National Business Coalition on Health Names Top Performing Health Plans

eValue8™ annual health plan survey and evaluation encourages transparency and accountability; promotes quality improvement

WASHINGTON, Oct. 22, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Cigna Connecticut PPO and Kaiser Northern California HMO were named the top performing PPO and HMO health plans according to the 2013 eValue8™ results released by the non-profit National Business Coalition on Health (NBCH). A critical element of purchasers' value-based purchasing strategy, eValue8 is an annual health care accountability and quality improvement assessment used by employers and coalitions to manage the quality and efficiency of America's health plans.

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"The information collected each year through eValue8 allows us to easily track health plan's strategies and actual outcomes, regardless of whether or not they are a current partner of ours," said Mary Bradley, Director of Health Care Planning, Pitney Bowes Inc. "By identifying a best in class supplier, it helps all employers hold their plans accountable for continuous improvement towards that goal."

2013 benchmark plans

Plans who achieved the best performance (benchmark) among all insurers responding for specific modules include:

• Consumer Engagement (how plans help members become better consumers) – Cigna Colorado HMO and PPO
• Prevention and Health Promotion (how plans help members be healthy, e.g. cancer screenings, tobacco cessation and weight management programs) – Cigna Connecticut PPO and Kaiser Colorado HMO
• Chronic Disease Management (member identification and interventions and physician support for cardiovascular disease and diabetes) – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts PPO and Kaiser Northern and Southern California HMO
• Behavioral Health Management (member identification and interventions and physician support for depression and alcohol misuse) – Cigna Connecticut PPO and Kaiser Northern California HMO
• Provider Management (payment innovation, quality measurement and transparency) – Cigna California PPO and Cigna Colorado HMO
• Pharmaceutical Management (ensure appropriate use and adherence, address misuse for pharmaceuticals including specialty pharmaceuticals) – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts PPO and HMO
• Plan Profile (overall business practices such as accreditation, use of resources, addressing cultural makeup of membership) – Cigna California PPO and HealthNet California HMO

Additional details on the 2013 results and other top ranking plans can be found on NBCH's eValue8 website. Participating NBCH member coalitions included the Colorado Business Group on Health, Memphis Business Group on Health, Northeast Business Group on Health, Pacific Business Group on Health and the Virginia Business Coalition on Health.

Plans that participate in eValue8 open themselves up to rigorous scrutiny," said Emma Hoo, Director, Pacific Business Group on Health. "We see how they work, where they're doing well, and where there are opportunities for improvement. It lets our purchasers know they're willing to be transparent and collaborative partners."

2014 survey release

The 2014 eValue8 survey will be available for health plans to complete in late November. To keep current with purchaser needs, the survey will include additional questions around cultural disparities, accountable care organizations and transparency tools.

eValue8 advances value-based purchasing

A demand-side strategy used by employers, value-based purchasing involves coalitions, employer purchasers, public sector purchasers, health plans and individual consumers in measuring, reporting and rewarding excellence in health care delivery. Value-based purchasing requires proactive decision-making that takes into consideration access, price, quality, efficiency, transparency, reporting and alignment of incentives, much of this content is requested in eValue8. The overarching goal is a health care system built on value, with a clear return for every dollar spent.

About eValue8

An annual health care purchasing and quality improvement assessment process, eValue8 was created by business coalitions and employers like Marriott and General Motors to measure and evaluate health plan performance. eValue8 asks health plans questions about how they manage critical processes that control costs, reduce and eliminate waste, ensure patient safety, close gaps in care and improve health and health care.

Plans provide detail on how they educate, engage and incent consumers to promote health and manage disease, as well as measure and pay providers. Plans and purchasers receive objective scores enabling comparison of plans against regional and national benchmarks and a roadmap for improvement. As a result of face-to-face discussion of findings and roadmap, plans learn what they need to do to align their strategies with purchaser expectations to maximize the value of the health care investment and ultimately, improve health and quality of care.

NBCH believes that local business coalitions are key in facilitating multi-stakeholder collaborations at the community level to educate consumers, and improve quality and efficiency of the health delivery system. Purchasers interested in having their plans report performance in a variety of health services can contact NBCH or their local business coalition.

About the National Business Coalition on Health

NBCH is a national, non-profit, membership organization of purchaser-led business and health coalitions, representing over 7,000 employers and 25 million employees and their dependents across the United States. NBCH and its members are dedicated to value-based purchasing of health care services through the collective action of public and private purchasers. For additional information visit: www.nbch.org

NBCH's 18^th Annual Conference will be held November 18-20, 2013 at the Westin Kierland in Scottsdale, AZ. Additional details and registration information can be found at http://www.nbch.org/2013-Annual-Conference.

SOURCE National Business Coalition on Health