Health Options, Inc.'s BlueMedicare HMO Earns NCQA Excellent Rating

JACKSONVILLE, Fla., Jan. 15 /PRNewswire/ -- The National Committee for
Quality Assurance (NCQA) has awarded the BlueMedicare HMO plan of Health
Options, Inc. (HOI) "Excellent" accreditation, NCQA's highest accreditation
status. Excellent accreditation is awarded to those plans that meet or exceed
NCQA's most rigorous requirements for consumer protection and quality
improvement.
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Health Options, Inc., is a wholly owned subsidiary of Blue Cross and Blue
Shield of Florida (BCBSF). Earlier this year, NCQA awarded the status of
"Excellent" to the HOI BlueCare HMO commercial plan.
"We are excited that both of our HMO products have an excellent rating
from NCQA," said Dr. F. Miguel Fernandez, senior medical director, health care
programs, BCBSF. "HOI and BCBSF continually strive to improve the quality of
health care provided to our members."
NCQA accreditation ratings are based on how well plans meet standards
related to access and service, in addition to an annual review of clinical
quality data reported through the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and
Information Set, or HEDIS(R).
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida is a leader in Florida's health
industry. BCBSF and its subsidiaries serve more than 8.8 million people. Since
1944, the company has been dedicated to meeting the diverse needs of all those
it serves by offering an array of choices. BCBSF is a not-for-profit,
policyholder-owned, tax-paying mutual company. Headquartered in Jacksonville,
Fla., BCBSF is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield
companies. For more information concerning BCBSF, please see its Web site at
www.bcbsfl.com.
SOURCE Blue Cross Blue Shield of Florida

Mark S. Wright, of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida, +1-904-905-6935,
CELL +1-904-233-3481, mark.wright@bcbsfl.com