January 2019
Let’s Work Together in 2019 to Help Reduce Health Care Disparities
As chief medical officer of BCBSIL, I took over this column in the 4th Quarter of 2018 and got the conversation started with articles focused on Maternal Health Inequity and Rising Mortality Rates and one of BCBSIL’s newest initiatives, the Blue Door Neighborhood CenterSM.
I am pleased to have the opportunity to kick-off the CMO Perspective for 2019 by discussing some of BCBSIL’s priorities for the new year. This article forum is a means to help keep you informed and to engage your partnership on important efforts as we journey into 2019 and beyond.
BCBSIL is committed to helping to improve health equity for our members and the communities that we serve. The prevalence of health disparities has both a moral and economic imperative for action. It is estimated that nationally, health disparities contribute $101.9B in excess direct medical costs. Consequently, we are seeking to address opportunities to help improve health equity within the health care delivery system and outside of health care, upstream from disease and medical treatment.
Within health care delivery, we have taken steps to help to begin integrating goals for reducing health disparities within provider agreements with a focus on disparities in asthma, diabetes, and hypertension management. We embrace our role in partnering with providers on health equity. In 2019, we will broaden availability of cultural competency training and implicit bias training for providers in Illinois. Additionally, we are centering our focus on maternal and infant health to develop solutions for disparities in infant mortality as well as maternal morbidity and mortality.
Beyond health care delivery, we are exploring ways to help better integrate insights regarding the social determinants of health into our operations. We are supporting innovative pilots to target nutritional support to individuals living in food deserts and transportation services to those living in transportation deserts. Findings from these pilots will help inform our understanding of which interventions may best support various populations.
Through the CMO Perspective column this year, you will continue to hear more about how we hope to collaborate with you to help improve member and community health outcomes. Examples of topics in upcoming issues of the Blue Review include:
- Quality Improvement Priorities for 2019;
- Cancer Screenings;
- Provider Cultural Competency and Implicit Bias Trainings; and
- Physician Diversity Initiatives.
Our commitment is enduring. Our shared customers – our members, your patients – are our neighbors, relatives and classmates of our children. It is imperative that we work together as a team, with the common goal of supporting the best possible outcomes.
I look forward to connecting with you throughout 2019.
Learn more about Dr. Derek J. Robinson
The above material is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for the independent medical judgment of a physician or other health care provider. Physicians and other health care providers are encouraged to use their own medical judgment based upon all available information and the condition of the patient in determining the appropriate course of treatment. References to third party sources or organizations are not a representation, warranty or endorsement of such organizations. Any questions regarding those organizations should be addressed to them directly. The fact that a service or treatment is described in this material is not a guarantee that the service or treatment is a covered benefit and members should refer to their certificate of coverage for more details, including benefits, limitations and exclusions. Regardless of benefits, the final decision about any service or treatment is between the member and their health care provider.