Premera to Contribute Market Data, Experience to Seattle-Based Federal Stimulus Funded Research

$4 Million Comparative-Effectiveness Project to Focus on Cancer Diagnostics
MOUNTLAKE TERRACE, Wash.--(Business Wire)--
Premera Blue Cross applauds today`s announcement by researchers at Fred
Hutchinson Cancer Research Center, Group Health Research Institute, and the
University of Washington Schools of Public Health and Pharmacy. Those
organizations announced four important projects backed by approximately $16
million in federal stimulus funding for comparative-effectiveness research in
cancer.

PREMERA SUPPORTS CANCER DIAGNOSTICS STUDY

Premera Blue Cross is taking an important supportive role in one of the four
studies, a $4 million project based at the UW School of Public Health, led by
Larry Kessler, chair of the UW Department of Health Services. This project will
evaluate the effectiveness of cancer diagnostics used to determine the extent of
disease and plan treatment. Diagnostics range from mammography and MRI to
ultrasound, PET-CT, and blood- or tissue-based biomarkers.

"With Premera as part of this effort, we will have the benefit of real-world
data about usage of diagnostics across a broad population in Washington State.
As a result, what we learn will become more meaningful to our efforts to
optimize the role that diagnostics play in diagnosing and monitoring cancer in
patients," said Kessler.

Premera hopes to use information generated by this study to further payment
policies to promote efficient delivery of care. Premera`s specific support for
the study includes:

* Data Sharing - Premera intends to provide data on the use of diagnostics in
the diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of many of its members who have cancer.
The data will be provided in a format that protects the identity of its members.

* Leadership - One of Premera`s medical directors, Dr. Tom Paulson, will serve
with other local healthcare leaders and experts on the steering committee for
this research.

"Having proactive partnerships with health plans and providers will allow us to
study new technologies early in their launch into the market to make sure we are
improving the value of the healthcare we provide cancer patients," said Kessler.

The Cancer Diagnostics research project, called "Advancing Innovative
Comparative Effectiveness Research in Cancer Diagnostics," or ADVICE, will be
co-led by investigators from the UW schools of Pharmacy and Medicine, Group
Health, Veterans Affairs and the Hutchinson Center, which will serve as the
study`s data center.

"Over the past decade, the field of both medical imaging and laboratory-based
diagnostics has taken a quantum leap forward," said Kessler in the research
announcement. "However, the evidence to determine how to best use these modern
technologies in clinical practice hasn`t kept pace with the technological
developments. Our research will help providers and patients make better
decisions about the use of these technologies, which ultimately will lead to the
best possible outcomes."

COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS WORK ESSENTIAL TO CREATING A SUSTAINABLE HEALTHCARE
SYSTEM

Supporting comparative-effectiveness research projects in Seattle is one way
Premera is working with healthcare providers to improve health outcomes while
reducing unnecessary costs.

Other examples of this work include:

* Premera`s partnership with Swedish Medical Center to expand access to primary
care through its new, innovative Community Health Medical Home clinic in
Seattle`s Ballard neighborhood.
* Premera is partnering with two leading healthcare providers in Western
Washington in the development of programs that focus on rewarding better health
outcomes, not more medical procedures, for patients with diabetes.

"Supporting our network providers in efforts to improve the quality and
effectiveness of healthcare is an important way we deliver peace of mind to our
members," said Gubby Barlow, CEO at Premera Blue Cross. "Keeping a continual
focus on this effort in our community and across the country is one way we at
Premera are working to create a sustainable healthcare system."

About Premera Blue Cross

Our mission is to provide peace of mind to our members about their healthcare
coverage. We provide health insurance and related services to more than 1.5
million people. Premera Blue Cross has operated in Washington since 1933 and
Alaska since 1957. Premera Blue Cross is an independent licensee of the Blue
Cross Blue Shield Association.

Premera Blue Cross is a member of a family of companies based in Mountlake
Terrace, Washington, that provide health, life, vision, dental, stop-loss,
disability, and other related products and services.Please visit www.premera.com
for more information.

Premera Blue Cross
Media Relations Manager
Eric Earling, 425-918-3297 office
eric.earling@premera.com
or
Communications Director
Jodi Coffey, 425-918-5953 office
jodi.coffey@premera.com

Copyright Business Wire 2009