2018 BCBSTX Executive Perspectives

TEXAS RURAL HEALTH CARE IS IN TROUBLE

Dec. 31, 2018

At BCBSTX, we’re committed to rolling out real solutions to improve rural health care in Texas. Read more in this piece Learn more about third-party links from BCBSTX President Dr. Dan McCoy in the Dallas Morning News.

THE YEAR AHEAD IN BUSINESS

Dec. 28, 2018

In this Houston Chronicle article Learn more about third-party links, Southeast Texas Market President Dr. Bob Morrow gave his predictions for the 2019 health care landscape in Texas. He discussed the future of price transparency and value-based care.

RURAL HEALTH CARE NEEDS MOONSHOT TO REVERSE DOWNWARD TRAJECTORY

Dec. 20, 2018

In rural Texas, health care delivery is on life-support or nonexistent — leaving too many Texans vulnerable with limited or no access to care. In a state as resourceful as Texas, this is unacceptable. Learn more in this Houston Chronicle article Learn more about third-party links by BCBSTX President Dr. Dan McCoy.

Blue Cross President: Drug Prices Have “Lost All Relationship to Any Sort of Sanity”

Dec. 13, 2018

Many factors drive up the cost of health care, including hospital consolidations and drug prices. Learn more from Chief Medical Officer Dr. Paul Hain in this D CEO Healthcare article Learn more about third-party links.

HOW TO FIGHT DALLAS-FORT WORTH’S HIGH HEALTH COSTS? STAND WITH YOUR INSURER, SAYS BLUE CROSS

Dec. 4, 2018

Overall health costs continue to escalate at a tremendous and unsustainable pace. Learn how BCBSTX is committed to helping our members and employers hold down the cost of care in this Dallas Morning News article Learn more about third-party links featuring North Texas Market President Dr. Paul Hain.

Why PepsiCo is paying D-FW employees to go to the doctor's office

Dec. 2, 2018

Why is one large employer paying for its employees to go to the doctor? It's one idea to slow rising health costs by preventing health problems before they start. Check out this Dallas Morning News article Learn more about third-party links, featuring North Texas Market President Dr. Paul Hain, for more information.

BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF TEXAS SUPPORTS LAUNCH OF RURAL HEALTH PROJECT WITH TEXAS A&M

Nov. 13, 2018

BCBSTX and Texas A&M University Health Science Center announced a new project to support collaborative care and healthy communities that will target identifying and implementing solutions to health care challenges facing rural and underserved communities in Texas. Find out more about the collaboration in this Vital Record article Learn more about third-party links featuring BCBSTX President Dr. Dan McCoy.

ON DECREASING UTILIZATION: MODELS OF CARE FOR FREQUENTLY HOSPITALIZED PATIENTS AND THEIR EFFECT ON OUTCOMES

Oct. 31, 2018

In this editorial Learn more about third-party links published in the Journal of Hospital Medicine, North Texas Market President Dr. Paul Hain, along with other BCBSTX colleagues, reflected on efforts to reduce chronic hospitalizations. They said, in part, "For the United States healthcare system to improve its quality and reduce its cost, we will need inventive partnerships to continue to create new systems to interact with patients in the most efficient and effective way possible."

TIRED OF HIGH DEDUCTIBLES? NEW NETWORKS, TELEMEDICINE AND RETAIL CLINICS MAY CURB RISING HEALTH COSTS

Oct. 16, 2018

North Texas Market President Dr. Paul Hain contributed to this opinion piece Learn more about third-party links in the Dallas Morning News. He discussed BCBSTX’s value-based care arrangements with Baylor Scott & White and Southwestern Health Resources.

DISTINGUISHED TARLETON ALUMNI RETURN FOR 26TH ANNUAL ACADEMIC FORUM

Sept. 19, 2018

BCBSTX President Dr. Dan McCoy was recognized as a Tarleton State University Alumni Academic Forum honoree as an outstanding graduate from the College of Science and Technology. You can read more about his accomplishments and the other honorees in this Stephenville Empire-Tribune write-up Learn more about third-party links.

PATIENTS WHO MISUSE THE EMERGENCY ROOM AND RUN UP HUGE BILLS SHOULD PAY THE TAB

Aug. 8, 2018

Southeast Texas Market President Dr. Bob Morrow was quoted in this Houston Chronicle opinion piece Learn more about third-party links about how inappropriate use of the emergency room can contribute to high health costs.

SA SPORTS' FIT FAMILY CHALLENGE, PRESENTED BY BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF TEXAS

July 15, 2018

Chief Medical Officer Dr. Esteban López sat down with Mary Ullmann Japhet of San Antonio Sports to discuss the Fit Family Challenge with Spectrum News Learn more about third-party links in Austin. Fit Family Challenge is a 12-week summer program with a goal to get families get active, to eat better and learn about health and fitness.

Even in an emergency, you have care options

June 28, 2018

Many Texans don't understand their options when faced with an unexpected health problem. The wrong choice can result in a shocking bill. Confused about your coverage or where to go? Read this TribTalk editorial Learn more about third-party links by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Esteban López.

DFW HEALTH CARE LEADERS HAVE HIGH HOPES FOR JOINT VENTURE BY AMAZON, BERKSHIRE, JPMORGAN CHASE

June 28, 2018

North Texas Market President Dr. Paul Hain took part in a panel discussion co-hosted by the Dallas Business Journal and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. Read a recap of the panel, entitled “Curbing Health Care Costs”, in the Dallas Business Journal Learn more about third-party links.

AHIP PANEL: MANAGING CHRONIC DISEASES, COMPLEX CARE

June 21, 2018

Chief Medical Officer Dr. Esteban López participated in a keynote panel discussion at AHIP’s Institute and Expo Learn more about third-party links entitled, “The Quest for Good Health: How Do We Reduce the Burden of Chronic Disease?” Read this Healthcare Dive wrap-up article Learn more about third-party links to learn more about how we are addressing social determinants of health. Dr. López also served as a 2018 AHIP Institute Social Media Ambassador.

FROM CONCEPT TO COMBAT: FIGHTING CHRONIC DISEASE IN AMERICA

June 1, 2018

Chronic conditions, such as heart disease, type 2 diabetes and obesity, are increasingly common and costly in the United States. In 2014, more than 85 percent Learn more about third-party links of all U.S. health care costs were attributable to chronic conditions. In this blog post Learn more about third-party links on AHIP’s website, Dr. Esteban López, 2018 AHIP Institute Social Media Ambassador and BCBSTX Chief Medical Officer, discusses how we can move the needle against chronic diseases in the U.S.

SAN ANTONIO SPORTS: FIT FAMILY CHALLENGE

May 23, 2018

The San Antonio Sports Fit Family Challenge, presented by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, is designed to get families active, eating better and learning about health and fitness. Learn more about the challenge in this KABB FOX 29 interview Learn more about third-party links with Chief Medical Officer Dr. Esteban López.

WHEN THE UNEXPECTED HAPPENS KNOWING YOUR ER OPTIONS CAN SAVE YOU MONEY AND TIME

May 1, 2018

Many Texans don’t understand their options for care when faced with an unexpected health issue. Learn about your choices to avoid an ER visit and a potentially costly bill in this Austin Business Journal editorial Learn more about third-party links by Chief Medical Officer Dr. Esteban López.

“LIGHT IT UP BLUE” FOR AUTISM AWARENESS DAY

April 3, 2018

In recognition of Autism Awareness Day, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Esteban López sat down with Univision 62 in Austin for a live segment Learn more about third-party links. He discussed our commitment to serving children with special needs or a disability, including autism, through our STAR Kids health plan.

ARTS STUDIES LEAD TO STEM CAREERS

March 25, 2018

In this article Learn more about third-party links in the San Antonio Express-News, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Esteban López discusses the importance of arts funding in Texas schools. It has been proven that the arts lead to higher graduation rates, which lead to STEM (or science, technology, engineering and math) careers.

ADVANCING THE SCIENCE OF CANCER IN LATINOS

Feb. 23, 2018

Chief Medical Officer Dr. Esteban López was a panelist at the Advancing the Science of Cancer in Latinos conference at UT Health San Antonio alongside U.S. Rep. Juaquin Castro and representatives from the National Cancer Institute and the National Hispanic Medical Association. Read a recap Learn more about third-party links of the discussion in the San Antonio Express-News.

POPULATION HEALTH MANAGEMENT: THE POWER OF PHYSICIAN LEADERS

February 2018

Value-based care presents an opportunity to deliver smarter care for better health. In this article Learn more about third-party links in Texas Medicine, Chief Medical Officer Dr. Esteban López describes how physician leaders can advance public health and the health of our members.