Regence Enables Members to Share Feedback With Each Other When Researching
Health Care Provider Options
Member feedback feature promotes a more informed health care experience
PORTLAND, Ore., Jan. 14 /PRNewswire/ -- National and regional studies
indicate that informed patients make better health care decisions, and to
promote this effort, Regence is launching a member feedback feature in Spring
2008 that enables the health plan's three million members to share information
with each other about their provider experiences through myRegence.com, the
company's member site.
The new feedback feature provides Regence members with the means to
evaluate and review information on physicians, dentists and other health care
professionals, and to see comments and ratings posted by other members. Health
care providers whose patients complete the survey have an opportunity to
respond online. Currently, members are able to comment on their experience
with Regence as a health plan through myRegence.com.
"People often ask their family, friends and neighbors for recommendations
regarding health care providers, and this feature is another way to expand the
back fence in terms of those conversations," said Jeff Robertson, M.D.,
Executive Medical Director for Regence. "This new feature effectively broadens
the resources available to our members by encouraging feedback about their
health care experience."
The feedback feature will be launched in a two-step process. Regence
members and guests will be able to view the numerical portion of survey
results in early March 2008. In April, Regence plans to expand the feature,
making the comments and numerical scores available online to members. Both
elements are available to providers as part of a feature preview period that
begins today.
In a study conducted among Regence members with the help of an independent
research firm, 94 percent of the respondents indicated that having access to
information about other individuals' experiences was important to their health
care decision-making. In response, Regence continues to create ways for
members to become more fully engaged in their health care. The launch of the
member feedback feature is one of many ways that Regence is working to develop
and distribute information about cost, quality and the patient experiences
that members consider important when making value-based health care decisions.
About Regence
Regence is the largest health insurer in the Northwest/Intermountain
Region, serving nearly three million members as Regence BlueShield of Idaho,
Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Oregon, Regence BlueCross BlueShield of Utah
and Regence BlueShield (in Washington). Each plan is a not-for-profit
independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Regence is
committed to improving the health of our members and our communities, and to
transforming our health care system. For more information, please visit
http://www.regence.com.
Contact:
Angela Hult
Regence Media Relations
(503) 412.7902 - office
(503) 250.1026 - cell
SOURCE Regence
Angela Hult, Regence Media Relations, +1-503-412-7902, cell, +1-503-250-1026
