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National Business Coalition on Health Announces eValue8 Health Plan Innovation Award Winners

Posted on: Monday, 15 November 2004, 15:00 CST

ATLANTA, Nov. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Business Coalition on Health (NBCH), a non-profit organization of employer-based health coalitions, today announced the recipients of its first eValue8 Health Plan Innovation Awards during its annual employer conference held this week in Atlanta. This is the first time NBCH has utilized the eValue8 platform to identify and recognize the innovative and creative work of providers.

"The NBCH eValue8 Health Plan Innovation Awards recognizes organizations that have implemented ground-breaking programs for value-based purchasers," said Andrew Webber, president and CEO of NBCH. "As health care quality improvement is a critical concern and key focus of our organization, it's important to recognize the industry's innovators and provide a forum to communicate best practices."

All health plans that participate in the NBCH eValue8 process have made a commitment to improve the value of purchaser health care spending. The plans selected for an Innovation Award for 2004 have demonstrated strategies to address some of the most difficult issues facing health systems and purchasers: chronic disease management, substance use disorders, health disparities and hospital patient safety concerns. By sharing these innovative programs with other health plans and purchasers, NBCH promotes improvement in community health systems across the country.

The 2004 eValue8 Health Plan Innovation Award winners are:

- Anthem Indiana and Ohio for Asthma Disease Management

- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City MO/New Directions Behavioral

Health for Behavioral Health-Screening and Treatment of Alcohol Use

Disorders

- Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan PPO for Patient Safety: Hospital

Incentives and Rewards

- Kaiser Permanente for Health Disparities

Approximately 50 plans were nominated for the awards based on information submitted on "Best Practices and Innovations" as part of NBCH's 2004 eValue8 submission tool, an annual evaluation of health plans used by employers and business coalitions. The nomination information was reviewed by a selection committee of eValue8 reviewers, including representatives from General Motors, Greater Detroit Area Health Council, South Central Michigan Health Alliance, Pacific Business Group on Health, Midwest Business Group on Health, and New York Business Group on Health. Based on creativity, effectiveness and replicability, the submissions were narrowed down to 12 semi-finalists, with four final winners.

CDC Director Addresses Health Care Costs

The awards were presented at the annual conference during a luncheon where Dr. Julie Gerberding, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, spoke about health care costs and the tough decisions employers face when choosing health plans. Dr. Gerberding shared the CDC's new strategies for improving health protection, increasing partnerships with employer-purchasers and the private sector, and developing innovative ways to integrate prevention services into the health care delivery system.

About the National Business Coalition on Health

NBCH is a national, non-profit, membership organization of nearly 80 employer-based health care coalitions, representing over 10,000 employers 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. In developing, identifying and disseminating best practices in value-based purchasing strategies; NBCH seeks to accelerate the nation's progress towards safe, efficient, high quality health care. For more information, call 202-775-9300 or visit http://www.nbch.org/.

The National Business Coalition on Health

CONTACT: Cary Conway, +1-972-731-9242, cary@conwaycommunication.com, forthe National Business Coalition on Health

Web site: http://www.nbch.org/

Source: PRNewswire

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