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2019 BCBSTX Executive Perspectives
HEALTH INSURANCE AS WE KNOW IT BEGAN IN TEXAS 90 YEARS AGO. NOW IT MUST EVOLVE.
Dec. 26, 2019
Over the last 90 years the health care system has grown more complex and more expensive. The time for evolution - the next big change - is now. Learn how BCBSTX plans to continue innovating in the healthcare space in this Houston Chronicle opinion piece 
by BCBSTX President Dr. Dan McCoy.
BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF TEXAS’ 90 YEARS OF SERVICE BEGAN WITH TEACHERS
Dec. 16, 2019
90 years ago, on Dec. 20, 1929, the concept of health insurance began right here in Texas with the origin of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. Check out this Texas Tribune article by Shara McClure, BCBSTX DSVP of Texas Health Care Delivery, for more.
“THERE IS NO SILVER BULLET” FOR FIXING TEXAS’ UNINSURED PROBLEM: D CEO BREAKFAST PANEL RECAP
Dec. 12, 2019
Dr. Paul Hain, Chief Medical Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, thinks that transparency is a good idea, but that the current execution makes it cumbersome. “The reality is, you can call, get online, get on your phone, and find the price to you for a shoppable procedure,” he says. Get more of Dr. Hain’s perspective in this recap of a D CEO Healthcare Breakfast Panel.
REMOVING BARRIERS TO HEALTH INSURANCE ENROLLMENT IN TEXAS
Nov. 26, 2019
Healthcare coverage is the cornerstone of having a healthy family and lifestyle, from vaccinations and screening exams to vital access to coverage when the worst happens. But about 5 million Texans are uninsured. Be Covered is working to decrease the number of uninsured Texans by educating both uninsured and under-insured residents across our state. Learn more about the initiative in this Coastal Living segment from Action 10 News in Corpus Christi featuring BCBSTX Chief Medical Officer Dr. Paul Hain.
BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF TEXAS CELEBRATES THEIR 90TH ANNIVERSARY
Nov. 12, 2019
In 1929, Dallas businessman, Justin Ford Kimball came up with the idea of "group hospitalization". Teachers could pay 50 cents a month in exchange for hospital coverage. Ninety years later, Kimball's plan has evolved into the Blue Cross Blue Shield we know today. In this video , Shara McClure, BCBSTX DSVP of Texas Health Care Delivery, talked with Great Day Houston about the company's milestone anniversary.
ACCOUNTABLE CARE ORGANIZATIONS RESULTS PROVE THE FUTURE IS NOW FOR VALUE-BASED CARE
Nov. 7, 2019
How do we improve the health care industry? Value-based care is part of the solution and the time is now to implement changes. Read more from Shara McClure, BCBSTX DSVP of Texas Health Care Delivery, in the Dallas Business Journal .
INSURERS PRESSURING HOSPITALS AND DOCTORS TO LOWER HEALTH CARE WASTE
Oct. 24, 2019
A quarter of every dollar spent on health care in this country is wasted, totaling between $760 billion and $935 billion in 2019, according to the Journal of the American Medical Association. Well-established methods could reduce waste by $282 billion. In this article from the Houston Chronicle, BCBSTX President Dr. Dan McCoy details how BCBSTX and other insurers are trying to drive patients to doctors that cost less and provide more value.
HOW TO CHOOSE THE RIGHT HEALTH CARE PLAN FOR YOU
Oct. 17, 2019
During open enrollment season, choosing the right health care plan can be taught. Shara McClure, BCBSTX DSVP of Texas Health Care Delivery, shared some useful tips to pick the right health care plan for you in this segment on Great Day Houston.
HEALTHCARE PROVIDERS BAND TOGETHER TO CREATE COMPREHENSIVE CARE CENTERS
Oct. 11, 2019
The philosophy behind our new medical centers in partnership with Sanitas is simple: affordable access to preventive care reduces the cost of health care by preventing the need for future treatment. Dr. Bob Morrow, Southeast Texas Market President, explained, “Roughly half the people in this country are suffering from some form of a chronic illness, and chronic illnesses consume about 75% of our health care dollars.” Read more in this Houston Chronicle article .
NOW OPEN: BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD'S FIRST NORTH TEXAS CLINIC
Oct. 9, 2019
The first of BCBSTX's medical centers is now open in Richardson in partnership with Sanitas. Learn how these facilities will be part of the value-based care movement, where providers are paid based on outcomes and quality rather than the fee-for-service model in this D CEO Healthcare article . It features commentary from BCBSTX President Dr. Dan McCoy and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Paul Hain.
WHY BLUE CROSS IN TEXAS WANTS TO PROVIDE LOW-COST HEALTH CARE, TOO
Oct. 8, 2019
BCBSTX wants to do more than just pay health care bills. The state's largest health insurer is getting into the provider business with the goal of lowering health costs, improving care and reaching some of the many Texans who don't have insurance or a medical home. BCBSTX President Dr. Dan McCoy and Chief Medical Officer Dr. Paul Hain give more information about our new medical centers in partnership with Sanitas in this Dallas Morning News article .
UNITED WAY OF METROPOLITAN DALLAS PARTNERS WITH BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF TEXAS TO IMPROVE COMMUNITY HEALTH
Sept. 9, 2019
BCBSTX and the United Way of Metropolitan Dallas agree that education, income and health are the building blocks of a thriving community. With the help of a grant from BCBSTX, United Way's Support Dallas and Success Series programs are striving to impact the North Texas community by addressing a need to consolidate sources for accounting, fundraising and marketing in smaller nonprofits. Learn more about the program in this Dallas Innovates article , featuring BCBSTX President Dr. Dan McCoy.
THE IMPORTANCE OF VACCINATIONS
Aug. 8, 2019
For National Immunization Awareness Month, BCBSTX Chief Medical Officer Dr. Paul Hain sat down with WFAA’s Good Morning Texas 
to discuss the importance of vaccinations and upcoming Care Van events during the back-to-school season.
BLUE CROSS TO GIFT $1.6 MILLION TO ADDRESS SOCIAL DETERMINANTS IN TEXAS
July 22, 2019
For 90 years, BCBSTX has been dedicated to the communities we serve across Texas. Our new group of collaborative partners will help us improve not only the health of our members, but the health of all Texans. Read more in this D CEO Healthcare article featuring BCBSTX President Dr. Dan McCoy.
THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING A PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN
July 10, 2019
It's called primary care for a reason: your primary care physician can take care of basic health issues, but they also know when to refer you to a specialist, who can treat more specific problems. Learn more from Southeast Texas Market President Dr. Bob Morrow on KHOU’s Great Day Houston .
HOW TO AVOID SURPRISE MEDICAL BILLS
June 26, 2019
Have you ever received a surprise bill from a medical provider? BCBSTX Chief Medical Officer Dr. Paul Hain joined KHOU’s Great Day Houston to explain steps consumers can take to avoid getting one of these bills.
SAN ANTONIO SPORTS HELPS FAMILIES GET FIT
June 19, 2019
Southeast Texas Market President Dr. Bob Morrow sat down with Mary Ullmann Japhet of San Antonio Sports to discuss the Fit Family Challenge on Fox 29 San Antonio’s Focus on South Texas show. Fit Family Challenge is a 12-week summer program with a goal to help families get active, eat better and learn about health and fitness.
TEXAS LAWMAKERS CRACK DOWN ON ‘SURPRISE MEDICAL BILLS,’ TIGHTEN RULES ON FREESTANDING ERS
June 18, 2019
New Texas laws establish vital protections for patients by providing greater transparency about pricing. These are significant wins for Texas patients! Read more in this San Antonio Express-News article featuring BCBSTX Chief Medical Officer Dr. Paul Hain.
DOES PRICE TRANSPARENCY HELP YOU SHOP AROUND?
June 6, 2019
Health care pricing transparency is “here to stay” according to BCBSTX Chief Medical Officer Dr. Paul Hain. Check out his full perspective on why transparency can help reduce overall health care costs in this D CEO Healthcare op-ed .
WHAT HAPPENS WHEN AN URGENT CARE CENTER BECOMES A FREESTANDING ER?
June 3, 2019
In Texas, some urgent care centers are transitioning into freestanding emergency room facilities. What happens when this change occurs? The number of patients treated goes down & the cost goes up. More from Shara McClure, Divisional Senior Vice President of Texas Health Care Delivery for BCBSTX, in this blog .
THAT STRIP MALL ER MAY COST MORE THAN YOU THINK: ARE FREESTANDING ER'S GOOD FOR TEXAS?
June 2, 2019
There's no wait. The rooms are big. But some patients are getting huge bills from freestanding emergency rooms. Are these facilities good for Texas? See what our Chief Medical Officer Dr. Paul Hain thinks in this story from WFAA in Dallas.
HEALTH CARE’S PAYMENT MODEL NEEDS CHANGING BEFORE THE MEDICAL SYSTEM WILL IMPROVE
May 13, 2019
It's time for a shift to transform health care delivery. Read about BCBSTX's solutions in this Dallas Business Journal article by Southeast Texas Market President Dr. Bob Morrow.
BCBSTX PRESIDENT DAN MCCOY HAS A THING FOR PHOTOGRAPHY
May 2019
Get to know more about what makes BCBSTX President Dr. Dan McCoy tick outside of the workplace in this D CEO magazine feature article .
BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF TEXAS, SANITAS USA TO OPEN 10 CLINICS BY 2020
April 30, 2019
Read more about BCBSTX's partnership with Sanitas USA in this Houston Chronicle article Southeast Texas Market President Dr. Bob Morrow gives his perspective about how the new health care centers will help increase access to primary care in the Houston area.
BATTLING THE SICKEST ZIP CODE IN DALLAS
April 23, 2019
Why is one ZIP code in southern Dallas more unhealthy than other areas in the city? Chief Medical Officer Dr. Paul Hain recently joined a panel during Dallas Startup Week to discuss some of the social determinants that help explain the disparity. Read more in this write-up from D CEO Healthcare.
AUTONOMOUS VEHICLES AND DRONES MAY HELP ADDRESS RURAL HEALTHCARE DISPARITIES
April 11, 2019
In this D CEO Healthcare article featuring BCBSTX President Dr. Dan McCoy, learn how autonomous vehicles, drones and tele-enabled ambulance services could make an impact in addressing rural health disparities through BCBSTX’s partnership with the Texas A&M Health Science Center.
BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF TEXAS WANTS CLINICS TO DO THINGS DIFFERENTLY, SO IT’S OPENING ITS OWN
April 10, 2019
In a recently-announced partnership with Sanitas USA, BCBSTX plans to open ten of its own clinics in the Houston and Dallas areas, a plan that highlights an emerging method of controlling health costs. Learn how this partnership is the next step in our journey toward value-based care in this Houston Public Media article , featuring Southeast Texas Market President Dr. Bob Morrow.
BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD OF TEXAS TRIES NEW APPROACH TO DRIVE DOWN HEALTH COSTS
April 8, 2019
Through our new primary care clinics with Sanitas USA, BCBSTX aims to expand health care access, cut costs and boost outcomes. These efforts are part of our goal to reward providers for keeping patients healthy rather than paying service fees for each lab test, doctor's appointment or X-ray. Read more from Chief Medical Officer Dr. Paul Hain in the Dallas Morning News .
BIG BLUE CROSS PLANS TO OPEN PRIMARY CARE CLINICS IN TEXAS AND BEYOND
April 8, 2019
With Sanitas USA, BCBSTX will bring advanced primary care clinics to Dallas and Houston, a move that will help improve quality and lower costs for our members. In this Forbes article , BCBSTX President Dr. Dan McCoy gives his perspective on the new partnership.
THERE IS A MENTAL HEALTH CARE CRISIS IN TEXAS
April 3, 2019
Why was mental health declared a priority for the Texas Legislature in 2019? Self-harm could be one reason. BCBSTX health data reveals some alarming statistics about the epidemic in Texas. Read more from Chief Medical Officer Dr. Paul Hain in this blog post.
Poll shows Texas voters oppose price-gouging by medical providers
March 20, 2019
You expect to know the price of your everyday purchases like bread, milk and gas before you buy them. Why is health care any different? A new poll shows Texans want transparency. Read this TribTalk editorial from Chief Medical Officer Dr. Paul Hain to learn more.
Do You Know the Price of Your Health Care?
March 15, 2019
You wouldn’t book an expensive vacation or buy a new car without knowing how much it cost ahead of time. So why are Texans expected to receive health care services without knowing how much they cost upfront? Learn about BCBSTX’s price transparency solutions in this blog post from Darrell Beckett, our Divisional Senior Vice President of Sales and Marketing.
Healthcare Industry Experts At SXSW: The Future Is Rural
March 12, 2019
The Plugging Into Rural Healthcare Solutions panel, featuring BCBSTX President Dr. Dan McCoy, took place at the Texas A&M [Power] House at the South by Southwest® (SXSW®) festival in Austin. The group of health care and innovation experts dissected the role automation and artificial intelligence will play in increasing access and affordability in rural areas, and explored why drones could take the place of some medivac helicopters in the very near future. If you missed the discussion live, you can listen to a recording on Texas A&M Today’s website.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas and Texas A&M Health Science Center Finalize Terms for New Rural Health Project
March 11, 2019
The details of BCBSTX’s collaboration with the Texas A&M Health Science Center (TAMHSC) and the A&M Rural and Community Health Institute (ARCHI) have been finalized. Learn more about our work to improve access to health care in rural areas of Texas from BCBSTX President Dr. Dan McCoy in Business Insider .
The Do’s and Don’ts of Corporate Wellness
Feb. 25, 2019
Did you know successful corporate wellness benefits a company’s bottom line as well the health of its employees? Read this D CEO Healthcare article about the North Texas Corporate Wellness Forum to find out why. BCBSTX Chief Medical Officer Dr. Paul Hain was featured in the discussion.
Tarleton gala recognizes 2019 Legacy Award winners
Feb. 19, 2019
BCBSTX President Dr. Dan McCoy was honored with the Civility with Integrity award from his alma mater, Tarleton State University. The President’s Legacy Awards recognize individuals and supporters who exhibit Tarleton’s core values of tradition, integrity, civility, leadership, excellence and service. Get more details about the 2019 Legacy Award winners in this article from The Flash Today.
Technology and employee expectations continue to change the work environment
Feb. 12, 2019
How are companies preparing to handle the workforce of the future? The changing nature of the workplace was the topic of discussion at a recent Houston Business Journal panel event. Check out this recap that includes Southeast Texas Market President Dr. Bob Morrow’s perspective on the issues.
Collaborating to take on the rural health crisis
Feb. 10, 2019
Why is rural health care in critical condition in Texas? Read this article featuring Southeast Texas Market President Dr. Bob Morrow to learn how BCBSTX’s work with the Texas A&M Health Science Center (TAMHSC) and the A&M Rural and Community Health Institute (ARCHI) aims to help communities across the state.
It’s time for a “moonshot” to fix rural healthcare in Texas
Jan. 17, 2019
Our project with the Texas A&M Health Science Center (TAMHSC) and the A&M Rural and Community Health Institute (ARCHI) will work to find solutions to the problems with rural health care in Texas. BCBSTX President Dr. Dan McCoy and Dr. Carrie Byington, senior vice president of TAMHSC, discuss the initiative in this TribTalk editorial .