Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association-Sponsored Research on Healthcare Costs Featured in American Journal of Managed Care

6/24/2003

From: Brian Crawford of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, 312-297-6161, e-mail: brian.crawford@bcbsa.com

CHICAGO, June 24 -- Research sponsored by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA) is featured in a special June edition of The American Journal of Managed Care (AJMC), an independent, peer-reviewed publication dedicated to disseminating clinical information to managed care physicians, clinical decision makers, and other healthcare professionals.

The BCBSA research is the most comprehensive analysis to date of the forces driving up hospital and physician costs, said BCBSA President and CEO Scott P. Serota.

"This research is a solid foundation for the Blue Cross and Blue Shield System's multi-year initiative to find ways for keeping healthcare affordable and reducing the number of uninsured Americans," Serota said. "We are pleased to have our research vetted through a prestigious peer-review process, which both supports and confirms the high quality and integrity of the work."

The research explores new evidence examining rising healthcare costs, including hospital cost drivers, the technology explosion, the growing nursing shortage, factors driving physician costs, and healthcare quality. Noted researchers from the University of Southern California, the Lewin Group and HealthShare Technology conducted the separate studies, which were released in pre-publication form in October, 2002.

"This commitment to research by BCBSA reflects an enlightened recognition that clinical research advancing the frontiers of medicine must be accompanied by rigorous health services research improving our ability to manage new medical technology and develop efficient and equitable healthcare financing mechanisms," said Michael Chernew, co-editor of AJMC and associate professor in the School of Public Health at the University of Michigan.

"A comprehensive understanding of these issues is required so that health plans, healthcare providers and policy makers can develop initiatives to improve the value of care delivered to Americans," Chernew said.

"Because Blue Plans insure nearly one in three Americans, we understand the size of the problem and we're committed to working together with other stakeholders to keep quality healthcare affordable," Serota said.

The American Journal of Managed Care publishes high-quality, clinically focused manuscripts that emphasize healthcare outcomes, clinical- and cost-effectiveness, new technologies, quality management and clinical information systems, physician and patient behavior, and health policy. All original articles are subjected to rigorous peer review by leading clinical investigators, health services researchers and clinical epidemiologists.

The Journal's special edition -- "Cost Drivers in Healthcare" -- is being distributed to more than 50,000 subscribers and is available at http://www.ajmc.com.

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association is comprised of 42 independent, locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans that collectively provide healthcare coverage for more than 88.7 million -- nearly one-in-three -- Americans. For more information on the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and its Plans, visit http://www.bcbs.com.