Blue Shield of California and Walgreens have launched a new partnership to improve health care access, cut costs, and provide innovative services for individuals, families, and communities across California. The relationship will begin with Walgreens Health CornerTM services, which will provide commercial Blue Shield members with a personalized experience to help them improve their health results.
- Assistance: Health advisors — pharmacists, dieticians, or nurses – will be on hand at the Health Corner sites to inform and assist with health, nutrition, exercise, and disease management care coordination for immediate or future treatment. Condition management and whole-person care will be the focus of the healthcare services.
- Accessibility: Blue Shield members in qualified plans will get access to blood pressure checks, A1C blood tests, and mammogram care coordination when the program launches. They will also be able to pick up take-home, the health screening tests, as well as receive in-person guidance on how to use and finish the kits, as well as assistance in locating new health and wellness items, from health advisors. Members will also have access to health experts who will assist them in setting up their digital health applications on their mobile devices.
- Collaborations: “We are thrilled to announce this collaboration with Walgreens because of our shared goal to reimagine health care,” said Peter Long, executive vice president of Strategy and Health Solutions at Blue Shield of California. “Together, we are transforming health care by launching innovative, high-touch, personalized, and holistic solutions for members and Californians with the ultimate goal of providing enhanced access to care that is worthy of our family and friends and sustainably affordable.”
- Partnerships: This is the newest example of Blue Shield’s Health Reimagined initiative, which is the nonprofit health plan’s ambitious mission to revolutionize health care for individuals, families, and communities. Through broad collaborations with other leaders in health care, technology and community-based organizations, Health Reimagined develops, pilots and scales ideas to increase equitable access to high-quality, whole-person care.
- Commitments: “Walgreens is excited to join forces with Blue Shield of California for this community health effort” said Vish Sankaran, Walgreens Boots Alliance chief innovation officer. “Blue Shield has a long-standing history of transforming health care for their members and beyond. By leveraging our trusted retail pharmacy locations, deep healthcare experience, and community relationships, together we are uniquely positioned to bridge gaps in care for many Californians to create a more seamless and convenient consumer experience.”