suburb of Eagan, was chartered in 1933 as Minnesota's first health plan and continues to carry out its charter mission today as a health company: to promote a wider, more economical and timely availability of health services for the people of Minnesota. Blue Cross is a not-for-profit, taxable organization. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, headquartered in Chicago.

About Allina Health:
Allina Health (formerly Allina Hospitals & Clinics) is dedicated to the prevention and treatment of illness and enhancing the greater health of individuals, families and communities throughout Minnesota and western Wisconsin. A not-for-profit health care system, Allina Health cares for patients from beginning to end-of-life through its 90+ clinics, 11 hospitals, 15 pharmacies, specialty care centers and specialty medical services that provide hospice care, oxygen and home medical equipment, and emergency medical transportation services. Learn more at allinahealth.org.

About Allina Integrated Medical Network:
Incorporated in 2010, the Allina Integrated Medical Network aligns independent physicians, regional health systems and Allina Health to deliver market-leading quality and efficiency in patient care. Patients have access to a network of premier primary and specialty care physicians across the 11-county Twin Cities metro area as well as in greater Minnesota and western Wisconsin. Learn more at aim-network.net.

SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota