Premera Blue Cross

What would Senate Bill 121 and 122 really mean for healthcare in Alaska? Increased costs without improvements to care. These two bills being considered by Alaska's legislators would result in higher healthcare costs for employers and patients without improving either quality of care or access to it. This legislation represents a step in the wrong direction for Alaska's healthcare system—one that increases costs while shifting more responsibility for those costs to employers and families. Read more from Premera's Jim Grazko in The Alaska Beacon: https://lnkd.in/gGmsvqg7

Let's be real - nobody wants to talk about getting screened for colorectal cancer. But like so many uncomfortable conversations, it's an important one to have, and to have early. In recent years, rates of colorectal cancer have risen among people between the ages of 50 and 54, as well as among people even younger. If you're 45 or older, it's time to talk to your healthcare provider about getting screened for colorectal cancer. With new alternatives available, you may have more options for a screening than you think. Learn more about the importance of colorectal cancer screenings and who should consider them here: https://lnkd.in/gNqTAM4R #ColorectalCancerAwarenessMonth #getscreened #cancerscreening

This Women's History Month is a time to celebrate progress toward gender equality. But it's also a chance to reflect on the challenges women still face, particularly around healthcare. Gaps in women's healthcare remind us that our system all too often fails to account for the realities many women face and deliver the care they need. That's why our team is committed to addressing these disparities and improving health outcomes for all women. Read our most recent blog addressing the challenges women face and how Premera is working to build a better, more equitable healthcare system: https://lnkd.in/dH4s2Ehy #WomensHistoryMonth #healthequity

Women's health - physical, behavioral, and financial - took center stage at the latest WE Thrive networking event in Anchorage. An engaging panel discussion moderated by Premera's own Nadja Hipszer (she/her) featured insights on the importance of self-care, the hazards of not discussing financial matters openly, and Premera medical director Dr. Josephine Young highlighting why women need to be their own advocates in doctor's offices and how they can do so effectively. Premera was proud to co-host this great event with our friends at Alaska Wealth Advisors.Thanks to everyone who joined us and made it an event to remember!

You might think of trolls as solitary creatures, but Seattle Kraken mascot Buoy never goes anywhere without his best buddy, Hailey Robinson! In the latest segment showcasing the Unsung Heroes of the Kraken team, you'll see how Robinson works tirelessly to make sure Buoy gets where he's going, manages his busy schedule, and even serves as a Troll Translator. Premera is so thrilled to partner with the Seattle Kraken and KING 5 and sponsor these easily overlooked stories about the people who work behind the scenes to make every Kraken game so special.

What does it mean to see a healthcare provider who shares your background? A lot. Numerous studies have shown that patients are more satisfied and report receiving better care from a healthcare provider who shares their racial or ethnic background. That's among the reasons that Premera asks our members for information about their race, ethnicity, and the languages they speak – so we can understand the people we’re serving and continue working to connect them with healthcare experiences that meet their needs. Sharing race, ethnicity, and language data with our team will always be optional, and the information will never be used to raise rates or limit coverage. But when our members help us understand them, they help us build a better healthcare experience for everyone we support. Learn more about race, ethnicity, and language data, why we ask members for this information, and how we use it - and don't use it - here: https://lnkd.in/gSbjRu5c

Accessing care for your mental health shouldn't be its own source of stress. That's why we're making it easier for members to connect with the right mental health care provider for their needs. Our growing Matchmaker for Behavioral Health program lets members tell our team what they're looking for in a provider. Then we do the legwork and come back with a list of providers who meet their needs, are in their network, and are accepting new patients. For more about how our team is working to make quality mental health care more accessible for everyone we serve, check out Premera VP David Condon in the Journal of Business. https://lnkd.in/ga6SnRxm

Every year, The Go Red for Women Experience helps drive awareness about women's heart health and raise funds for research and education around this important topic. This year's chairperson, Premera's own Lee Mills McGrath, visited the Inspirational Women podcast with Kate Daniels to share what attendees can look forward to at the event, which takes place this week in Seattle. Lee also talked about her personal experience with heart health issues and shared her experiences on how talking openly about these issues can make them less intimidating. https://lnkd.in/gpRprQdW

It's always energizing to connect with eastern Washington's innovators and entrepreneurs, and there's no better place for it than at LaunchPad INW's Innovator Connect events. Premera's own David Condon was part of a panel of experts speaking to Biosciences and Digital Health at this month's event earlier this week, sharing some of the work our team is doing to keep pace with rapid technological advancements in healthcare and ensuring we can leverage the new tools and resources for the benefit of all our members.

Ending health equity disparities is going to take all of us, working together. That's why Premera supports organizations like AIMS Center and their work to develop and implement models of care that better serve marginalized populations, such as collaborative care clinics that co-locate mental and physical health resources to help patients get care for their whole self. Everyone deserves access to the care they need to live a full and healthy life, and we're excited to work alongside our partners to help make that world a reality. #collaborativecare #healthequity