At Blue Cross, innovation isn't a noun or a verb. It's a mindset! Innovation is a continuous state of reimagining what's possible. We embrace a human-centered mindset to keep our customer at the forefront and inspire others to join the cause. We use the methods and strategies of design thinking to help encourage new ideas and radical solutions that delight our customer!
Innovation Story
Human-centered Design is something you have to experience in order to make it a part of your life. That’s why all our new associates learn the basics at orientation and can join a two- day boot camp to become Innovation Catalysts.
We've created six tracks to identify and drive innovation opportunities in our core business and at the edge of our business. These six tracks are a framework for opportunity exploration and assessment.
Alternative Quality Contract (AQC)
Launched in 2009, the AQC now includes more than 80 percent of the doctors in the Blue Cross HMO network. It is an innovative way to pay for care that focuses on promoting quality and rewards positive health outcomes. It is a crucial component of Blue Cross' agenda to make quality health care affordable for its members and employer customer. The alternative payment model fosters shared responsibility for both improving care and moderating the unsustainable rate of increase in health care costs. The AQC is currently one of the largest private payment reform initiatives in the United States. Read more about the AQC.
Health Care Reform
The mission of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Foundation is to expand access to health care for low-income and vulnerable people in the Commonwealth. We collaborate with public and private organizations to broaden health coverage and reduce barriers to care through grants, research, and policy initiatives. Our work served as a catalyst for the pioneering Massachusetts health care reform law enacted in 2006, and we have sponsored ongoing research on the law's impact. The Foundation is a private, nonprofit organization governed by a 14-member Board of Directors.
William C. Van Faasen Community Service Sabbatical Fellow
In 2006, a sabbatical program was created to honor our former CEO, Bill Van Faasen. This program offers one associate per year a six month full-time sabbatical leave with a nonprofit organization.
All employees have the chance to step out of their day-to-day roles, and put their talents to use at a local nonprofit. What kind of impact could you make if you had six months to focus your efforts in the community?
The opioid epidemic, said Behavioral Health Medical Director Dr. Ken Duckworth, is “the greatest public health crisis in American history, causing more deaths than AIDS and more deaths than the flu epidemic of 1918.”
Our company has taken an innovative approach to help combat the epidemic. Toolkits containing two inhalable doses of naloxone – the overdose-reversing drug better known by the brand name Narcan – as well as medical gloves, a surgical mask and instructions in the use of the inhaler were the result of rapid prototyping sessions held at our innovation center.
These $130 toolkits have been distributed, free of charge to Massachusetts companies in industries where the rate of opioid overdoes is the highest. In conjunction, Blue Cross will provide employee education, toolkit training sessions, and access to an online opioid resource center.
Ovia: Many of our employer customers are looking for new ways to help their employees with specific challenges including diabetes, and maternity. One feeder of our innovation pipeline is the work done by Zaffre Investments. We have a unique opportunity to continuously see the newest technological advancements in health and select those that will best benefit our members. Ovia Health addresses the need for predictive coaching to support women from preconception to pregnancy and beyond.