Blue Plus, the HMO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, acquires Duluth-based claims processing systems

Agreement transfers ownership of Elderly Waiver claims system from Bridgeview Company

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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

Mar 04, 2014, 02:00 ET

EAGAN, Minn., March 4, 2014 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Blue Plus, the health maintenance organization (HMO) affiliate of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, announced today that it has acquired the Elderly Waiver claims processing capabilities of Bridgeview Company, a privately owned organization headquartered in Duluth, Minn.

The acquisition involves the claims processing systems of Bridgeview used to pay providers for services rendered to Blue Plus members enrolled in the Elderly Waiver program. Created by the Minnesota Department of Health in 2005, the Elderly Waiver program funds home health services for seniors who are eligible through Minnesota public health care programs to reside in a nursing facility, but choose to remain living independently. Elderly Waiver services are available to Blue Plus members enrolled in SecureBlue (a Minnesota Senior Health Option or MSHO plan) or Blue Advantage (a Minnesota Senior Care Plus or MSC + plan).

Bridgeview has administered Elderly Waiver claims for Blue Plus since 2010. In 2012, Bridgeview processed more than 185,000 Elderly Waiver claims on behalf of approximately 7,000 Blue Plus members throughout the state. Covered services of the Elderly Waiver program include home health aides, home-delivered meals and family caregiver training.

Additionally, certain members of Bridgeview's Duluth-based dedicated team of claims administrators are now employees of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, working for Blue Plus and performing the same Elderly Waiver claim payment duties. Financial terms were not disclosed.

"Blue Cross wanted to ensure our long-term ability to pay claims for these vital services," stated Frank Fernandez, a vice president at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and president and CEO of Blue Plus. "This agreement allows Blue Plus the flexibility to integrate the capability to process Elderly Waiver claims into our larger system and business processes. Bridgeview has been fantastic to work with through this process. I want to thank them for their dedication to our members and for the high standards they have set for Elderly Waiver claims processing."

"I believe the efficiency and accuracy of our Elderly Waiver claims system, along with the skill and dedication of our employees, represent the highest standards in the claims processing industry," said Kathy Heimbach, chief executive officer at Bridgeview Company. "We take satisfaction in knowing that our Elderly Waiver team had the opportunity to make this transition and that all stakeholders will continue to receive the same superior level of service through Blue Plus."

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, with headquarters in the St. Paul suburb of Eagan, was chartered in 1933 as Minnesota's first health plan and continues to carry out its charter mission today: to promote a wider, more economical and timely availability of health services for the people of Minnesota. A nonprofit, taxable organization, Blue Cross is the largest health plan based in Minnesota, covering 2.9 million members in Minnesota and nationally through its health plans or plans administered by its affiliated companies. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota and Blue Plus are nonprofit independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, headquartered in Chicago. Go to bluecrossmn.com to learn more about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.