Excellus BlueCross BlueShield to Expand Health Coaching Offering Through Health Dialog; Alliance Broadens Reach of Health Coaching Services
Posted on: Monday, 6 June 2005, 09:00 CDT
Health Dialog Services Corporation today announced an expanded alliance with Excellus BlueCross BlueShield (BCBS). The expanded alliance will provide Excellus BCBS' insured HMO and POS populations access to Health Dialog's Health Coaching services, including support for chronic conditions, significant medical decisions, and general health and wellness needs. The agreement follows an initial phase of the relationship in which Health Coaching services were offered to Excellus BCBS' Medicare and self-insured employer populations.
Excellus BCBS has broadened the reach of its Health Coaching offering in an effort to improve healthcare quality and efficiency for its member populations. The Health Coaching program is grounded in Health Dialog's Shared Decision-Making(R) approach, developed in collaboration with the Foundation for Informed Medical Decision-Making (FIMDM), which encourages skill transfer and self-reliance throughout the Health Coaching experience. The Health Coaches are specially trained healthcare professionals, such as nurses and dieticians, who help individuals become more active and effective participants in the management of their health.
The Health Coaching program at Excellus BCBS is tightly integrated with the plan's Excel for Life health and medical services. Health Dialog's flexible program design and consultative approach has enabled side-by-side implementation with Excel for Life programs including case management, health promotion, and pharmacy management.
"After successfully working with Health Dialog to provide our Medicare and self-insured employer populations with access to Health Coaching, we were eager to extend this offering to our HMO and POS members," said Kathleen Converse RN, BSN, CCM, Director of Case and Disease Management, Excellus BCBS. "Health Dialog's targeted reach and engage strategy allows us to engage members at the right time, with Health Coaching services that are personalized to individual needs."
"The expansion of the Health Coaching program at Excellus BCBS represents yet another way that the plan is committed to improving care for its members," said George Bennett, Chairman and CEO of Health Dialog. "Excellus BCBS has achieved a high level of program integration that also simplifies administration for employers, and enhances ease-of-use for members."
About Health Dialog
Health Dialog is a leading provider of care management services, including disease management, and is one of the fastest growing privately held firms in the U.S. The firm helps physician groups, health plans, and self-insured employers improve healthcare quality while reducing overall costs. The firm's services include analytic services and telephonic and other care management support for individuals. Health Dialog helps individuals become more actively engaged in their healthcare and have more effective relationships with their physicians. For more information about Health Dialog, please visit www.healthdialog.com.
About Excellus BlueCross BlueShield
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, headquartered in Rochester, NY, is part of a $4 billion family of companies that finances and delivers health care services across upstate New York and long-term care insurance nationwide. Collectively, the enterprise provides health insurance to more than 2 million people and employs more than 6,000 New Yorkers. The company's financial strength is reflected in its "A-minus" financial ratings from both A.M. Best and Standard & Poors. For more information, please visit www.excellusbcbs.com.
Source: Business Wire
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