BLUE CARE NETWORK

STAYING HEALTHY – provides online resources that helps members seek and reach an optimal level of health and fitness by giving them the information that they need to make healthy, informed choices.

Ask me 3 – BCN provides a card and an ID holder with three simple questions to ask your health care provider during your visit - What is my problem? - What do I need to do? - Why is it important for me to do this?

BlueHealth Connection Phone Line – members call this toll free number, 1-800-637-2972, to have a nurse or health professional answer their health questions.  Self-help guides are available on a variety of health conditions and members can learn about and register for disease management programs.

BlueHealthConnection Online – a web based health education tool that includes personal health quizzes, assessment tools, tracking logs, a body mass index and target heart rate calculator, health information and drug encyclopedia.  When you log on to the secure portion of this tool, your personal health information is tracked and used to give you information targeted to your interests.

BlueSafe for Michigan – a discount program at various Michigan retailers that helps members save money on certain safety and health equipment, like bike helmets and life vests. 

THE HEALTHCARE ADVISOR™ Decision Tools

• PharmaAdvisor™ – members can get clinical information about drugs.

• Physician Selection Advisor™ – members can select a physician using the criteria most important to them, such as location, specialty and years of practice. Members can also view physician profiles and create physician comparison reports.

• Hospital Advisor™ – members can find and compare hospitals using the factors most important to them, including location, complication and infection rates and care volumes. Hospital Advisor also has a quick link to our online provider directory.

• Treatment Cost Advisor™ – members can research the cost of common health care services allowing them to estimate the in and out-of-network costs for the services they need.

Naturally Blue – members can use Naturally Blue to obtain alternative health services at a disount such as acupuncture, massage therapy and nutrition counseling.

Publications – members are mailed Living Health and Good Health magazines twice a year with articles on healthy lifestyle choices and important benefit information. 

GETTING BETTER – programs that encourage members to seek their highest level of health and fitness and supports them through recovery when they do have medical problems. 

Behavior Health – members can call 1-800-482-5982 for help with mental health and substance abuse problems.

Centers for Excellence – BCN rigorously screens hospitals and other facilities to create centers that meet their standards for care.  The three Centers of Excellence programs are Bariatric Surgery, Cardiac, and Low Back Pain.

Disease-Specific Management – nurses counsel members during serious episodes of illness and provide a comprehensive and confidential assessment.  They develop a care plan in collaboration with the member and his/her doctor.  There are separate nurse specialists for Catastrophic Illness, End Stage Renal Disease, High-risk Pregnancy, Neonatal conditions, Oncology, Pediatrics, Rehabilitation, and Transplants.

Quit the Nic – a free smoking cessation program that has a proven track record of helping members give up tobacco for good. 

Weigh To Go – for adult members who have a substantial amount of weight to lose, you can work toward a healthy weight by utilizing a partnership with the Michigan Institute for Health Enhancement.  For others, information, tools and encouragement by mail is provided as members work toward their weight and fitness goals.

LIVING WITH AN ILLNESS – early intervention and effective treatment speed recovery and optimize the way health resources are managed.

Case Management for Chronic Conditions – when chronic conditions become serious health threats, certified case management registered nurses, working with members and physicians, help develop plans of care that include support and print materials.   Nurses are available to help members acutely ill with asthma, cardiovascular disease, congestive heart failure, and diabetes.

Care for Complex Conditions – members with any of 14 different complex medical conditions can enroll in AccordantCare™ Health Services at no cost.  Specialist counsel and educate members and make sure physicians have the latest treatment information for these complex, rarer chronic diseases. 

Diabetes Certification and Reminder Cards – network physicians are encouraged to complete the Physician Diabetes Recognition Program and members with diabetes are sent a card yearly that lists the health screens that they should be receiving to prevent some of the consequences of uncontrolled and unmonitored diabetes. 

Disease Management Programs – members with certain chronic conditions will receive an introductory packet of information about the condition, tools they can use to monitor and control the condition and regular newsletters to provide ongoing education and support.  For more information about these programs, call 1-800-392-4247.