The program, operated by Shared Health, a fully owned BlueCross subsidiary, creates a patient-centered community health record that allows multiple providers treating the same patient to view that patient's medical information via a secure Web site.
A contract with the State of Tennessee was approved by the State on June 29. Shared Health will begin offering Community Connection to BlueCross' TennCare (Tennessee's managed Medicaid plan) members this summer. The opportunity will be extended to all TennCare members (approximately one million people) by the end of the year.
In 2006, Shared Health services will be expanded and offered to more than 2.8 million commercial customers of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, and soon thereafter, to all Tennesseans. It also will be made available to other insurers.
Shared Health is collaborating with other health technology initiatives being undertaken throughout Tennessee. The goals are that the Community Connection services can be used by those initiatives to create a comprehensive statewide system.
Shared Health's Community Connection has been successfully tested over the past several months in pilot projects throughout the state. The program provides doctors and clinicians with access to relevant personal health transaction data via a sophisticated, secure Internet system. Information available through the system includes claims data, lab results, dispensed medications, immunization information, some Medicaid well-child screening documentation, and general information, such as the name and phone number of the patient's primary physician.
Under the contract signed with the State of Tennessee, the Community Connection program for TennCare enrollees will be made available to the state at no charge for the initial year. Subsequently, there will be a charge based on the number of enrollees. Estimates are that for every dollar spent on Community Connection records, there is a savings of $3 to $4 in healthcare costs. There is no charge to providers or patients.
Shared Health's Community Connection program meets all HIPAA and other privacy regulations and all information is transmitted securely.
