News Article: Blues Plans Are Helping Hospitals Reduce Hospital-Acquired Infections With Electronic Tools and Incentive Programs

Reprinted from The AIS Report on Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, a hard-hitting independent monthly newsletter on business strategies, products and markets, mergers and alliances, and financing of BC/BS plans.
By Jill Brown, Managing Editor, (jbrown@aispub.com)

Hospital-acquired infections (HAIs) are among a growing list of "never events" for which CMS and some health insurers — including Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans such as WellPoint, Inc. — say they will no longer reimburse hospitals' treatment costs. Alongside that penalty approach, Blues plans such as Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey, Blue Shield of California and Excellus Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New York are working collaboratively with hospitals to help reduce the incidence of HAIs, using tools such as electronic infection-monitoring systems.

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