Two Iowa Hospitals Named Blue Distinction Centers for Complex and Rare Cancers

The selected facilities offer comprehensive inpatient cancer care programs for adults that focus on multidisciplinary treatment planning and complex, major surgical treatments.  Complex and rare cancers comprise approximately 15 percent of new cancer cases each year, making it difficult for consumers to locate or research an oncologist or surgical team who has experience treating the following complex and rare subtypes of cancer:

• Acute leukemia (inpatient/non-surgical)
• Bladder cancer
• Bone cancer
• Brain cancer – primary
• Esophageal cancer
• Gastric cancer
• Head and neck cancers
• Liver cancer
• Ocular melanoma
• Pancreatic cancer
• Rectal cancer
• Soft tissue sarcomas
• Thyroid cancer – medullary or anaplastic

Facilities selected for Blue Distinction Centers for Complex and Rare Cancers feature:

• Multi-disciplinary team input, including sub-specialty trained teams for complex and rare cancers and demonstrated depth of expertise across cancer disciplines in medicine, surgery, radiation oncology, pathology and radiology
• Ongoing quality management and improvement programs for cancer care
• Ongoing commitment to using clinical data registries and providing access to appropriate clinical research for complex and rare cancers
• Sufficient volume of experience in treating rare and complex cancers

Blue Distinction Centers for Complex and Rare Cancers were developed in strategic collaboration with the National Comprehensive Cancer Network* (NCCN) and input from leading clinicians and professional organizations.

With the expansion of the Blue Distinction Centers, more than 780 Blue Distinction Centers are available to members nationwide in the areas of cardiac care, bariatric surgery, transplants, as well as complex and rare cancers.

QuitNet Smoking Cessation Program

QuitNet has three options available to Large Group Employers:

*Treating Tobacco Use and Dependence. Clinical Practice Guideline, June 2000.  

Updating Employee Addresses

Note to BluesEnroll and Electronic Data Interface (EDI) Groups
It is critical that groups who submit their eligibility records electronically synchronize their databases with the data in the Wellmark membership system.  Based on past NCOA updates and group administrator requests, Wellmark will provide the address changes to BluesEnroll and EDI accounts via group-specific reports. These reports will provide the group administrator with an opportunity to validate addresses with their employees or update their Human Resources databases.  The address information provided in the report reflects the address on file with the USPS.  Those mailings both Wellmark related and non-Wellmark related are controlled and directed by the address held by the USPS.  In the event a member does not agree with the address held by the USPS for their mailing address, the member will need to visit their local post office for an address clarification.

Groups can expect to receive an address change report for their employees by the 15th of the month after an update has occurred. 

Here is the tentative NCOA Update schedule for the remainder of 2008:

Enhancements Made to Wellmark's Searchable Drug List
Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield continues to make enhancements to its online tools to make it easier for your employees to be knowledgeable health care consumers.  For example, if a drug requires prior authorization, they can now find a general description about approval or denial criteria. 

Here’s how employees can access this information:

• Go to www.wellmark.com
• Select Wellmark Drug List under Quick Links
• Enter a name of the drug or select its category
• Select Limitation on the screen that shows the drug’s tier
• Clinical Limitations

Wellmark's Pharmacy Benefit Manager Receives Full URAC Accreditation

Catalyst Rx is one of the few PBMs to receive full accreditation.  In addition,it was one of four PBMs accredited in October 2007 by URAC for Drug Therapy Management.

“Wellmark congratulates Catalyst Rx for receiving this impressive accreditation,” says Dale Andringa, M.D., Wellmark’s chief medical officer.  “Wellmark’s pharmacy program, Pharmacy Insights, is based on clinical efficacy, quality, and transparency.  The accreditation further demonstrates both organizations’ commitment to quality and accountability.”

URAC’s accreditation program requires PBMs to attain key benchmarks in service quality and Continuous Quality Improvement oriented processes that improve operations and enhance compliance.  These standards address organizational quality, customer service, communications, disclosure of pricing policies, pharmaceutical distribution, drug utilization management, and the Formulary/Pharmacy & Therapeutics Committee.

The accreditation process includes an application and evaluation process, a rigorous on-site evaluation and assessment by a URAC accreditation team, and review and consideration for accreditation by the accreditation committee.

Start WalkingWorks® on National Walk@Lunch Day^SM

One successful National Walk@Lunch Day participant was Lyman County in Kennebec, South Dakota. Last year, 30 percent of their employees participated in the event. “We were very happy with the participation. Everyone had a wonderful time,” says Penni Almond, a Lyman County employee who anticipates greater turnout this year. She also says the National Walk@Lunch Day marketing materials from Wellmark are very useful and a great way to increase participation.

To help motivate your employees, Wellmark is providing free reflective wrist wallets for you to give to your employees who participate in the walk. Order your gift on the Employer Toolkit at www.wellmark.com while supplies last.