Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Kentucky Announces Release of State He...( Kentucky Ranks 47th Nationwide in Hea...),Health

Kentucky Ranks 47th Nationwide in Health Status; Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield provides funding to provide healthcare services to more than 5,000 Kentuckians located in the eastern and western parts of the Commonwealth

LOUISVILLE, Ky., Nov. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield today launched its new State Health Index, a program that incorporates public health data to identify and help address major health issues in the state. Anthem has assembled a dedicated team to collaborate with local and state officials, as well as community organizations, to research the reasons behind the prevalent health deficiencies and to design policy solutions and implement or enhance programs aimed at improving overall health in the state.

Developed from data collected by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the State Health Index ranks Kentucky 47th in the nation based on a comprehensive assessment of 23 measures of health status. Anthem has selected the following measures of improvement for its focus during the first several years of the SHI program as they have the most potential to be positively influenced by the actions of the company:

-- Prenatal Care in First Trimester

-- Low Birthweight Infant Rate

-- Adult Influenza Immunization Rate

-- Adult Pneumococcal Immunization Rate

-- Physical Activity Levels

-- Cigarette Smoking Rate

-- Diabetes in Adult Population

-- Heart Disease Death Rate

"As the largest health insurer in the state, we have a unique responsibility to understand and improve not only the health of our members, but also the overall health of the communities in which they live," said Deb Moessner, president and general manager, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. "The State Health Index will provide Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and our public and private partners-state and local government, insurers, health care professionals and consumers-with a roadmap t
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