URAC Announces Winners of the 2010 Best Practices in Health Care Consumer Protection and Empowerment Awards

Awards Recognize Innovative Health Programs That Benefit Consumers

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- URAC, a leading health care accreditation organization, announced the winners of its Best Practices in Health Care Consumer Protection and Empowerment Awards. The honorees were announced as part of URAC's 2010 Quality Summit and Award Program held October 5-7, in Chicago, Illinois.  The awards recognize health care management programs that demonstrate quality improvements in the health care delivered to consumers.

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"Our Best Practices awards program is a unique celebration of innovative health care management programs. These organizations have implemented leading-edge programs have made a difference in the lives of the consumers they serve with demonstrable results that matter," said Alan P. Spielman, president and CEO of URAC. "This year's winners are recognized for their leadership in delivering on the promise of a quality health care system that puts consumers first."

Entries were judged by a distinguished 30-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.

The winners of the 2010 Best Practices in Health Care Consumer Protection and Empowerment Awards are:

PLATINUM AWARDS

• Centene Corporation

Start Smart for Your Baby™

• Prescription Solutions

Multiple Sclerosis Disease Therapy Management

GOLD AWARDS

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois

Educating Physicians About Patient Safety

• CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield

Engaging the At-Risk Population

• CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and Maryland eCare

Virtual Intensive Care Unit

• Employers Occupational Health, Inc. and informedRx®

Controlled Drug Over-Utilization Program

• Health Alliance Plan and Henry Ford Health System

Medication Therapy Management Program

• Keystone Mercy Health Plan and the YMCA of Philadelphia & Vicinity

Lose To Win Type II Diabetes/Obesity Program

• Wenatchee Valley Medical Center and Robert Bosch Healthcare, Inc.

Health Buddy Program

SILVER AWARDS

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois

A Systematic Approach to Improving Diabetes Care

• Capital BlueCross

Medication Reconciliation Referral Program

• Genesee Health Plan and Genesys Health System

Health Navigator Self Management Support System

• HealthCare USA and Health and Dental Care for Kids

Baby Bears Club NICU Disease Management Program

• Kaiser Permanente Northern California

Reduction of High Risk Medication Errors

• ProgenyHealth, Inc.

Case Management of NICU Infants

• WellPoint, Inc. and Commonwealth of Virginia

Benefits Based Incentives and Maternity Outcomes

BRONZE AWARDS

• Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

Patient Centered Medical Home

• BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee

End of Life Planning

• Care Management Technologies, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and Lilly, USA

Oklahoma Medical Risk Management Program

• CIGNA Corporation

Behavioral Intensive Case Management Engagement

• PsycHealth, Ltd.

Medical Follow-up After Mental Health Admission

HONORABLE MENTION AWARDS

• Coventry Workers' Compensation Services

Code Red Alert: Large Scale Catastrophic Response

• HealthCare USA

Beary Important Breath Program

• HealthCare USA and Health and Dental Care for Kids

Beary Important Bundle Program

• Informed Medical Decisions, Inc.

High Tech, High Touch Genetics - A Model Program

• Kaiser Permanente Northern California and Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

Evidence Based Sepsis Care - Mortality Reduction

• McKesson Health Solutions

Personal Health Advisor

• US Family Health Plan at Pacific Medical Centers

Pharmacy Patient Safety Program

• WellPoint, Inc.

Progesterone for Preterm Birth Prevention

• WellPoint, Inc.

Social Work Care Management Program

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 URAC