"BCBSMA Gives Members another Technology Tool to Manage their Health Care" by Steve Fox

Today, we are proud to announce that Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts has partnered with Google Health to expand options for members who want to create their own Personal Health Record (PHR).

We believe Google Health will be an important tool used by our members to improve the safety and effectiveness of their health care. The partnership demonstrates our continuing leadership in using technology to make health care better. We have funded the Massachusetts eHealth Collaborative and we are a founding member of the Massachusetts eRx Collaborative.

Our members tell us they want easier and more portable access to their health care information. Having this information in one place can play an important role in managing a member’s health and helping members and their doctors make health care decisions that can improve the quality of care they receive.

Many patients have primary care doctors, specialists, labs, pharmacies, and non-traditional providers at multiple institutions.

Once integration with the Google Health platform is complete, the partnership with Google Health will allow BCBSMA members to manage all their health information in one place, and share it with health care providers who currently don’t have access to their data.

Once this sharing relationship is established, Google Health will give BCBSMA members the ability to:

• Create a convenient, online PHR to track conditions, doctor visits, surgeries, and tests, -
• organize, store and manage information in one location
• share their health record with health care providers
• discontinue or delete their health record at any time
• Feel confident that the information is confidential

At any time, a BCBSMA member will be able to discontinue or delete their Google Health profile. Members can feel confident that the information in their Google Health Account is kept private and confidential as Google will not sell user information or share it without the user’s explicit consent.

As I said, we’re proud of this agreement that makes BCBSMA the first health insurance company to sign an agreement to integrate with the Google Health platform. Look for this latest health care tool in the Fall of 2008.

Steve Fox
Vice President
Provider Network Management
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts