Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network Launch Pilot Program With 21 Michigan Hospitals to Study and Improve Use of Non-Invasive Heart Imaging Test
Posted on: Tuesday, 10 July 2007, 09:23 CDT
DETROIT, July 10 /PRNewswire/ -- In partnership with 21 Michigan hospitals, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are launching a program to support providers' efforts to study and improve the use of coronary computed tomography angiography, a promising non-invasive technology that could replace conventional cardiac catheterization for patients with heart problems. The goal is to ensure that the technology is used in a way that contributes to patients' health and improves the use and efficiency of hospital resources.
The Michigan Blues are providing funding for the program, which launches in July. Gilbert Raff, M.D., director for Beaumont Hospital's Ministrelli Center for Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging and member of the Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging Consortium of Michigan, will be the principal researcher.
CCTA is a non-invasive imaging heart test that uses contrast materials in the arteries and high-resolution CT machinery to obtain detailed images of blood vessels and the heart to identify possible blockages or structural problems.
"This partnership with hospitals will help determine the appropriate and best use of this test for the average heart patient as compared to other tests that are used," said Thomas Simmer, M.D., senior vice president and chief medical officer for the Blues. "We will learn if CCTA scans offer faster and more definitive diagnoses for patients. This could lead to improved care for cardiac patients and cost savings for the entire health system because a single CCTA scan could replace a series of standard cardiac tests."
Previously, use of the test was not covered by the Blues. Beginning July 1, 2007, hospitals and physicians participating in the study will be reimbursed for providing CCTA to Blues PPO, Point of Service and Blue Care Network members. The Blues are also exploring how to include CCTA tests administered in physician-based facilities.
The study is open to all hospitals that meet criteria. Hospitals in the study are required to use a 64-slice CT scanner, participate in the Michigan Blues' Traditional and PPO hospital networks and meet rigorous standards for the quality of the procedure and training of the staff involved.
"Coronary artery CT scanning is an important new technology that has great potential to improve heart disease diagnosis for a large number of patients. Like any new medical technique, understanding its particular strengths and limitations is critical to improving patient care," said Raff. "The Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging Consortium is designed to develop and monitor the best uses, techniques and interpretation of this exciting new test in participating hospitals throughout Michigan."
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan funding will assist hospitals in developing a database to document the use of CCTA, generate data that can lead to best practice guidelines for hospitals, and start a continuous quality improvement program in cardiovascular imaging. Each participating hospital will be able to compare its data with aggregate performance data from all hospitals in the study. Aggregate data is used in the study; individual data is kept confidential.
The Advanced Cardiovascular Imaging Consortium will provide administrative, logistic, statistical and analytical support for the program. Serving on the ACIC executive committee are Ella Kazerooni, M.D., director of thoracic radiology at the University of Michigan; Mauro Moscucci, M.D., University of Michigan Health System Department of Cardiology, and Tauquir Goraya, M.D., Michigan Heart and Vascular Institute at Saint Joseph Mercy Health System in Ann Arbor.
A complete list of participating hospitals can be found at http://bcbsm.com/home/bcbsm/newsroom.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit organization, provides and administers health benefits to more than 4.5 million members residing in Michigan in addition to members of Michigan-headquartered groups who reside outside the state. The company offers a broad variety of plans including: Traditional Blue Cross Blue Shield; Blue Preferred, Community Blue and Healthy Blue Incentives PPOs; Blue Care Network HMO; BCN Healthy Blue Living; Flexible Blue plans compatible with health savings accounts; Medicare Advantage; Part D Prescription Drug plans, and MyBlue products in the under-age-65 individual market. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more company information, visit http://www.bcbsm.com/.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network
CONTACT: Helen Stojic, +1-313-225-8113, or Andrea Ward, +1-313-225-5643,both of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan
Web site: http://bcbsm.com/home/bcbsm/newsroomhttp://www.bcbsm.com/
Source: PRNewswire
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