Blue Cross Receives Disease Managem...( EAGAN Minn. Feb. 9 -- Blue ...),Health

EAGAN, Minn., Feb. 9 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota has received three awards for excellence from the Disease Management Purchasing Consortium, manager of the largest database of vendored disease management programs. The awards are in recognition of Blue Cross' performance in achieving cost savings and reducing adverse health events for its members. Blue Cross' disease management efforts improved quality of care in:

• diabetes
• asthma
• congestive heart failure
• coronary artery disease

The disease management awards recognized:

• commitment to achievement of validly measured outcomes in common chronic conditions, including coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure and diabetes
• outstanding performance in achieving the lowest chronic disease adverse event rate among Blue Cross Plans in a commercial population
• achieving the greatest reduction in adverse events from 2004-2007

Al Lewis, founder and President of Disease Management Purchasing Consortium International, Inc. said, "Blue Cross' disease management programs are improving chronic disease outcomes for purchasers and their members. Blue Cross is working to prevent disease from progressing, and their efforts are succeeding in reducing adverse events. This is essential work if we are to change our health care system to be more efficient and effective."

"Blue Cross was able to help people become more involved in their health and actually change results by reaching out to those needing help achieving their goals," said Dr. David W. Plocher, chief medical officer at Blue Cross. Dr. Plocher was recently recognized as a national leader in disease management by Managed Healthcare Executive magazine. "Blue Cross is honored
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