April 7 , 2008
DANVILLE, PA –Geisinger Health Plan ranked #1 in three measures in a new report released by the Pennsylvania Health Care Cost Containment Council (PHC4), an independent state agency. In addition, GHP was consistently among the state’s top four health plans. This report follows the 2007 U.S. News and World Report/America’s Best Health Plans list released in November, where GHP was ranked in the top 15 percent of all health plans in the nation.
The annual report, “Measuring the Quality of Pennsylvania’s Commercial HMOs,” compares Pennsylvania’s health plans in how well they keep members healthy, prevent hospitalizations through primary care, manage ongoing illnesses and perform on surgical procedures. Approximately 40 different measures are compared. GHP was ranked #1 in monitoring kidney disease for members with diabetes, screening for breast cancer and annual monitoring for patients on persistent medications.
Geisinger Health Plan scored well in many of the measures. In 13 of the 17 “Staying Healthy” measures, GHP ranked among the top four health plans in the state. In addition, some of GHP’s best results were related to its nationally accredited disease management program for members with diabetes and asthma. GHP scored higher than state and national averages in members receiving A1c blood tests and eye exams in the past year and screening members with diabetes for cholesterol. GHP also scored higher than state and national averages in childhood immunizations, timely initiation of prenatal care, screening for colorectal and cervical cancer, controlling high blood pressure and using beta-blockers after a heart attack.
In service measures, GHP exceeded the national average in getting needed care and seeing a specialist.
“The PHC4 report contains valuable information designed to help consumers make more informed decisions,” says Duane E. Davis, M.D, GHP’s vice president and chief medical officer. “By providing an apples-to-apples comparison of health plans, this resource encourages health plans to improve the quality of care they provide their members, helping to control the cost of health care in Pennsylvania.”
An independent state agency, PHC4 was created under Pennsylvania statute (Act 89) to collect, analyze and report data to the public about the cost and quality of health care in Pennsylvania. This is the ninth year PHC4 has reported on the quality of care that HMO networks offer.
Geisinger Health Plan, begun in 1985, is headquartered in Danville, PA and is one of the nation’s largest rural HMOs. The Health Plan serves more than 212,000 members in 42 counties. Members of the Health Plan have access to complete health-care benefits, from preventive care and routine office visits to hospital care and surgery; and an extensive network of primary care physicians, including affiliations with hospitals, pharmacies, and home health and rehabilitation services. Coverage is available for businesses of all sizes, individuals and families, and Medicare beneficiaries. Self-funded and indemnity plans are sold through Geisinger Indemnity Insurance Company. PPO and high deductible plans are sold through Geisinger Quality Options, Inc.
For more information, please contact
Amy Bowen, Public Relations Coordinator, (570) 271-8135