The COVID-19 pandemic forced healthcare out of both its macro- and micro-level comfort zones, driving payers to meet consumer demands with innovative solutions, Alan Murray, CEO and president of Empire BlueCross, wrote in an Oct. 15 piece for the Albany Inno.
Early on, this shift was embodied by Empire BlueCross' adjustment from using its virtual LiveHealthOnline solution for urgent health needs to using it to broaden specialty care horizons.
The same is true for deepening Anthem Link, a technology-enabled solution for small businesses that allows them to virtually manage health and wellness. The tool supports small businesses with artificial intelligence-driven symptom-checking, digital action plans, online coaching and more.
Much of that development comes from enhancing digital integration, Murray wrote. Empire BlueCross is pushing for 80 percent of members to be connected to the payer through admission and discharge notifications and for medical record access by the end of 2022.