Highlights: Highmark Health Plans

Highmark Inc. and its Blue-branded affiliates proudly cover the insurance needs of approximately 7 million members in Pennsylvania, Delaware, western and northeastern New York, and West Virginia. Highmark Inc. diversified businesses also serve group customer and individual needs across the U.S. through dental insurance and other related businesses.

In 2023, Highmark Inc. and its affiliate health plans:

• Strengthened its statewide presence and community-focused service by offering a wide range of health insurance solutions in southeastern Pennsylvania starting in 2024. Highmark will bring its Living Health model — designed to eliminate fragmentation in health care and reengineer the health care delivery model to provide a seamless, simpler and smarter customer experience — to this region.
• Increased prescription drug accessibility and affordability, including through its leadership in a Blue Cross Blue Shield-driven initiative to produce outpatient generic medications as well as through technology solutions that lower costs and improve member care for specialty drugs.
• Celebrated the 30th anniversary of enrolling the first child in Pennsylvania in the Children's Health Insurance Program (CHIP) — a comprehensive, low- or no-cost health insurance program that ensures kids are protected. Highmark played a pivotal role in creating and scaling a program that has become a cornerstone of American health care, providing an affordable coverage option for millions of kids in the U.S. and peace of mind for families.
• Continued to develop a suite of virtual care solutions that allow its members to see a primary care physician, manage diabetes or even complete physical therapy for chronic pain.

Virtual care — a necessity during the pandemic — has become a cornerstone of health care and a great complement to face-to-face visits. Highmark Health Plans' virtual solutions can remove transportation, mobility and time constraints, helping members conveniently manage and improve health.

Highmark Health Plans members are especially embracing virtual care for behavioral health conditions, which represent more than 40% of all Highmark telehealth claims.

"We are finding that virtual care is helping to remove some of the stigma associated with behavioral health, which means more people are getting the treatment they need at a time when we are seeing dramatic increases in depression and anxiety due to the pandemic," said Dr. Timothy Law, chief medical officer for Highmark Inc.

As part of a collaboration with Spring Health, Highmark Health Plans will expand the number of access points to behavioral health care by 40% for their members, including children and teens. Multiple levels of support include digital capabilities for daily wellness, one-on-one care navigation, deeper clinical care through in-person or virtual therapy, medication management and 24/7 crisis support.

These new solutions expand an existing suite of virtual care solutions, including a physical therapy program and a diabetes management program.

Highmark's Virtual Physical Care program treats all major joints and helps with preventive, chronic and post-surgical pain. Members receive convenient, virtual access to a physical therapist and a digital kit that includes motion sensor technology and a tablet for a flexible and convenient guided exercise program. Members also receive ongoing support, including virtual visits, digitally guided exercise sessions and a phone-based app with chat functions and educational content.

The diabetes management program offers a whole-person approach to managing type 2 diabetes, with members receiving a free glucose meter and unlimited test strips, as well as access to a personal health coach and other experts through their smartphone.

"These are just some of the solutions that are helping us to remove barriers to care, simplify care and promote better health outcomes for members — no matter where they are geographically or in their health journey," said Dr. Law.