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This program is another example of IBC's comprehensive efforts to increaseimmunization rates. As a result, the latest 2007 national quality report ranksIBC in the top ten percent among all participating health plans nationally inthe rate of adolescent members obtaining the recommended immunizations. IBChas also received national and statewide recognition for these efforts fromorganizations such as The Pennsylvania Immunization Coalition, EHealthcareLeadership, and World Wide Web Health.
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"Kids like it. Parents learn from it. Public health officials welcome it,"says Dr. Esther Nash, senior medical director, Population Health and Wellnessat IBC. "The goal of the incentive-program is to make sure our membersunderstand how vaccines prevent disease and protect those who come in contactwith unvaccinated individuals. It also helps parents of adolescents learn whatthe new vaccine recommendations are and reinforces how boosters can continuethe protection of the vaccines they received as infants and as youngerchildren."
As part of the Adolescent Immunization Awareness Campaign, IBC offered theopportunity to win an MP3 Player to the children of 77,000 members (parentsand guardians), along with a reminder about immunizations and boosters thatare recommended to keep their children safe and healthy. The mailing includesinformation on vaccine-preventable diseases such as meningitis and pertussis(also known as whooping cough), including the latest recommended vaccine toprotect girls and young women between 11 and 26 years old against the HumanPapilloma Virus.
The information also reminds parents about other vaccines that protectchildren from serious illnesses such as measles, mumps, rubella, hepatitis B,hepatitis A, chicken pox, influenza and polio. In addition, IBC notifiedmembers about important health resources found through the mail, phone andweb, such as:
To be eligible to win an MP3 player, parents or guardians must be enrolledin an Independence Blue Cross health plan. The member must complete an onlineentry form and provide the date that his or her child, ages 11-13, saw aphysician to review his or her adolescent immunization status. The form can befound on Independence Blue Cross' GEN-Y website at www.ibx.com/gen-y. Theoffer expires December 31, 2007.
About Independence Blue Cross
Independence Blue Cross is a leading health insurer in southeasternPennsylvania. Nationwide, Independence Blue Cross and its affiliates providecoverage to nearly 3.4 million people. For nearly 70 years, Independence BlueCross has offered high-quality health care coverage tailored to meet thechanging needs of members, employers, and health care professionals.
In 2006, Independence Blue Cross was nationally recognized by the DiseaseManagement Association of America for Connections(SM), its outstanding programthat improves the health and well-being of people with chronic illnesses.Independence Blue Cross's HMO and PPO health care plans have consistentlyreceived the highest ratings from the National Committee for QualityAssurance.-- National Bilingual Immunization Hotline: 1-800-232-4636 or for TTY-1-888-232-6348 -- IBC's interactive GEN-Y website, an interactive web-based health resource for children and their parents: www.ibx.com/gen-y -- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's recom
