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12 HARTFORDBUSINESS.COM | May 23, 2022 SPONSORED CONTENT At Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut, we are on a mission to improve lives and communities, simplify healthcare, and expect more. At the same time, people are adopting digital technologies at an accelerating pace. We're operating in an environment where the people we serve expect goods and services when they want them and how they want them. e pandemic sparked a digital revolution in the healthcare space that is making the consumer experience more personalized, predictive, and proactive. ese new technologies are giving people easier access to personalized information and they're making possible the full spectrum of digital, virtual, and in-person care. I'd like to walk you through a couple of new offerings that put Anthem at the forefront of digital innovation. Virtual Primary Care Many health plans offer access to best-in-class digital engagement tools. At Anthem, we offer our members access to our Sydney Health SM app, which reaches nearly 3 in 4 households in Anthem's commercial plans across the country. Recognizing this adoption and interest in accessing the healthcare system through digital tools, Anthem recently introduced a new virtual primary care offering through Sydney to make healthcare more convenient, fit into members' increasingly busy schedules, and align with the more consumer-centric experiences they have come to expect in many other areas of their lives. rough the app, members can schedule a virtual primary care appointment, in addition to the urgent on-demand care that has been available. Virtual primary care visits through secure medical text chat with a doctor are available at low or no cost to members and offer the following care services: • Care and condition management for asthma, diabetes, hypertension, high blood pressure, migraines, IBS, musculoskeletal and more • Preventive annual wellness visits and age-appropriate lab tests and screens (coming in September) • Personalized care plans • New prescriptions and referrals Members also can conveniently follow up with providers for seven days after the initial medical text chat visit to ask questions related to their care concern without incurring additional care charges. Virtual primary care gives members more ways to connect with the care – where, when, and how they want it. COVID Concierge Care Many people managing COVID are now dealing with it at home in isolation, and in line with our efforts to make it easier for members to access care services, we recently launched a pilot program for members in our Medicare Advantage plans. e pilot program, called COVID Concierge Care, is a digital-first experience that is delivered through an app to help members manage COVID symptoms and guide them through recovery. e COVID Concierge Care program gives participants access to services such as: • COVID-specific educational tools, such as health articles, videos, and other wellness content, to self-manage COVID symptoms • Daily symptom tracker via questionnaires and member-reported outcomes • On-demand, text-based, two-way communications with a clinical care manager via in-app messages, SMS, emails By giving members access to this convenient service, the COVID Concierge Care program aims to help members better manage COVID and guide them to recovery – improving their health and helping them avoid unnecessary visits to care settings like urgent care. In summary, people are ready for a healthcare system that offers them access to care at the right place and the right time. In many cases, that is from the comfort of their own home. Anthem is positioned to meet our members where they are with industry- leading digital innovation. For more information, please feel free to reach out to our team. We look forward to serving you. In good health, Lou Gianquinto, President, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Connecticut Dear Connecticut Business Community,