Capital BlueCross recently launched an online educational tool for its members, designed to aid them in comparing costs of procedures, quality of care and overall satisfaction with specific providers. Named MyCare Advisor, the online suite of tools provides members with estimated total cost information for 57 of the most common elective services provided by hospitals, ambulatory surgery centers and imaging centers.
"With the current health care climate, more and more people are taking ownership in the decision-making process for their own treatments and procedures, and we want to help them with this process," said Bill Lehr, president and CEO of Capital BlueCross. "Most people comparison shop for anything from groceries to a new car, but most don't realize that for routine procedures, like MRIs, X-rays or mammograms, there can be a wide variance in costs. Knowing there is a difference is the first step in becoming an engaged health care consumer."
Cost information provided to members is derived from Capital BlueCross's claims data; while that data will initially focus on local providers, plans are for the tool to include national data by January.
In addition to information providing cost ranges of procedures, Capital BlueCross members will also find such information as the name and contact information for healthcare facilities, the network in which the facility participates, the number of procedures performed annually at each facility and whether the facility has earned a Blue Distinction of Excellence designation.
To access MyCare Advisor, members log in via a secure member portal at mycapbluecross.com. When a member clicks the MyCare Advisor link they are asked to choose a procedure and provide their zip code. Once this information is provided the tool displays all the facilities that meet the members criteria allowing them to make direct comparisons facility by facilty.
Capital BlueCross provides coverage to nearly one million people in central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley.