Capital BlueCross Awarded Bronze Honors for Best Practices in Health Care Consumer Empowerment and Protection From URAC

HARRISBURG, Pa., Oct. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Capital BlueCross was awarded Bronze honors for Health Care Consumer Empowerment and Protection by URAC, a leading health care accreditation organization. The honor was announced during the 2011 URAC Quality Summit and Awards Program Oct. 5-7 in Chicago.

This award recognizes achievements of organizations that are effectively advancing the role of consumers as active participants in health care through consumer health improvement.

Capital BlueCross was honored for Better Health Works, a comprehensive and proactive health management program that offers a confidential and personalized approach to members. This innovative solution includes tools that easily connect employees with a host of proven health and wellness resources. Unlike other health management solutions that focus primarily on Web-based programs, Better Health Works offers participation choices, such as online, telephone and in-person options.

"Better Health Works is a strong example of how Capital BlueCross is improving the health of our members by getting them engaged in their own health care," said Capital BlueCross Chairman & CEO Bill Lehr.  "Through programs like this, we are able to deliver medical value to our members by lowering costs, enhancing quality and ensuring member satisfaction."

Entries were judged by a distinguished 20-member panel of prestigious, independent judges including recognized experts in program evaluation, care coordination, health information technology, employer and purchaser decision making and patient safety. Entries were reviewed and scored by the judges based on objective criteria including whether the program was measurable, if it was reproducible and delivered through a collaborative approach. Honors were awarded in the categories of Consumer Decision-Making and Consumer Health Improvement.

"This year's Best Practices Awards winners are recognized for their leadership in driving innovation for the health care industry," said Alan P. Spielman, president and CEO of URAC. "These companies have made a difference in the lives of consumers by implementing leading programs with results that matter."

About Capital BlueCross

Capital BlueCross is the leading health insurer in its region, providing health insurance coverage to residents in central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley. Capital BlueCross is committed to making health insurance simple for its customers and members through all the stages of life by offering nationally acclaimed customer service and a full range of innovative benefit programs for groups and individuals at competitive prices. By establishing a culture of caring, Capital BlueCross constantly strives to do more in order to deliver more for the men, women and children who depend on the company for their health insurance needs. Capital BlueCross has been providing medical value to the people and communities of central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley for more than 70 years and employs over 1,800 people in the region. Headquartered in Harrisburg, Pa., Capital BlueCross is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. More information about Capital BlueCross and its subsidiaries can be found by going to www.capbluecross.com.

About URAC

URAC, an independent, nonprofit organization, is well-known as a leader in promoting health care quality through its accreditation, education and measurement programs. URAC offers a wide range of quality benchmarking programs and services that keep pace with the rapid changes in the health care system, and provide a symbol of excellence for organizations to validate their commitment to quality and accountability. Through its broad-based governance structure and an inclusive standards development process, URAC ensures that all stakeholders are represented in establishing meaningful quality measures for the entire health care industry. For more information, visit www.urac.org.

SOURCE Capital BlueCross