Blue Cross® Blue Shield® Federal Employee Program® (FEP®) Offers AbilTo, Inc.'s Remote Behavioral Therapy
Addition of AbilTo programs expands on FEP's commitment to innovative benefits that improve patient outcomes while reining in costs
WASHINGTON, Feb. 11, 2015 /PRNewswire/ -- The Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) Government-wide Service Benefit Plan, also known as the Federal Employee Program® (FEP), is partnering with AbilTo, Inc., the nation's largest remote behavioral change therapy company, to offer certain federal employees access to innovative programs that will empower FEP members to live healthier lives.
AbilTo behavioral change therapies are delivered via phone and video consulting programs to people who are experiencing significant medical events to help them make lifestyle changes to live healthier lives. In addition to providing a full range of comprehensive benefits –medical, dental and vision – to federal workers, FEP will now be able to offer AbilTo's Cardiac, Diabetes, Momentum (postpartum), Renew (pain management) and General Depression programs to participating members of the FEP Program in Washington and Alaska, in its initial phase. In the coming months, federal workers in additional states will have access to these programs.
Delivered by phone or secure video link, AbilTo's programs help individuals to make meaningful life changes and have delivered exceptional results including a 50-65 percent reduction in the rate of depression (avg.) among graduates of all programs. The programs also promote exceptional levels of patient engagement, consistent quality and lower healthcare costs.
"FEP is a leader among the health plans available to federal workers and in the healthcare industry as a whole. We are always looking for ways to provide our members with new and inventive ways to help them reach their health goals," said William A. Breskin, vice president, government programs for the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. "By offering these timely and targeted programs, FEP will be able to better empower members to help lower stress, depression and anxiety associated with some challenging health conditions."
FEP's commitment to rewarding quality care and improving outcomes also is demonstrated by providing federal employees access to the same state-of-the-art programs that BCBS companies provide to 86 of the Fortune 100 companies. This broad portfolio of care programs includes accountable care organizations, patient-centered medical homes, pay-for-performance programs, episode-based payment programs and programs that leverage technology to provide the high quality of care for which FEP and BCBS companies are known.
These programs focus on coordinating patient care to keep chronic conditions in check, and have been shown to reduce unnecessary emergency room visits, hospital admissions and readmissions, and other costly and unneeded medical interventions. The addition of AbilTo's state-of-the- art remote behavioral change therapy will allow federal workers to benefit even more from the FEP's commitment to providing them broad benefits at affordable prices.
"FEP covers federal employees, and their families, and AbilTo is honored to have the opportunity to help them overcome adversity and maximize their health potential," said Michael Laskoff, Founder and CEO of AbilTo.
AbilTo has received funding from BlueCross BlueShield Venture Partners, a corporate venture fund which includes 24 BlueCross and BlueShield companies.
About the Federal Employee Program
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association's Federal Employee Program administers the Government-wide Service Benefit Plan, which has been part of the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program since its inception in 1960. The Service Benefit Plan covers more than 5.3 million federal employees, retirees and their families. For more than 50 years, FEP has kept premiums affordable while providing comprehensive benefits and state-of-the-art programs to its members. The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association works with the U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) to administer the Service Benefit Plan on behalf of the 37 independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield companies. For more information about the Service Benefit Plan, please visit www.fepblue.org.
About AbilTo, Inc.
AbilTo, Inc. ("able to") is a population health management company focused on supporting high-cost populations, such as those with heart disease, diabetes, chronic pain and more. AbilTo's programs are administered by a therapist/coach team, and provide a proven solution to make people happier, healthier and more productive. The company's eight-week, evidence-based behavior change programs engage individuals and help them make measurable, lasting changes that improve their medical and behavioral health. For more information, visit www.abilto.com.
SOURCE AbilTo, Inc.
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