Independence Blue Cross Enhances SMART(R) Registry

New medication monitoring tool benefits physicians and their patients

PHILADELPHIA, July 31 /PRNewswire/ -- To better support high-quality
patient care, Independence Blue Cross (IBC) is providing primary care
physicians with enhanced information about IBC members with chronic
conditions. This summer, physicians across the region are receiving a SMART(R)
Registry with several important enhancements. The Registry is a tailored
medical report that aids physicians in better treating patients with specific
health care needs.
Twice a year, primary care physician practices receive the SMART Registry
for many of their patients who suffer from chronic conditions such as
diabetes, heart failure, coronary heart disease, asthma, and COPD. The reports
include color-coded charts that note whether the member may be in need of a
recommended test, procedure, or treatment. Reports also include confirmation
that recommended tests have been completed, along with available results.
The SMART Registry, introduced by IBC in 2004 through an alliance with
Health Dialog, will now add key new information regarding chronic condition
members and will be available in a variety of convenient formats. Now included
in the Registry is "medication persistence," a medication monitoring tool to
help physicians manage patient care more proficiently. Persistence rates will
show how often a patient fills their recommended prescriptions and obtains
refills in a timely manner.
"We are very excited about the recent enhancements to the SMART Registry
and how they will help doctors better serve their patients," said Dr. Esther
Nash, senior medical director at IBC. "We consistently search for ways to make
this information useful to physicians. Members with chronic conditions face a
continuous challenge when it comes to keeping up with care recommended by
their physicians. The Registry is an innovative means for doctors to identify
gaps in care and work with their patients to better manage their health."
Also new this year, many doctors are automatically receiving an electronic
copy of the registry. The CD version, rather than the previous binder format,
allows physicians to sort the data in the way that works best for them, making
patient outreach more effective. This version includes a PDF file of the
entire SMART Registry as well as all supplemental materials. The binder format
is still available upon request.
The SMART Registry is a key component of IBC's Connections(SM) Program;
which is designed to assist providers and their patients in managing chronic
conditions, and to help patients make more informed decisions about their
health. The decision support element features Health Coaches, who are
available 24/7 to answer questions regarding treatment options, as well as
general medical questions.
The SMART Registry is also beneficial for physicians to note their
practice's performance levels. Over time, the registries have shown how
practices improve in terms of patient results.
These improvements are among the many ways IBC is working to more actively
engage members and their treating providers in their health care decisions and
their overall treatment plans for chronic conditions. Also this summer, IBC
announced the introduction of a member incentive program called Rx for Better
Health, which will waive the copays for many prescription drugs that are used
to treat certain chronic conditions. The program began July 1 and ends
December 31, 2008. For more information go to www.ibx.com.
The SMART Registry complies with HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996) regulations that protect the privacy of a
patient's personal health information. Such information is shared only with
primary care physicians and sent under a secure seal.
About Independence Blue Cross
Independence Blue Cross is a leading health insurer in Southeastern
Pennsylvania. IBC and its affiliates provide coverage to nearly 3.4 million
people. For 70 years, Independence Blue Cross has offered high-quality health
care coverage tailored to meet the changing needs of members, employers, and
health care professionals. Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensee
of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue
Cross and Blue Shield Plans. For more information go to www.ibx.com.
SMART(R) is a registered trademark of Health Dialog Services Corporation,
a wholly-owned subsidiary of Bupa, a global provider of healthcare services.
The firm's support activities include analytic services, telephonic and online
Health Coaching for a broad spectrum of conditions, healthy lifestyle
initiatives, and a variety of other support for individuals, payers, and
physicians. The goal of the support activities is to help individuals develop
more effective relationships with their physicians.
SOURCE Independence Blue Cross

Karen Burnham, +1-215-241-3106, Karen.Burnham@ibx.com, or Mary Kate Ruffing,
+1-215-241-9417, MaryKate.Ruffing@ibx.com, both of Independence Blue Cross