CEDAR RAPIDS – Patients should benefit as a new partnership, called an Accountable Care Organization, begins in Iowa with Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and the Iowa Health System. Commonly called an ACO, the collaboration is designed to improve quality and lower health care costs between Iowa’s largest insurance provider and the health...
Read more »

Agreement designed to enhance patient experience and slow cost increases Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa announced a groundbreaking collaboration Thursday with Iowa Health System that creates Iowa’s first commercial health plan Accountable Care Organization (ACO). The new ACO focuses on coordinating care to improve quality, provide greater value, and slow increases...
Read more »

Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Healthways announced that 54 communities have submitted an application to be among the first demonstration sites for the Blue Zones Project, a cornerstone of the Healthiest State Initiative. Blue Zones are areas in the world where people live longer, healthier lives. Demonstration sites are communities in Iowa where...
Read more »

Healthways, Inc. and Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield announced the appointment of Mary Lawyer as the State Director of the Blue Zones Project. The Blue Zones Project is a centerpiece of the Healthiest State Initiative, a community and business-led, government-endorsed statewide effort to engage Iowa citizens to improve their health and well-being. As...
Read more »

Cedar Rapids, Decorah, the Iowa City area and Mount Vernon are among Eastern Iowa communities invited to move forward as part of the Blue Zones Project, with the end goal of making Iowa the healthiest state in the nation. Here is the announcement from Wellmark and Healthways: Eighty four communities across Iowa realize the importance of...
Read more »

CEDAR RAPIDS – Nearly 4,000 seniors will need to find another Medicare supplement plan after one offered by Wellmark and St. Luke’s Hospital was discontinued. The SeniorBlue Select plan will no longer be offered as of Dec. 31, said  Courtney Greene, spokeswoman for Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield. About 3,900 Iowans used the...
Read more »

Cedar Rapids and the Iowa City area are among 84 communities to submit a statement of interest to become one of 10 demonstration sites in the Blue Zones Project. Here is more from Wellmark and Healthways: Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Healthways announced today that 84 communities in Iowa submitted a Statement of...
Read more »

CEDAR RAPIDS – Mayor Ron Corbett realized the irony as he moved to grab a cookie Tuesday on the way out of a press conference that highlighted Iowa’s new Healthiest State Initiative. Officials from Healthways and Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, along with author Dan Buettner, discussed how communities can apply for the...
Read more »

A world record attempt will be among efforts to boost Iowa to the top state in health within five years. All Iowans are encouraged to participate in the Start Somewhere Walk at noon Friday, Oct. 7. If 250,000 people join in the 1 kilometer walk, it would become a Guiness World Record for number of people...
Read more »

Iowans have a short window to enroll their  children in certain health insurance policies, with no exclusions for pre-existing conditions, under new health care reform rules. During the open enrollment period from Friday, July 1, through Aug. 14, 2011, child-only policies are offered on a guaranteed-issue basis to children up to age 19 or...
Read more »