MILWAUKEE--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Medicaid health plan in Wisconsin recently earned the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) Health Equity Accreditation Plus, a recognition of Anthem’s leadership in developing solutions to enhance access to equitable, high-quality healthcare. It further underscores Anthem’s commitment to eliminating health disparities in underserved communities to improve health outcomes and reduce overall treatment costs.
“NCQA’s Health Equity Accreditation Plus recognizes our unwavering dedication to eliminating health disparities and helping ensure access to high-quality care for everyone,” said Ted Osthelder, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Medicaid President in Wisconsin. “This milestone positions Anthem at the forefront of advancing health equity through our innovative programs that provide access to individualized care to improve the whole health of our members.”
NCQA Health Equity Accreditation Plus builds upon the Health Equity Accreditation designation Anthem received last year, when they were recognized among the first Medicaid plans in the nation to create a strategic framework that prioritizes health equity based on race, ethnicity, language, sexual orientation, and gender identity.
The new Health Equity Accreditation Plus goes a step further by acknowledging Anthem’s data-driven approach to help identify and collect information on individuals’ social needs. This data enables Anthem to develop personalized services and supports to combat health inequities, leveraging partnerships with community-based organizations (CBOs) to help improve the health outcomes of individuals.
Anthem is advancing its health equity mission through various innovative programs including:
- Collaboration connections between health care clinics and CBOs to ensure culturally relevant doula services, breastfeeding support, parent education classes, as well as transportation assistance for medical appointments and health-related social needs for members.
- A dedicated case management team which provides interventions that address the social needs and risks of members tailored to their unique circumstances including support for those who are at a higher risk of asthma exacerbations, assistance with accessing health care services and medication, housing and environment assessments and resources, and culturally informed information about smoking cessation programs for impacted members.
- Behavioral health and peer support associates who utilize shared experience and empowerment to meet members where they are providing proactive support through a personalized whole health approach.
“Racial and ethnic disparities have hindered quality healthcare progression for many Americans,” said Margaret E. O’Kane, NCQA President. “Organizations earning the Health Equity Accreditation Plus like Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Wisconsin are leading the way in bridging this gap, and NCQA salutes their commitment.”
ABOUT NCQA
NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization dedicated to improving health care quality. NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of health care organizations. It also recognizes clinicians and practices in key areas of performance. NCQA’s Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS®) is the most widely used performance measurement tool in health care. NCQA’s website (ncqa.org) contains information to help consumers, employers and others make more-informed health care choices. NCQA can be found online at ncqa.org, on Twitter @ncqa, on Facebook at facebook.com/NCQA.org/ and on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/ncqa.
ABOUT ANTHEM BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD’S MEDICAID HEALTH PLAN IN WISCONSIN
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Compcare Health Services Insurance Corporation, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For more information on Anthem’s Wisconsin Medicaid programs, please visit www.anthem.com/wisconsin. For more information about Wisconsin Medicaid programs, please visit https://www.dhs.wisconsin.gov/medicaid/index.htm Also, follow Anthem on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AnthemMedicaid and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/AnthemBlueCrossBlueShield.
