2016
Peace of mind
through stability
Peace of mind
through stability
For 70 years, Regence BlueShield of Idaho has been a trusted partner in health care, offering our members responsive and reliable health and wellness solutions.
We believe you deserve health care that's designed around your unique needs. So we're building tools that connect you to the care you need and provide you with a more streamlined experience.
Navigating health care can be challenging. At Regence, our role is to be a steady partner who stands behind you and advocates on your behalf—so you can get the most value for your dollar.
We're passionate about making a difference in the communities we serve. By donating our time, talents and financial resources, the Regence family is proud to say we've helped improve the quality of life for our neighbors here in Idaho.
Reflecting and looking ahead
Regence and our family of companies are approaching a century of service. That is an exciting and humbling milestone. Thank you for your trust and partnership. As we reflect on our evolution and look forward to our future, we're relentlessly focused on transforming your health care experience. Here's to a bright year ahead for the health of Idahoans.
Regence BlueShield of Idaho
is an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
A word from
Scott Kreiling
Plan President
Regence BlueShield of Idaho
For 70 years, Regence BlueShield of Idaho has been a trusted partner in health care, offering our members responsive and reliable health and wellness solutions.
During my seven years as Regence president, we've built a reliable management team dedicated to getting to know you and listening to your needs. And we've responded by developing new tools and approaches. Notably, we've collaborated with seven major Idaho hospitals on forward-looking agreements that encourage better treatment outcomes, higher patient satisfaction and better-managed costs. Working with physician groups, we were able to report an 8 percent reduction in member emergency room visits and a 15 percent improvement in the management of chronic conditions in 2016.
We're building on these successes and leveraging our financial strength to raise the bar even higher in 2017 and beyond. Our priority remains earning and maintaining your trust as a stable, innovative health care partner that–year in and year out–delivers peace of mind for you, your family and your business.
We believe you deserve health care that's designed around your unique needs. So we're building tools that connect you to the care you need and provide you with a more streamlined experience.
When you're on the go, you can now easily learn about your benefits
This starts at regence.com with your personalized Member dashboard that simply and clearly spells out your benefits information. Using our Find a doctor tool, you can search and compare providers and facilities based on network, costs, quality ratings and patient feedback—all taking into account your specific benefits. And when you're on the go, you can now easily learn about your benefits—as well as health-related discounts and wellness tips—through our text and email outreach.
Improving your health care experience is also about speaking your language. We've
re-written our member communications to be more clear and concise. Our newly redesigned Explanation of Benefits statement makes it easier for you to reconcile a doctor's bill against a paid claim, understand how your benefits were applied and easily identify your financial responsibility.
Convenience and clarity, tailored to meet your needs: That's the health care experience we're striving to create.
Regence mobile app: Benefits at your fingertips 24/7
With our Regence mobile app, you get on-the-go access to your health benefits. Using secure sign-in (including fingerprint technology), you can easily find in-network doctors and urgent care facilities, review your claims, see where you stand with your deductible and much more. The app also conveniently stores your member ID card for anytime, anywhere access.
A better Rx solution for your health and your wallet
As costs continue to rise for medications, we're excited about helping address this issue through our promising new partnership with MedSavvyTM. Piloted in 2016, this comparison tool helps consumers and providers make smart, informed decisions about prescription drugs by comparing their effectiveness and cost. Here's how it works:
Early feedback has been overwhelmingly positive, and we look forward to getting this helpful tool in the hands of more people in 2017.
Palliative care: A holistic approach for those who need it most
Health care should be patient-centered, family-oriented and compassionate. This is especially true for those being treated for a serious illness or significant injury. That's why we provide the industry's most comprehensive palliative care benefit. This is not the same as hospice care, which is a separate benefit. Palliative care is focused on relieving the symptoms, pain and stress caused by a serious illness or significant injury. People may need it at any stage of life, with or without treatment meant to cure the condition.
Bernice and Leonard’s story
Bernice, Leonard’s wife, was diagnosed with advanced-stage cancer. Leonard requested assistance from Regence Personalized Care Support. As the director of palliative care at a local university, he understood how crucial palliative care was to his wife’s quality of life—and to him and their children.
“You’ve been such a relief
and help caring for me”
He asked, “Do you have a program that allows us to coordinate my wife’s care in a home setting?” The answer was, “Yes, we do.” He told us that he wanted to enjoy his remaining time with his wife, not worrying about who would take care of her.
“We will take care of the details; you just focus on your time with her,” their Regence case manager said.
Regence took care of all the complex details in coordinating a unique combination of home hospice and palliative care.
A few weeks later, Bernice called: Leonard had also been diagnosed with advanced-stage cancer. “You’ve been such a relief and help caring for me,” she said. “Would you be willing to care for my husband, too?”
Regence heard from Leonard and Bernice’s children a few months later. They expressed their deep gratitude for our help in making their parents’ last days comfortable and worry-free.
Navigating health care can be challenging. At Regence, our role is to be a steady partner who stands behind you and advocates on your behalf—so you can get the most value for your dollar.
As a nonprofit, our sole focus is on supporting you: our members. Since we're not beholden to shareholders or quarterly profit reports, we can put more resources into improving your care while holding the line against rising costs. From the steps of the state capitol to physicians’ offices throughout Idaho, we’re doing just that.
We collaborate with doctors and hospitals on value-based provider arrangements that improve the quality and affordability of your care. Our networks balance access with fostering more coordinated care, all in the name of better health outcomes and patient satisfaction. And we’re advocating for more transparency and affordability from for-profit pharmaceutical companies.
Where your Regence premium dollar goes
You want a partner who not only has your back, but protects your wallet too. We take that responsibility to heart. As health care continues to evolve, we stand behind you, working to improve your care while keeping costs in check.
We’re passionate about making a difference in the communities we serve. By donating our time, talents and financial resources, the Regence family is proud to say we’ve helped improve the quality of life for our neighbors here in Idaho.
Regence and its Idaho employees contributed $650,834 and 1,269 volunteer hours to nonprofits over the course of 2016.
Top: MLK Day of Service
Left: American Heart Association Walk
Right: CAP Snack Drive
Our employees collected healthy snacks and volunteered their time to support the Community Action Partnership's Kindergarten Boot Camp, a six-week program that helps children prepare for the basic fundamentals of entering school. And because education is such an important part of a healthy future, Regence employees built more than 3,000 backpacks of food that the Idaho Foodbank distributed to children in need.
The Ronald McDonald House supports families of children facing serious conditions so that families can stay together during a difficult time. Regence employees provided breakfasts for families who temporarily relocated near the hospitals that are caring for their little ones. Our team also directed its Season of Giving efforts toward collecting items for family welcome packets.
We believe strongly in supporting our local community. That's why Regence is a partner in Together Treasure Valley, a collaboration that distributes funds to enhance the Treasure Valley community and benefit those who call it home. Meanwhile, more than 55 of our Idaho employees participated in Twin County United Way's Day of Caring.
As a local and regional leader, our investments in communities throughout the state help ensure those communities are as healthy as the members we serve.
