UC Health and Anthem Blue Cross form alliance
December 11, 2012 •
Anthem Blue Cross and University of California Health — UC’s medical centers and health professional schools — recently announced the launch of a groundbreaking alliance aimed at addressing some of the most critical issues facing the state’s health care delivery system.
Under the new agreement, Anthem and UC Health will focus on care innovation and California health policy development with the purpose of improving access to affordable, quality health care for California residents. The parties have named this joint venture the California Health Alliance. Both expect an enduring and productive association that will benefit the people of California.
With all five of the world-class UC academic health centers in Anthem’s network, both organizations have a longstanding history of serving residents throughout the state and are uniquely positioned to understand the health care needs of Californians. And, as the state prepares to expand health care through the Affordable Care Act (ACA), both organizations believe that today, more than ever, a collaboration of this type can effectively address the impact expected on the state’s health delivery system as more residents prepare to access medical services.
Among some of the initial areas of focus will be the development of accountable care models to better manage costly chronic conditions and the expansion of alternate delivery systems, such as telemedicine, to encourage wellness and prevention and to provide access to health care for residents in rural areas. The alliance is also expected to provide opportunities for research, analysis, literature development and policy recommendations.
“As two of the state’s leading organizations, this new affiliation has the ability to revolutionize California’s health care delivery system,” said Dr. John Stobo, senior vice president for UC Health. “By coming together, we know we can develop meaningful research, policy and best practices that can be leveraged on a broader scale to help improve the state’s health care system and the health of the population at large.”
