URAC Announces Winners of the 2010 Best Practices in Health Care Consumer Protection and Empowerment Awards

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Oct 08, 2010, 04:25 ET

Awards Recognize Innovative Health Programs That Benefit Consumers

WASHINGTON, Oct. 8 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- URAC, a leading health care accreditation organization, announced the winners of its Best Practices in Health Care Consumer Protection and Empowerment Awards. The honorees were announced as part of URAC's 2010 Quality Summit and Award Program held October 5-7, in Chicago, Illinois. The awards recognize health care management programs that demonstrate quality improvements in the health care delivered to consumers.

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"Our Best Practices awards program is a unique celebration of innovative health care management programs. These organizations have implemented leading-edge programs have made a difference in the lives of the consumers they serve with demonstrable results that matter," said Alan P. Spielman, president and CEO of URAC. "This year's winners are recognized for their leadership in delivering on the promise of a quality health care system that puts consumers first."

Entries were judged by a distinguished 30-member panel of prestigious, independent judges including recognized experts in program evaluation, care coordination, health information technology, employer and purchaser decision making and patient safety. Entries were reviewed and scored by the judges based on objective criteria including whether the program was measurable, if it was reproducible and delivered through a collaborative approach. Honors were awarded in the categories of Consumer Decision-Making and Consumer Health Improvement.

The winners of the 2010 Best Practices in Health Care Consumer Protection and Empowerment Awards are:

PLATINUM AWARDS

Centene Corporation

Start Smart for Your Baby™

Prescription Solutions

Multiple Sclerosis Disease Therapy Management

GOLD AWARDS

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois

Educating Physicians About Patient Safety

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield

Engaging the At-Risk Population

CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield and Maryland eCare

Virtual Intensive Care Unit

Employers Occupational Health, Inc. and informedRx®

Controlled Drug Over-Utilization Program

Health Alliance Plan and Henry Ford Health System

Medication Therapy Management Program

Keystone Mercy Health Plan and the YMCA of Philadelphia & Vicinity

Lose To Win Type II Diabetes/Obesity Program

Wenatchee Valley Medical Center and Robert Bosch Healthcare, Inc.

Health Buddy Program

SILVER AWARDS

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Illinois

A Systematic Approach to Improving Diabetes Care

Capital BlueCross

Medication Reconciliation Referral Program

Genesee Health Plan and Genesys Health System

Health Navigator Self Management Support System

HealthCare USA and Health and Dental Care for Kids

Baby Bears Club NICU Disease Management Program

Kaiser Permanente Northern California

Reduction of High Risk Medication Errors

ProgenyHealth, Inc.

Case Management of NICU Infants

WellPoint, Inc. and Commonwealth of Virginia

Benefits Based Incentives and Maternity Outcomes

BRONZE AWARDS

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

Patient Centered Medical Home

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee

End of Life Planning

Care Management Technologies, Oklahoma Health Care Authority, Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services and Lilly, USA

Oklahoma Medical Risk Management Program

CIGNA Corporation

Behavioral Intensive Case Management Engagement

PsycHealth, Ltd.

Medical Follow-up After Mental Health Admission

HONORABLE MENTION AWARDS

Coventry Workers' Compensation Services

Code Red Alert: Large Scale Catastrophic Response

HealthCare USA

Beary Important Breath Program

HealthCare USA and Health and Dental Care for Kids

Beary Important Bundle Program

Informed Medical Decisions, Inc.

High Tech, High Touch Genetics - A Model Program

Kaiser Permanente Northern California and Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

Evidence Based Sepsis Care - Mortality Reduction

McKesson Health Solutions

Personal Health Advisor

US Family Health Plan at Pacific Medical Centers

Pharmacy Patient Safety Program

WellPoint, Inc.

Progesterone for Preterm Birth Prevention

WellPoint, Inc.

Social Work Care Management Program

About URAC

URAC, an independent, nonprofit organization, is well-known as a leader in promoting health care quality through its accreditation, education and measurement programs. URAC offers a wide range of quality benchmarking programs and services that keep pace with the rapid changes in the health care system, and provide a symbol of excellence for organizations to validate their commitment to quality and accountability. Through its broad-based governance structure and an inclusive standards development process, URAC ensures that all stakeholders are represented in establishing meaningful quality measures for the entire health care industry. For more information, visit www.urac.org.

SOURCE URAC