In rapidly changing social times, staying relevant and competitive is a challenge. We've curated the latest news to help you.
The Briefing: news and content to help employers stay ahead
Featured Resources
Virtual Blue — Article
Virtual-first care has arrived – here's how employers can make the most of it
Virtual care is changing how health care is delivered. Tap into the power of a hybrid, virtual + in-person plan to make your business stand out.
Health Plans — Article
Talking industry priorities for 2024 and beyond, with Blue Shield CEO Paul Markovich
Digital experiences, prescription drug costs, and personalized patient experiences among key areas of focus
Behavioral Health — Article
Expanding mental health resources with CredibleMind
Behavioral health services are a vital part of employee benefits packages, but expectations around access and options for services have changed due to the pandemic and the increase in virtual health services and wellness apps.
Resource Library
All topics
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Pharmacy — Article
Blue Shield’s Sandra Clarke writes about her experience on a White House drug cost panel
Discussions continue around reforming pharmacy care in the U.S.
Pharmacy — Article
Leveraging biosimilar medications to lower pharmacy costs for consumers
A biosimilar medication is highly comparable to its brand counterpart and a key factor in reducing drug costs and breaking up pharmaceutical monopolies.
Health Plans — Article
Talking industry priorities for 2024 and beyond, with Blue Shield CEO Paul Markovich
Digital experiences, prescription drug costs, and personalized patient experiences among key areas of focus
Virtual Blue — Video
Virtual Blue overview & member testimonial
See how the Virtual Blue plan’s hybrid approach to care makes it easy to get virtual or in-person care. By providing access to a variety of virtual behavioral health professionals, this plan can meet the high demand for mental health services for both adults and children as young as age four. A holistic health team and health coach are part of every member’s care team, helping to ensure optimal health outcomes.
Virtual Blue — Article
Virtual-first care has arrived – here's how employers can make the most of it
Virtual care is changing how health care is delivered. Tap into the power of a hybrid, virtual + in-person plan to make your business stand out.
Member Experience — Video
Behavioral health any way you like
Behavioral health issues have an enormous impact on absenteeism, disability, worker’s compensation, and individual performance.
Virtual Blue — Video
Member journey accessing virtual-care only
See how virtual care unfolds for a 33-year-old woman when she wakes up with back pain that intensifies throughout the day. After meeting that same day with her virtual personal physician, she gets a care plan, prescription, and orders for preventive lab tests.
Virtual Blue — Video
Virtual Blue Care Model
Dedicated virtual care teams get to know each individual member and use this knowledge to put the member at the center of the care experience. The member experience is personalized, coordinated, and easy.
Virtual Blue — Video
Member journey accessing virtual and in-person care
See how care works when a 10-year-old girl suddenly experiences breathing issues while at soccer practice on a Saturday morning. Her mother immediately reaches out for virtual care. Within minutes, she is connected to a healthcare team familiar with the girl’s health history and past visits and books a same-day care appointment with their chosen personal physician.
Virtual Blue — Download
Blue Shield employees share their care experiences with Virtual Blue
Learn about the experiences and high satisfaction rate of our employees who chose Virtual Blue as their health plan. In their own words, they share how they avoided costly emergency or urgent care appointments, appreciated easy access to care and appointments, and much more.
Virtual Blue — Video
Virtual Blue promo video
Get an introduction to our Virtual Blue plan. This virtual-first plan provides $0 unlimited virtual visits for primary, behavioral, and specialist care. Whenever In-person care is preferred, it’s part of the plan – no referrals needed, cost-sharing applies.
Member Experience — Article
Blue Shield named among U.S best managed companies
Blue Shield is one of only 17 gold standard honorees.
Health Plans — Article
Blue Shield’s Civica investment is helping lower health costs with quality, affordable generics
Blue Shield of California was one of the leading plans to fund CivicaScript, whose prostate cancer drug and low-cost insulin options are reshaping health care.
Virtual Blue — Video
See how Virtual Blue delivers a better care experience.
Virtual Blue goes beyond telehealth to support better value and access to integrated virtual primary, behavioral, and specialist care.
Behavioral Health — Article
Expanding mental health resources with CredibleMind
Behavioral health services are a vital part of employee benefits packages, but expectations around access and options for services have changed due to the pandemic and the increase in virtual health services and wellness apps.
Virtual Blue — Article
The hybrid Virtual Blue plan is much more than a telehealth offering
The new virtual-first plan Virtual Blue was created to meet higher expectations for care and access during this new era of healthcare delivery.
Health Plans — Article
Blue Shield adds Virta Health to help reverse growing type 2 diabetes epidemic
In early 2023, Blue Shield of California announced an expanded partnership with Virta Health, the leader in type 2 diabetes reversal.
Pharmacy — Article
Pharmacists: Uniquely qualified, yet underutilized
By 2030, the demand for primary care physicians could outpace the supply. See how pharmacists can help fill the gap.
Health Plans — Article
Promoting dental health for employees and their families
Supporting family dental health produces better health outcomes and can reduce work absences, employee anxiety, and lost productivity.
Pharmacy — Video
See how an Advanced Practice Pharmacist is helping Anne
Anne was recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes — and she’s feeling a bit overwhelmed. Our Advanced Practice Pharmacists help members like Anne by talking directly to them about how best to manage a chronic condition.
Pharmacy — Download
Blue Shield streamlines management of drugs covered by medical benefits
Our approach addresses the complexity and high cost of medical benefit drugs without sacrificing access to specialty treatments.
Behavioral Health — Article
Supporting mental health: An employer's guide to a psychologically healthy workplace
Discover why having a psychologically healthy workplace is important — and how to get there.
Pharmacy — Download
Effective solutions to managing the cost of gene and cellular therapies
We can help you and your company be prepared, in the unlikely instance that you need to help an employee navigate a rare disease.
Pharmacy — Download
Blue Shield aims to cut costs, improve outcomes for chronic conditions
Blue Shield’s new Prescription Savings Program helps members with chronic conditions save money — and stick to a healthy regimen.
Member Experience — Article
The importance of pharmacists and automation in lowering drug costs
Blue Shield’s Vice President of Pharmacy Services Alison Lum writes about collaborating with pharmacists to drive down costs in an article co-authored for Fierce Healthcare
Healthy Dose — Podcast
EP33: A Dose of Virtual First Health Care
Kate Brown, the leader of Mercer’s Center for Health Innovation, delivers an outlook and overview of virtual first care, its growth, and the diverse array of telehealth and digital solutions entering the market.
Member Experience — Article
Help employees understand their coverage – during open enrollment and beyond
Increase employees’ understanding and usage of their health coverage with Blue Shield’s array of educational resources
Public Health — Article
Why domestic violence is a workplace issue—and how companies can help
Domestic violence crosses all demographics and directly impacts the workplace. Companies have the power to address issues of domestic violence and create a better, safer workplace.
Member Experience — Article
Value and service for small businesses
See why more small businesses choose Blue Shield’s PPO for themselves and their employees.
Healthy Dose — Podcast
EP32: A Dose of Price Transparency and the Role of Pharmacists at the Point of Care
The cost of medications has skyrocketed and pharmacists are still filling prescriptions behind the counter instead of being used for their expertise to help patients at the point of care.
Member Experience — Article
Blue Shield CEO Paul Markovich shares perspective on improving digital healthcare experience
The COVID-19 pandemic forced rapid innovation in digital health—health care must leverage that momentum to create a better consumer experience, says Markovich.
Health Plans — Article
Increased offerings spotlight the need for benefit education and engagement
In the competition to gain and retain a talented workforce, companies are vying to offer employees and job candidates benefits covering an increasingly wide range of working arrangements, generational health needs, and expectations.
Health Plans — Video
Optimize your health plan with Blue Shield’s leading reporting tool
Our user-friendly reporting tool, Intelligent Health, provides a comprehensive view of your healthcare spend to help you identify cost-saving opportunities and make decisions based on data-driven results.
Member Experience — Article
Healthy Dose of Dialogue
Tune in to Healthy Dose of Dialogue, featuring conversations with the leading voices transforming health care.
Member Experience — Article
Resources for Mental Health Awareness Month and beyond
Mental Health Awareness Month is a perfect time for employers to promote resources for enhancing employee mental health.
Member Experience — Article
Blue Shield achieves 100% “onshoring” goal
In August of 2020, Blue Shield of California set a goal to bring every member call back to a support center in the United States (known as “onshoring”). Now, we are excited to announce we have achieved the 100% mark!
Health Plans — Video
Trio HMO delivers affordability without compromising quality
Our fastest growing HMO delivers affordable care and puts its members in control of their health and well-being.
Member Experience — Video
Concierge delivers a white-glove employee experience
Concierge brings together a customer care team and clinical team to support members with a goal of resolving all issues in a single call.
Member Experience — Video
Connect provides a powerful member engagement experience
Higher engagement with lower costs is possible. Clients who choose Connect, our premium member support and advocacy model, see 2x-3x more engagement than with other Blue Shield care models.