Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield in Wisconsin and Aurora Health Care have secured the first major company to offer their health plan that guarantees cost savings of at least 8 percent for employers.
Milwaukee-based grocery store chain Roundy's Supermarkets is making the Blue Priority health plan available to its roughly 8,000 employees, reported the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
The Anthem-Aurora health plan, which limits the provider network to Aurora-owned hospitals and affiliated doctors, essentially assures that a limited network lets its doctors better coordinate overall care, enhance chronic disease management and apply preventive care to help patients stay healthful.
One key feature of the Blue Priority plan is providing Roundy's employees with on-site and telephone access to Aurora's nurse case managers who can schedule doctor appointments, coordinate care, develop self-management plans for high-risk and chronic disease patients, and coach employees on health and wellness goals, according to the Milwaukee Business Journal.
However, the limited network means some of Roundy's employees and family members will be forced to change providers. If they receive care from out-of-network doctors, they will incur much higher out-of-pocket costs. But when employees are outside of Wisconsin, they can access any Blue Cross Blue Shield-contracted provider at in-network rates, BizTimes Milwaukee reported.
"Roundy's leadership has been looking for a way to more effectively help its employees stay healthy," brokerage firm HNI Executive Director Anthony Fioretti, who worked with Roundy's on its healthcare strategy, told BizTimes. "With Blue Priority and the Aurora Accountable Care Network we can do just that. This plan brings true innovation to the market place."
To learn more:
- read the BizTimes Milwaukee article
- see the Milwaukee Business Journal article
- check out the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel article