Anthem Blue Cross 2003 Annual Report Download - page 12

Download and view the complete annual report

Please find page 12 of the 2003 Anthem Blue Cross annual report below. You can navigate through the pages in the report by either clicking on the pages listed below, or by using the keyword search tool below to find specific information within the annual report.

Page out of 36

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
  • 6
  • 7
  • 8
  • 9
  • 10
  • 11
  • 12
  • 13
  • 14
  • 15
  • 16
  • 17
  • 18
  • 19
  • 20
  • 21
  • 22
  • 23
  • 24
  • 25
  • 26
  • 27
  • 28
  • 29
  • 30
  • 31
  • 32
  • 33
  • 34
  • 35
  • 36

page 10 ANTHEM, INC.
Quality
A time for quality
There’s nothing we do that touches our nearly 12 million members more than the quality of the
health care they receive. Health care quality is the driving force behind our mission: To improve the
health of the people we serve.
In 2003, Anthem continued to collaborate with physicians and hospitals to share information,
identify best practices and develop innovative prevention and treatment programs for our members.
We have learned that high-quality care truly is more cost-effective care, and that our members benefit
from innovative ideas that help them understand and manage their own health.
The rising cost of health care continues to be a major issue for our nation. At Anthem, we believe
the best way to find solutions is by working together—insurers, consumers, businesses, medical
professionals and government. As we work together to help people get and stay healthy or help them
better manage a chronic illness, we also can help manage the rising cost of health care.
Across Anthem, health services to individuals with chronic diseases—including heart failure,
coronary artery disease, asthma and diabetes—account for approximately 40 percent of all health
care costs. Working with health care professionals, we offer our members disease management and
advanced care management programs that help them address health problems or potential health
problems before they become serious. This provides members with opportunities to live longer, more
productive lives.
In Ohio, a new program called the Anthem Care Counselor is educating and empowering
members to take a more active role in managing their own health. The Anthem Care Counselor
program puts highly skilled nurses in close touch with participating members with complex and
chronic illnesses. The nurses coach members to follow their doctor’s treatment plan; they call
members to see how they’re doing, answering questions and encouraging them to meet their
individual goals. Care Counselors also help members understand and use their health benefits with
Anthem, and assist with other needs such as obtaining medical equipment or in-home care.