
– Blue Shield of California and Accolade announced a new partnership to deploy Accolade’s personalized health technology + human support to Blue Shield’s employer customers.
– By adding Accolade’s personalized engagement solution, employers can benefit from proven boosts in program utilization, employee satisfaction, and cost savings.
– The Blue Shield and Accolade offering is available for a January 2021 plan effective date.
Blue Shield of California and Accolade today announced a new partnership to offer national, self-funded employers headquartered in California a proven personalized member engagement experience. This collaboration provides employees and their family members with a seamlessly integrated service that combines technology and human expertise to live healthier, happier and more productive lives. The Blue Shield and Accolade offering is available for a January 2021 plan effective date.
Personalized Health Offering Will Boost Program Utilization, Employee Satisfaction
California employers with a national workforce will continue to benefit from Blue Shield’s California network and a nationwide network of physicians and hospitals through BlueCard, its leadership in value-based care, and its unparalleled service. By adding Accolade’s personalized engagement solution, employers can benefit from proven boosts in program utilization, employee satisfaction, and cost savings. An integral component of this technology-enabled solution is the support members will receive from Health Assistants and Clinicians. They work directly with members to assess their health needs, answer benefits questions, and assist members before, during and after they receive medical care.
Cost Saving Outcomes from Accolade Customers
Accolade consistently delivers cost savings to its customers while receiving member satisfaction rates over 90 percent. In a 2018 study by Aon, Accolade’s premier offering was shown to reduce claims costs for one employer by 6.5%, and for another employer by 4.7% versus similar employer groups not using Accolade. These reductions were generated exclusive of plan design changes, were measured across the entire member population, started in year one, and were sustained over the respective study periods.
“Blue Shield is a nonprofit health plan focused on transforming the current healthcare system into one that is worthy of our family and friends, and sustainably affordable,” said Don Antonucci, senior vice president of Commercial Markets at Blue Shield of California. “Accolade accelerates our work to bring healthcare into the digital age with a high-tech and high-touch personalized approach.”