WellPoint Program for Medicare Advantage Members Earns URAC Gold Award in Consumer Empowerment and Protection

URAC honors WellPoint for improving quality care and outcomes by helping address and improve gaps in care

INDIANAPOLIS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--WellPoint, Inc., (NYSE:WLP) today announced it has won Gold Honors from URAC for its Medicare Advantage Stars Outbound Call program offered through its affiliated Medicare Advantage health plans, which helps health plan members improve their health by getting the quality care they need at the right time and in the right setting.

“This recognition underscores our commitment to putting our customers first by offering innovative programs and services that foster and combine better decision making with better outcomes that are achievable and proven.”

The honor was announced at a gala reception during the 2012 URAC Quality Summit and Awards Program October 9-11 in San Francisco, CA. The award recognizes achievements of organizations that are effectively advancing the role of consumers as active participants in health care through Consumer Health Improvement.

WellPoint received the honor for conducting a rigorous evaluation of its Medicare Advantage Stars Outbound Call program that uses sophisticated predictive modeling to identify potential gaps in care and then, through its Case Management operational center, actively works to close those gaps.

The study found that by proactively calling Medicare Advantage health plan members to help them schedule appointments with their doctors, or take their prescribed medications as directed, the program had a positive effect on consumer behavior and health outcomes. In just the first two months of the year-long program, those included in the study were 20 to 42 percent more likely to close gaps in care associated with five of nine evidence-based clinical measures, than were those who were not contacted for the study.

“Our top priority is improving access to quality, affordable care in a way that makes a positive difference in peoples’ lives and enhances their experience with us and with their providers,” said Dr. Harlan Levine, executive vice president of WellPoint. “This recognition underscores our commitment to putting our customers first by offering innovative programs and services that foster and combine better decision making with better outcomes that are achievable and proven.”

Each year URAC, a leading health care accreditation, education and measurement organization, recognizes industry milestones in advancing the role of consumers as active participants in their health care through heightened awareness and education.

“Our Best Practices Awards are a unique celebration of innovative health care management programs. These organizations have implemented leading initiatives that have made a difference in the lives of the consumers they serve with demonstrable results that matter,” said Alan P. Spielman, president and CEO of URAC. “This year’s winners are recognized for their leadership in pursuing practices to advance consumer empowerment and protection in an exceptional, measurable and reproducible way, and delivering on the promise of a quality health care system that puts consumers first.”

Entries were judged by a panel of prestigious, independent judges including recognized experts in program evaluation, care coordination, health information technology, employer and purchaser decision making and patient safety. Honors were awarded in the categories of Consumer Decision-Making and Consumer Health Improvement.

About WellPoint, Inc.

At WellPoint, we believe there is an important connection between our members’ health and well-being—and the value we bring our customers and shareholders. So each day we work to improve the health of our members and their communities. And, we can make a real difference since we have approximately 34 million people in our branded health plans, and approximately 65 million people served through our subsidiaries. As an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, WellPoint serves members as the Blue Cross licensee for California; the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, New York (as the Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in 10 New York City metropolitan and surrounding counties and as the Blue Cross or Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee in selected upstate counties only), Ohio, Virginia (excluding the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.), and Wisconsin. In a majority of these service areas, WellPoint’s plans do business as Anthem Blue Cross, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Georgia and Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, or Empire Blue Cross (in the New York service areas). WellPoint also serves customers across the country through our UniCare subsidiary and in certain California, Arizona and Nevada markets through our CareMore subsidiary. Our 1-800 CONTACTS, Inc. subsidiary offers customers online sales of contact lenses, eyeglasses and other ocular products. Additional information about WellPoint is available at www.wellpoint.com.

About URAC

URAC, an independent, nonprofit organization, is well-known as a leader in promoting health care quality through its accreditation, education and measurement programs. URAC offers a wide range of quality benchmarking programs and services that keep pace with the rapid changes in the health care system, and provide a symbol of excellence for organizations to validate their commitment to quality and accountability. Through its broad-based governance structure and an inclusive standards development process, URAC ensures that all stakeholders are represented in establishing meaningful quality measures for the entire health care industry. For more information, visit www.urac.org.