BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has completed its first annual health equity report and will use the findings as a benchmark to drive further progress, Andrea Willis, MD, chief medical officer for BCBS Tennessee, said in the Tennessean Jan. 26.
In a op-ed for the newspaper, Dr. Willis said the payer's first-ever health equity report tracks 20 health metrics across claims for 2 million BlueCross members.
BCBS Tennessee will make sure health equity is a part of value-based care models and guide its affiliated providers to focus on social determinants of health, Dr. Willis wrote.
"Metrics in follow-up reports will show progress on specific goals," Dr. Willis wrote. "But they'll more broadly serve as indicators of forward movement on barriers being torn down and gaps in care being addressed to drive lasting change. We hope these examples will inspire others to join us to advance health equity in our communities."
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