Blue Cross Blue Shield Of Massachusetts Offers Its Members The Ability To Link To Google Health Personal Health Records

Main Category: IT / Internet / E-mail
Article Date: 02 Dec 2008 - 8:00 PDT

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Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) announced today that its members can now import their BCBSMA health history into their own Google Health™ Personal Health Record (PHR). BCBSMA is the first health insurance company to integrate on the Google Health platform allowing BCBSMA members to import their personal health information into their Google Health Account.

Google Health, a new product that launched in mid-May of this year, allows people to store and organize their medical records online, safely and securely. The product is available at no charge, and only requires a username and password to get started.

"Google Health is an important tool for our members to improve the safety and effectiveness of their health care," said Cleve Killingsworth, Chairman and CEO of BCBSMA. Killingsworth added that the partnership demonstrates BCBSMA's continuing leadership in using technology to make health care better, building on the company's funding of the Massachusetts eHealth Collaborative and its role as a founding member of the Massachusetts eRx Collaborative.

"Our members tell us they want easier and more portable access to their health care information," said Steven Fox, BCBSMA's Vice President of Provider Network Management. "Having this information in one place can help our members and their doctors make health care decisions that can improve the quality of care they receive." To hear more from Steve, go here and click on Listen.

Many people have primary care doctors, specialists, labs, pharmacies, and non-traditional providers at multiple institutions. A PHR with the Google Health allows BCBSMA members to manage their health information in one place, and share it with health care providers who currently don't have access to data from other sources. Members can sign up for a Google Health Account at http://www.google.com/health and then authorize the import and sharing of their BCBSMA personal health information into Google Health by selecting "Import Medical Records".

The benefits of integrating BCBSMA personal health information into Google Health are:

- Organizing, storing and managing medical records and personal health information online in one secure location, including personal health information from BCBSMA;

- Downloading medical records and prescription history from other connected providers, such as retail pharmacies, Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs), labs and doctors offices;

- Sharing medical information with providers and/or third party services offering customized services;

- Learning about important health issues and potentially dangerous drug-to-drug interactions;

- Searching for a doctor or hospital online.

Getting Started:

In three easy steps, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts members can elect to start a Google Health Account and authorize the import and sharing of their personal health history from BCBSMA into Google Health:

1) BCBSMA members need to register with Member Self Service and activate a PIN at http://www.bluecrossma.com by clicking on Member Self Service. A PIN number will be mailed for members to confirm and activate the account.

2) Establish a Google Health Account at http://www.google.com/health.

3) Link the Google Health Account to Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts by selecting "Import Medical Records" and selecting the BCBSMA link to profile button.

Member Privacy:

Google Health has committed to storing information securely and keeping that information private. Google never sells user data under any circumstances and the user data are never shared with any third party unless the user directs Google to do so. Also there are no advertisements in Google Health. . The Google Health Terms of Service outlines how the user information is protected and used. A copy of the Google Health Privacy Policy is available at http://www.google.com/intl/en-US/health/privacy.html.

About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts was founded 72 years ago by a group of community-minded business leaders. Today, headquartered in Boston, BCBSMA provides coverage to approximately 3 million members. BCBSMA believes in rewarding doctors and hospitals for delivering safe and effective care, and in empowering patients to take more responsibility, become educated health care consumers and become stronger partners with their doctors. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts