BlueWorks

Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are dedicated to improving the quality and services available to their members, while working together to keep healthcare and healthcare coverage affordable for all Americans. 

The annual BlueWorks Awards program is designed to advance that mission by highlighting Blue solutions that improve the quality and value of – and access to – our healthcare system.

BlueWorks entries are reviewed by the Harvard Medical School Department of Health Care Policy and independent judges from key medical societies for their innovation, scope, approach and impact on healthcare delivery in Blue companies' local markets.  By promoting evidence-based solutions to relevant challenges, the BlueWorks Awards are designed to benefit the entire Blue System and our overall healthcare system. 

Since the inception of BlueWorks in 2004, Harvard has recognized 43 Blue Cross and/or Blue Shield Plan programs for their innovative work to help consumers better manage their healthcare choices.

Award Categories:

Programs that are Changing Incentives to Promote Better Care

This category showcases Blue company programs that assist and/or offer incentives for providers to deliver the best possible quality care and encourage coordinated care.  Additionally, successful programs and/or provider incentives should focus on care delivery that significantly reduces ineffective, redundant or potentially harmful procedures.

• Applications of Indirect Estimation of Race/Ethnicity Data  
  Anthem Blue Cross (California)

Programs that Empower Consumers and Providers

This category showcases Blue company programs, technologies or processes that deliver tools to consumers and providers to help them make more informed decisions.  For consumers, for example, enhanced transparency of information about quality and cost of healthcare services and greater use of personal health records are key to helping consumers manage their own healthcare.  For providers, the use of health information technology can improve provider efficiencies and help reduce medical errors.

• Caring Program: Care Coordination for Children with Special Health Care Needs
  Highmark Blue Shield's Caring Foundation
  
  
• Enhancing Statin Therapy Efficiency
  Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas

Programs that Promote Health and Wellness

This category showcases Blue Plan programs that encourage consumers to adopt healthy lifestyles, which have shown to be beneficial to health outcomes, cost of care and overall quality of life.

• Smart Bodies: Building Healthy Bodies and Active Minds
  Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana

Programs that Foster Public-Private Coverage Solutions

This category showcases Blue company programs and initiatives that offer tailored solutions to reduce the three segments of the uninsured: those who are "squeezed out" by cost, those already eligible but "missing out" on public coverage and those with higher incomes who "opt out" of coverage.  These solutions should include a role for both the public and private sectors ensuring that people get the healthcare they need.

• No programs selected in 2008