Keeping Healthcare Affordable

Together, We've Had Some Great Wins

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) and providers have already started teaming up. Our efforts have begun to pay off, but it's time for our relationship to evolve.

• Bundled payments result in a 20 percent average reduction in costs and improved quality of care.⁵
• Having Accountable Care Organizations has meant fewer hospital admissions and ER services.⁶
• Hospitals participating in quality programs have reduced infection rates by 39%.⁷

What You Can Do

Here are a few ways you can continue providing optimal care for your patients at affordable costs:

• Refer members to in-network providers whenever possible.
• Prescribe generic prescription drugs when appropriate.
• Recommend services or tests only when absolutely necessary.
• Help educate patients about when to go to an urgent care center vs. the ER.
• Practice value-based care and encourage patients to use their preventive benefits and be active health care consumers.

But Our Toughest Work Lies Ahead

The traditional transaction-based relationship between insurers and providers has contributed to a tremendous rise in health care costs. We owe it to our customers — and your patients — to work toward a better system. One that ties payments to delivering more value to consumers.

Over the next couple of years, you'll notice other changes in the way we pay for health care.

• Aligning payment policies with emerging best practices
• Standardizing fee schedules to address pricing discrepancies
• Taking action to address areas of explosive growth

We're Better Together

We know we have a role to play, too. And we will continue to look at ourselves to find ways we can become more efficient and rein in costs. We need you to join us in the fight to keep health care — and health coverage — affordable for N.C. families and businesses.