Group Health Announces New Vice President of Spokane

April 2, 2012 — 2:41 pm

Today, Group Health Cooperative has named Kelly Stanford vice president of market development for the Spokane region. Stanford will be dedicated full-time to developing an integrated delivery system in Spokane. In doing so, she will work with Providence Health Care and other providers who share both organization’s commitment to patient-centered, community-minded, and mission-driven health care.

Stanford brings seasoned expertise in working with both physicians and health plans, including more than a decade of experience as one of the key executive leaders of Columbia Medical Associates (CMA), the large group of primary care physicians Group Health acquired in 2011. She will continue in her current role as president of CMA, but assumes new executive responsibilities with Group Health.

“Transforming patient care for the region is hard work that takes time,” says Stanford. “But with like-minded partners like Group Health, Providence and CMA, we are making important strides that will significantly change the patient experience for the better.”

Stanford’s role at Group Health represents a continued commitment from the organization to real, on-the-ground work to improve the way health care is delivered to patients in the communities it serves. Group Health has earned national recognition for its next-generation care practices such as electronic medical records, a medical home model of care delivered in the Group Health Medical Centers, reduction in hospital readmission rates, use of comparative effectiveness data, and shared decision making between providers and patients.

Stanford joins Group Health executives Brad Pope, MD, district medical director; Robert Burden, district administrator; Tom Schaaf, MD, medical director for primary care; and Pam Lake, medical center administrator; in rounding out Group Health’s management team in Spokane.

“Group Health and Providence have together made thoughtful, steady progress looking at what we can do together to make the medical care experience better for patients,” said Tom Schaaf, MD, Group Health’s primary care medical director in Spokane. “With Kelly, we can accelerate our work and widen the circle to others who wish to be a part of what we’re creating.”

Group Health Receives LGBT “Best Places to Work” honor

March 28, 2012 — 1:57 pm

Group Health has earned a “Best Places to Work” designation from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) after receiving a 100 percent rating on the 2012 Corporate Equity Index.
The index measures how equitably large, private-sector businesses in the United States treat their lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender (LGBT) employees, consumers, and investors. It is widely viewed as a national benchmark, and promoted as such in the LGBT community.
Group Health received a 93 percent rating on the index in 2011. The perfect score in 2012 is attributed to the addition of Group Health’s LGBT & Allies Staff Resource Group, along with the improved transgender benefits that went into effect in 2011.
The organization was able to achieve a perfect score despite the fact that the HRC has implemented more stringent criteria standards for the designation.
A total of 636 participating employers were rated this year, and only 190 of them received the top rating of 100 percent. In 2011, 337 businesses earned a 100 percent, and the drop this year is attributed to the tougher standards.
National LGBT Health Awareness Week is March 26–30. It recognizes health and wellness as an essential part of social justice for LGBT individuals, families, and the wider community.

Governor Signs Health Benefit Exchange Legislation at Group Health Olympia Medical Center

March 23, 2012 — 10:00 am

Today Governor Christine Gregoire takes the next step in empowering her constituents to choose the best, most affordable health care by signing the Health Benefit Exchange Legislation at Group Health Cooperative’s Olympia Medical Center, on the two year anniversary of the passage of the Affordable Care Act.
The legislation simplifies the process for purchasing health care for all Washingtonians and provides a rating system to help consumers select the best plan. Furthermore, the legislation will provide more choices in health plans while also making it easier for them to retain their coverage when switching from job to job. Washington State again leads as one of the first states to quickly and appropriately enact Health Benefit Exchange Legislation in advance of the 2014 Federal deadline.

“The rising cost of health insurance is a significant concern for residents across the state,” said Gov. Chris Gregoire. “Today my signature on the Health Benefits Exchange bill makes it easier for individuals and small businesses to compare, select, and buy affordable health care coverage. The exchange will help take the guess work out of the health insurance process and will assure that consumers get what they pay for. I thank Group Health Cooperative for leading the way on these important efforts.”

Group Health Cooperative has been an active partner in helping shape an exchange that is both sensible and appropriate for Washington State. The Governor’s office has asked Group Health’s Olympia Medical Center to host the bill signing today, on the anniversary of President Obama’s signing of the Affordable Care Act, in recognition of Group Health’s quality of care and service in the state of Washington.

Sponsored by Senator Karen Keiser for the Senate version of the bill and by Representative Eileen Cody in the House, this legislation highlights the need to increase affordable access to health care.

“I think our law will create a healthy, vibrant marketplace for consumers and small businesses to serve as a ‘one stop shop’ for affordable health insurance,” said Senator Keiser. “We plan to be open for enrollment by the fall of 2013!”

“I’m excited to have Washington State take the next step toward health care reform,” Representative Cody said. “As we move closer to access to health care coverage for all, we must now work together to decrease cost and improve quality. With the help of progressive organizations like Group Health, Washington can be a leader in these efforts.”

Group Health members are already experiencing the kind of next-generation care that national, state, and local administrations would like to see available to more people in the country. Practices such as electronic medical records, the medical home, patient-centered care, comparative effectiveness, and shared decision-making are already at work, creating the exceptional care experience Group Health members value.

Group Health Director of State Government Relations Scott Plack said, “The Washington Exchange bill balances the flexibility for health plans to offer a suitable level of coverage with enough marketplace protections to keep the health care market stable and affordable for individuals and families.”

Molina Healthcare and Group Health partner to serve Medicaid patients in Washington

March 21, 2012 — 11:00 am

Molina Healthcare and Group Health Cooperative announced today an exclusive agreement to serve Healthy Options and Basic Health patients in Washington beginning July 1, 2012. Under this agreement, the existing Group Health delivery system—including Primary Care, Specialty, Pharmacy and ancillary services—will be a part of the Molina Healthcare provider network for Healthy Options and Basic Health.

As a result of recent changes to Washington State’s contracting strategy for Medicaid and Healthy Options, Group Health is no longer participating as a health plan, but will continue to see Healthy Options and Basic Health patients as a Molina Healthcare contracted provider.

“We look forward to adding Group Health as part of the Molina Healthcare provider family,” said Glen Bogner, president of Molina Healthcare of Washington. “We are working closely with Group Health and the State to ensure a seamless transition and continuity of care for members.”

“Group Health and Molina are aligned in our goal to provide care designed for patients first,” says Scott Armstrong, Group Health president and CEO. “We will also learn from Molina as we hone new business capabilities to work in collaboration with other health plans. At the same time our patients will continue to have access to our excellent Group Health medical home model of care.”

The agreement will allow up to 25,000 Healthy Options and Basic Health enrollees to continue to receive high quality care from Group Health providers in six counties throughout Washington State.

Group Health seeks members for Board of Trustees

March 7, 2012 — 9:47 am

Are you a Group Health member? Interested in helping transform health care for Group Health Cooperative’s members and the communities it serves? Then apply for one of the four open positions on the Group Health Board of Trustees.

Group Health Cooperative, a consumer-governed, nonprofit health care system, is currently seeking candidates for four Board of Trustees positions, with elections slated for October 2012. Trustees are elected to serve a three-year term. The application deadline is Monday, April 9, 2012.

The Board of Trustees is an 11-member consumer governing body that sets the strategy, direction, and policy for a nonprofit enterprise with $3.3 billion in annual revenues. Individuals with the experience and range of skills necessary to help lead our consumer-governed health care system are encouraged to apply. Trustees must receive their medical coverage through Group Health in order to be eligible to apply.

To apply go to member ghc.org and search for “Board application.” For additional information call 206-448-2073 in Seattle, or toll-free 1-800-252-3305, extension 21.

PBS Documentary Features Group Health

February 22, 2012 — 9:53 am

Group Health is one of five health care systems in the country that’s being featured in a documentary by journalist T.R. Reid. U.S. Health Care: The Good News shines a light on how communities are able to provide high quality healthcare at costs far below the national average.

In the documentary, Reid travels the United States to report on communities that serve as an example for reducing healthcare costs while placing renewed emphasis on patient care. Of the four geographic areas chosen for the film, two are in the Puget Sound Region; Seattle and Everett. The film highlights the simple and seemingly intuitive principles that some local organizations have adopted to make major impacts. The documentary cites these organizations as the “how-to” model for other American communities looking to make similar changes.

Reid highlights Group Health’s patient-centered medical home approach to care. During production, the documentary crew spent a full day at Group Health’s Factoria Medical Center shadowing doctors, nurses, staff, and patients, as well as interviewing Michael Soman, MD, president and chief medical officer of Group Health Physicians.

A former Washington Post correspondent, Reid is author of nine books, including the national bestseller, The Healing of America. Reid was also the correspondent for the PBS documentary Sick Around the World about successful health care systems in other industrialized democracies, such as Japan, Germany, and Switzerland.

The documentary, will air in Seattle, on KCTS, on Feb. 24 and 26; and Spokane, on KSPS, on March 7 and 10. Visit ghc.org for programming details.

Group Health Medical Centers to serve Medicaid Healthy Options patients in partnership with another health plan

January 20, 2012 — 2:13 pm

Group Health Cooperative declined to participate in the state bidding process for administering the Medicaid Healthy Options health plan, as the rules within the state’s new program were not crafted to work well with an integrated medical system, which combines health plan coverage with delivery of care.

Group Health intends to continue to provide medical care to Healthy Options patients in its medical centers in partnership with another health plan.

“We see our participation in Healthy Options and other state programs that serve low income populations as part of our mission,” said Pam MacEwan, vice president for public affairs and governance. “Group Health has participated in Healthy Options, the managed Medicaid program, and Basic Health, since the programs were created.”

The key issue with the state’s new rules for managed Medicaid is a (more…)

Group Health App Updated with Key Time-Saving Features

January 5, 2012 — 10:57 am

Users of the Group Health mobile app will have convenient access to their child’s medical records and the ability to refill their own prescriptions via a smartphone.

With this update, parents of children 12 and under can check their child’s immunization record, make appointments, and email with their child’s doctor all on the go.  Group Health Members can also refill their prescription and have it sent to their home or pick it up in one of Group Health’s 25 medical centers.

Launched in August as a way to help our members have more convenient access to care, the app has been downloaded 22,168 times by Group Health members. In addition, the app was recently named Mobile App of the Year by the TechFlash Flashies Awards.

The free Group Health mobile app includes five key health features in addition to the new child medical record access and prescription updates:

  • Mobile access to medical records (including the ability to email your doctor, check test results, view visit summaries, check immunization histories and more),
  • Direct access to call or secure message a consulting nurse 24/7,
  • Wait times at all Group Health Medical Center Pharmacies and Labs
  • Maps to the nearest Group Health Medical Centers,
  • Comprehensive symptom checker.

Currently, the Group Health mobile app is available for iPhones in the app store and to Android users in the Android Market.

Group Health Welcomes First New Year’s Baby of 2012

January 1, 2012 — 2:58 pm

Who:     Viviana Nguyen

When:    4:48 a.m.

Weight:    7 pounds 16 ounces, 19 inches

Where:      Group Health Family Beginnings Childbirth Center, Seattle

Mom and Dad:  To Oanh Thi and Scott Nguyen

Viviana Nguyen, Group Health's First New Year's baby 2012

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Group Health’s Family Beginnings Childbirth Center, located in Seattle’s Capitol Hill neighborhood, is excited to welcome Viviana Nguyen to the elite Group Health New Year’s baby club. Viviana picked a special year, too. Group health is celebrating its 65th anniversary in 2012. To celebrate, mom received a basket full of local goods donated from business such as Molly Moons Ice Cream, Eltana Bagels and St. Clouds restaurant, as well as products and advice from the childbirth nurses at Group Health’s Family Beginnings.

However, we believe every baby born on New Year’s Day is special and throughout the day we are celebrating with food, gifts, and photos. Each baby born today gets a cute, green “Group Health New Year’s Baby” cap to keep their heads warm in the new year.

First baby mom, dad and grandma with their basket

Group Health Wins Mobile App of the Year Award

December 2, 2011 — 1:45 pm

Group Health walked away with Mobile App of the Year, last night Dec. 1, at the TechFlash 2011Newsmaker of the Year Awards, or “The Flashies,” sponsored by the Puget Sound Business Journal.

For the local tech community, “The Flashies” are billed as an event similar to the Oscars.

Baby got App? Sir-Mix-A-Lot and Colby Voorhees at the Flashies

“I was very honored to accept the award on behalf of Group Health, and our team, who worked so hard to make the app a reality,” said Group Health’s Terri Boehm, Director of Web Services. “Special thanks to Stacy McCauslin, manager of web user interface design, for her inspired design, and to Colby Voorhees, senior web consultant and mobile app project manager, for his clear vision and leadership.”

As an extra bonus, 90’s music artist, Sir-Mix-A-Lot awarded Boehm with the award. He told the crowd that he is also a Group Health member, and then shared a few anecdotes about his experience with the mobile app, which was competing with four local companies, including Alaska Airlines. The winners were based on the number of votes each nominee received online.

The Group Health mobile app is available for both iPhone and Android, giving members online services, such as sending secure e-mails, viewing lab results, and making appointments. For more information or to download the app, go to ghc.org/mobile.

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