Today, employers and other purchasers expect superior customer satisfaction and improved health outcomes for patients. This constant quest for quality improvement lies at the heart of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield managed health care philosophy. Managed care plans provide physicians with feedback on the quality of care they provide, so they can recognize what they do well and identify opportunities for improvement. In addition, physicians in progressive managed care plans develop practice guidelines focused on clinical efficacy and cost rationalization. The results of this coordinated approach hold great promise for Americans' future health.
Babies born through managed care programs are healthier than the national average.
These remarkable accomplishments are possible because managed care plans can be true partners in patient care. Clinical and financial incentives, for the first time in American medical history, have the opportunity for alignment. Sophisticated information systems allow doctors to track which patients need cancer screenings and other important tests, and then remind their patients to obtain these services on schedule. One Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plan increased mammography screening by 6 percent and childhood immunizations by 7 percent in two years using this type of reminder program. Managed care systems also allow careful monitoring of patients with chronic illnesses, such as diabetes and asthma.