Blue Care Network Of Michigan’s Asthma Management Program Wins Best Disease Management Program Award

SOUTHFIELD, Nov. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- Blue Care Network of Michigan received the 2004 Recognizing Excellence Award for Best Disease Management Program in the Commercial Managed Care Organization category from the Disease Management Association of America.

The award, presented at DMAA’s 6th Annual Disease Management Leadership Forum in Orlando, Fla., is for BCN’s asthma management program. The program won for its organizational commitment to disease management; demonstrated excellence in design, development, implementation and measurement methodology, and favorable outcomes.

BCN’s asthma management program was implemented in 1999 and has approximately 18,000 enrolled members. Favorable outcomes from the program include decreased hospital admissions and emergency room visits, increased medication compliance and improved functional status.

In 2002, BCN was the first commercial HMO in the nation to receive disease management accreditation from the National Committee for Quality Assurance.

Disease Management Association of America, based in Washington, D.C., is a nonprofit, voluntary membership organization founded in 1999 which represents all aspects of the disease management community. The Annual Disease Management Leadership Forum attracts over 1,200 attendees each year including senior decision-makers from leading health plans, employers, providers, disease management organizations and pharmaceutical companies. For more information, visit http://www.dmaa.org/ .

Blue Care Network of Michigan has the largest HMO network of physicians and hospitals in the state, with more than 3,100 primary care physicians, 7,600 specialists and 110 hospitals. Blue Care Network is the HMO affiliate of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. For further information, visit http://www.bcbsm.com/bcn .

Blue Care Network

CONTACT: Helen Stojic, +1-313-225-8113, or Jon Ogar, +1-517-322-4320,both of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan