Highmark pilots Ways to Save Alerts™ from Change Healthcare to engage members through savings suggestions

PITTSBURGH, Feb. 14, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- Highmark Inc. announced today that it is partnering with Change Healthcare Corporation to introduce to a select group of customers a tool called Ways to Save Alerts™, which educates and empowers employees to make better health care decisions.

Ways to Save Alerts for medical services are personalized messages provided directly through text or email that notify a member of an opportunity to save on his or her most common and recurring medical purchases such as using an urgent care provider instead of an emergency room. 

"Imagine receiving a text alert providing you with the best options for your health care based on quality, cost and proximity to a preferred facility or provider," said Steven Nelson, senior vice president of health services strategy, product and marketing at Highmark. "That's the power of personalization that Highmark can now offer through this program."

Ways to Save Alerts provide greater transparency of health care expenses. "Well-informed employees are able to make better health care decisions based on cost and quality," said Nelson. "This tool enables employer groups to control their health care costs more efficiently, so employees can save money and achieve their best possible health."

Additionally, the first implementation of Ways to Save Alerts is anticipated for mid-2013.

"Highmark is dedicated to providing its customers with the tools they need to remain successful in today's ever-changing, ever-challenging health care environment," said Douglas Ghertner, president and CEO of Change Healthcare. "We are proud to be its partner in this very important offering."

About Highmark
Highmark Inc. is a national diversified health and wellness company based in Pittsburgh that serves 34.4 million people across the United States through its businesses in health insurance, dental insurance, vision care, information technology and integrated health care delivery. The company, which has more than 20,000 employees, is among the largest health insurers in the U.S. and the fourth-largest Blue Cross and Blue Shield-affiliated company. Highmark operates health insurance plans in Pennsylvania, Delaware and West Virginia that serve 4.9 million members.

The company also offers health and wellness products to clients with employees throughout the country and is a recognized leader in reinsurance. In addition, Highmark operates more than 600 optical retail stores (Visionworks) and four U.S.-based eyewear manufacturing facilities. Highmark is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information, visit www.highmark.com.

About Change Healthcare
Change Healthcare Corporation (www.changehealthcare.com) launched in 2007 with a mission to engage consumers in obtaining personalized and actionable cost savings information that changes the way they purchase healthcare services. Built on a database of medical, dental and pharmacy claims from a national client base, Change Healthcare delivers substantial savings to health plan members and employers. With an average engagement rate of nearly 60 percent, the company's web-based solution, Transparency Messenger™, is the only tool able to generate and proactively communicate immediate savings opportunities customized to the employee, their health plan and local area.

SOURCE Highmark Inc.