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Cape Cod Municipal Health Group wins award from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Recognizes the Cape Cod Municipal Health Group for Improving the Health of their Workforce and Lowering Health Care Costs

 

BOSTON — March 18, 2014 – Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA), the trusted health plan of municipal and governmental  organizations for more than 75 years, announced today that the Cape Cod Municipal Health Group is one of the winners of its sixth annual Municipal Blue Innovation Awards. The award will be presented, along with a $5,000 wellness grant, in Sandwich on March 19 at 9 a.m.

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“Municipalities choose us because we understand that as one of the largest line items in their budget, the rising cost of health care is an increasing burden. By crafting inventive cost containment measures, customizing worksite wellness programs, and creating innovative health plan designs, significant savings can be achieved,” said Larry Croes, BCBSMA’s Vice President of Commercial & Municipal Markets. “Cape Cod is a shining example of the benefits that can result by working cohesively to contain costs.”

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The Municipal Blue Innovation Awards highlight the new and inventive cost containment measures, collaborative and customized worksite wellness programs, and innovative health plan designs utilized by municipalities throughout the state.

 

In 2012, Cape Cod Municipal Health Group restructured their employee offerings to better manage future health care costs. They also redesigned their website to provide clear, concise and comprehensive information for employers, and other users. The group provides wellness consultants on Cape Cod and Martha's Vineyard, giving their employees greater access to guidance on their health care needs. They also instituted a colonoscopy incentive program, as well as a mammography and biometric screening initiative, which featured prize raffles in an effort to engage employees. The group saw a 24 percent increase in program participants in 2013 and nine percent increases in both the mammography program as well as the colonoscopy program.

 

“We are honored to partner with Blue Cross. They helped us to develop and implement innovative plan designs that will keep costs low for our employees and municipalities, as well as offer a comprehensive wellness program unequalled in the marketplace,” said Noreen Mavro-Flanders, Chair of the Group and Dukes County Treasurer. “The grant will allow us to continue to promote our wellness initiatives and help our employees lead healthier lifestyles.”

 

“I’d like to congratulate the Cape Cod Municipal Health Group on receiving this award from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, and thank them for the all the support they provide businesses on Cape Cod,” Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth) said. “The continued success of the Massachusetts health care system depends on innovative initiatives like these that emphasize wellness and prevention, while reducing health care costs.”

 

BCBSMA has been serving Massachusetts cities, towns and regional school districts and their families for over 75 years, and79 percent of MA municipal entities are BCBSMA customers.  Blue Cross is committed to partnering with Municipalities to reduce health care costs while improving the health of their employees. To learn more about BCBSMA’s Municipal Blue health plans and wellness options call: 617-246-7500.

 

About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (www.bluecrossma.com) is a community-focused, tax-paying, not-for-profit health plan headquartered in Boston. We are the trusted health plan for more than 31,500 Massachusetts employers and are committed to working with others in a spirit of shared responsibility to make quality health care affordable. Consistent with our corporate promise to always put our 2.8 million members first, we are rated among the nation’s best health plans for member satisfaction and quality.  Follow us on FacebookTwitterYouTube and Google+.

 

About Cape Cod Municipal Health Group

Cape Cod Municipal Health Group is a health care Joint Purchasing Arrangement comprised of Barnstable County, Barnstable Fire District, Barnstable Public Schools, Bourne Recreation, Bourne Water, Buzzards Bay Water, Cape Cod Collaborative, Cape Cod Lighthouse School, Cape Cod Regional Tech, Cape Cod Transit Authority, Centerville-Osterville-Marston Mills Fire District, Cotuit Fire Department, Dennis Water District, Dennis-Yarmouth Regional School District, Dukes County, Edgartown Water District, Falmouth School Department Hyannis Fire District, Martha’s Vineyard Charter School, Martha’s Vineyard Commission, Martha’s Vineyard Land Bank, Martha’s Vineyard Refuse, Martha’s Vineyard Regional High School, Martha’s Vineyard Regional Transit, Mashpee School District, Monomy School District, Nauset Regional School District, North Sagamore Water District, Sandwich Water District, Up Island Regional School District, Upper Cape Cod Vocational Technical School, Veterans Services Department, West Barnstable Fire District and the towns of Aquinnah, Barnstable, Brewster, Chatham, Chilmark, Dennis, Eastham, Edgartown, Falmouth, Gayhead, Gosnold, Harwich, Mashpee, Oak Bluffs, Orleans, Provincetown, Sandwich, Tisbury, Truro, Wellfleet, West Tisbury and Yarmouth.

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