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Historical Highlights — 2000s
2000
BCBSM signs an agreement with California-based Landmark Healthcare Inc., to launch an affinity discount network called Naturally BlueSM. The network provides discounts for acupuncture, massage therapy and nutrition counseling as well as access to discounted nutritional supplements and healthy living products for Blues members.
In cooperation with Dr. John Wennberg of Dartmouth University, BCBSM publishes the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care in Michigan. The comprehensive study analyzes the use and supply of health care resources in the state. Content includes information on variations in treatment of coronary artery disease, use of prescription drugs, surgeries for common diseases and hospitalizations for medical conditions.
2001
The Blues launch a major new initiative to increase consumer awareness of the quality and value of generic drugs — unadvertised versions of more expensive brand-name drugs. A major component of the initiative enlists Michigan retail pharmacists in a statewide informational campaign, including a competition that encourages participating pharmacies to increase the number of generic prescriptions filled for Blues members.
The state releases a routine audit declaring the company is "safe and solvent." The audit also points to what the Blues have been telling state officials since 1999 — Michigan needs market and rating reforms in the small business insurance market, a line of business where the Blues have experienced losses over the past five years.
The Blues join the Coalition for Health Insurance Market Reform (CHIMR), which includes more than 150 trade associations, chambers of commerce and business and civic groups from across the state. The Coalition expects to work with state government to assure the long-term financial viability of the Blues and help enact reforms needed in the small business insurance market.
BCBSM launches the first component of its evolving e-business strategy, a "self service" log in for members located on the Blues' home page, www.bcbsm.com. Using this function, Blues members can perform a variety of activities, including updating their addresses and telephone numbers, viewing membership status of individuals covered on contract and adding details regarding supplemental coverage. When fully deployed, the privacy-enabled e-business function will include a sophisticated array of offerings to cardholders and other constituencies such as doctors, hospitals, employer groups, and agents.
BCN's company-owned health centers in east and mid-Michigan unveil a new name — Family Health Centers of Blue Care Network. They also reinforce the mission to provide health care services to thousands of local residents. The centers provide medical care with physicians and staff specializing in family practice, internal medicine and pediatrics.
The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) honors the Blues for the company's role in helping to prevent patient medication errors. The ISMP Award honors individuals, organizations or companies that set superlative standards for excellence in reducing medication errors. The Michigan Health & Hospital Association (MHA) and the Michigan Pharmacists Association (MPA) are co-recipients.
2002
BCBSM's Health Care Fraud Investigation Unit, which is the oldest and most successful health plan operation of its kind in the United States, announces that it has saved or recovered nearly $200 million since it began operationing more than 20 years ago.
BCBSM purchases Livonia, Mich.-based DenteMax, the nation's largest independent dental PPO network, with nearly 30,000 dental providers serving almost three million patients in all 50 states and the District of Columbia.
BCBSM creates a unique Web site, theunadvertisedbrand.com, which enables users to compare savings between brand name and generic prescriptions. The site receives national media attention.
BCBSM launches its personalized care management program, BlueHealthConnection®, which is designed to help members more effectively manage their own personal health and well-being. A study ranks it as one of two "best in class" programs among major Blue Cross Blue Shield initiatives nationwide.
BCN of Michigan, BCBSM's HMO affiliate, becomes the first commercial HMO in Michigan and in the nation to receive accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. BCN receives the accreditation for its disease management program, designed to help patients with asthma, diabetes and congestive heart failure.
2003
The small group health insurance market reform legislation becomes law. The legislation will help stabilize the small business community insurance pool over time.
BCBSM launches a new statewide physical activity program called WalkingWorks. Hundreds of people join Ernie Harwell, Hall of Fame broadcaster and an avid walker at age 85, as he leads walks across the State.
BCBSM completes new requirements relating to medical codes, electronic transactions and privacy under the federal Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA). HIPAA was created to standardize health care transactions throughout the industry.
BCBSM wins two national awards from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. The first award recognizes the achievements of the BCBSM Cardiovascular Consortium, which developed a database to assess risk and monitor quality improvement for patients undergoing certain heart procedures. The second acknowledges BCBSM's role in the formation of the Michigan Health & Safety Coalition.
BCBSM announces a partnership with the State of Michigan to continue the MIChild Program, which provides health care coverage to nearly 30,000 low-income children who otherwise would be uninsured.
BCBSM announces plans to move the company's West Michigan regional offices to the historic Steketee Building in downtown Grand Rapids. The 100-year-old, 85,000 square-foot structure is a former retail department store.
2004
BCBSM rolls out new products, including Blue HSA and Healthy Blue PPO. These products satisfy specific federal requirements related to deductibles and out-of-pocket expenses for these types of products.
BCBSM's efforts to demonstrate the value of generic drugs, which started in 2001, continues to show savings. BCBSM members with prescription drug coverage who used generic prescription drugs generated more than $97 million in savings of drug dollars spent by BCBSM on behalf of its customers and members.
Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and BCBSM announce a new anti-fraud strike force to fight major insurance fraud schemes. The Michigan Blues vice president of corporate and financial investigations is the co-chair.
BCBSM and BCN receive several awards. A pilot program teaching medical residents how and why to screen patients for domestic abuse won a "Best of Blue" national award from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BCN's Diabetes Management Program was recognized as one of the best in the nation at the America's Health Insurance Plans Foundation's Excellence in Health Care Awards.
BCBSM sells PPOM, a wholly owned, for-profit subsidiary and health care network management company that independently contracts with hospitals, physicians and other providers to offer health care services in Michigan, Ohio and Indiana.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan announces a program to reward 10 physician groups representing more than 2,900 physicians in 33 Michigan counties for improving quality of care and creating health care cost savings for more than 400,000 Michigan Blues members through a monetary incentive program.
BCBSM officials and local government leaders cut the blue ribbon to move 266 employees and its West Michigan regional offices into the historic, eight-story Steketee Building in downtown Grand Rapids. The West Michigan office serves more than 1.1 million members in 41 counties at a rate of 20,000 calls each week.
2005
BCBSM and BCN announce a program awarding $1 million in grants to free clinics in Michigan that offer primary, urgent and preventative care to the uninsured. Part of the Blues' social mission is to work with other organizations to help find ways to increase access to health care for the uninsured.
The BCBSM board of directors selects Daniel J. Loepp, senior vice president and chief of staff, as CEO designate to succeed Blues president and CEO Richard E. Whitmer when Whitmer retires in mid-2006.
2006
Blue Care Network of Michigan launches a new product, Healthy Blue Living. With support from their primary care physicians and BCN, plan members adopt healthy lifestyles and are rewarded with lower copayments and deductibles.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network purchase M-CARE from the University of Michigan. Both U-M and the Blues share a historical nonprofit commitment to health care. The sale enables U-M to sell M-CARE to a nonprofit organization that it can be confident will continue its nonprofit mission. As part of the purchase, the University of Michigan Health System and BCBSM agree to form a separate joint venture to foster a variety of health care research and quality improvement projects.
2007
BCBSM launches a new PPO wellness product, Healthy Blue IncentivesSM. The new product is meant to encourage employees to participate in wellness initiatives that are designed to improve the health and productivity of workforces.
BCBSM introduces Consultative Tailoring, a new approach to wellness and care management for large customer groups. Blues consultants work with individual customers to understand their goals, health risks and highest potential areas for health improvement.
The Michigan Minority Business Development Council presents BCBSM with its 2007 Corporation of the Year in Health Care Award.
The Accident Fund Insurance Company of America, a BCBSM subsidiary, announces a major redevelopment project to make a historic power plant in Lansing its new national headquarters.
