When was blue cross founded

More than 56, physicians participate in the payer's PCMH models. The lawsuits allege BCBS insurers' " cartel-like " operations limit competition and drive up premiums.

One case was brought on behalf of healthcare providers and the other on behalf of individual and small-employer customers. The suits were combined into one claim by a federal judicial panel in Alabama and the plaintiffs are now seeking class-action status. BCBS denied the allegations. It says their licensing model — which gives companies exclusive rights to use the BCBS brand in specific regions — is not unlawful and has been in existence for decades without previous antitrust action. The case comes down to the judicial interpretation of the BCBS model.

Whether BCBS is a franchise or was purposefully designed to reduce competition is the crux of the case, according to Barak D.

Richman, a Duke law professor. The plaintiffs have conflicting interests. Glenn Melnick, a professor at the University of Southern California, pointed out in The Wall Street Journal that higher reimbursement rates are of interest for providers, but would lead to higher premiums for customers. No judgments have been made on the merits of the case, but it was not dismissed last year by U. District Judge R. David Proctor, who said the plaintiffs "have alleged a viable market-allocation scheme.

Payers were ranked based on metrics such as days in accounts receivable, claim resolution rate, denial rate and more. BCBS plans were rated the No. Power Member Health Plan Study. The study is based on consumer responses in six categories: coverage and benefits, provider choice, information and communication, claims processing, cost and customer service. Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies begin to empower more working Americans to access the healthcare system, some for the first time in their lives.

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield logos become ubiquitous icons in both homes and medical offices across America. In , more than 19 million individuals enroll under the new Medicare legislation. Today Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are instrumental in providing services to over 52 million Medicaid and 42 million Medicare participants. Today, this program covers more than 4. Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies develop and pioneer new ways of working with health data that protects privacy, while discovering important trends that lead to innovations in care delivery management.

This starts a movement towards empowering individuals to be more actively involved in their healthcare decision-making. Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies will continue to lead efforts on behalf of million members, in local communities nationwide by partnering with doctors, nurses, hospitals and others to rein in costs, improve quality, help people stay well and better manage their care when they need it. Today: Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies cover nearly one-in-three Americans, in every zip code in every state and Federal Territory.

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies are part of their local communities, making them accountable to their own neighbors, friends and families. The Michigan Society for Group Hospitalization already had more than , customers from employers. Not long after, the Society and the Service changed their names. Over the next two decades, Michigan Blue Cross and Michigan Blue Shield made health insurance accessible to more and more people, like individuals and older adults without group coverage.

In , the U. When we finally merged to become Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan in , we changed our board of directors so that customers made up the majority of the board. In , at the request of state officials, we purchased a struggling health maintenance organization HMO. By the s, Blue Care Network was:. In the late s and s, we set new standards for programs that carry out our mission.

They have made our members and Michigan communities healthier, improved the quality of health care and lowered health care costs for everyone. Here are some examples.