Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (Blue Cross NC) continues to transform healthcare in North Carolina with its industry-leading, value-based Blue Premier Program. For 2023, the program achieved $157 million in cost savings, bringing the total savings to $801 million since its inception in 2019. 

Blue Premier's unique payment structure fosters greater collaboration between Blue Cross NC and healthcare providers. Through shared-risk agreements, providers earned $132 million in incentive payments in 2023, reflecting their commitment to improving quality and reducing costs. 

The Blue Premier Program's impact extends beyond cost savings, significantly enhancing health outcomes for the 1.4 million members it served in 2023. The following highlight some quality improvement statistics for 2023 as compared to 2022:

• Adult Health Outcomes:
  • Blood Pressure: 22 percent increase in controlled blood pressure among members with hypertension.
  • Diabetes: 27 percent increase in members with controlled blood sugar levels.
• Preventive Screenings:
  • Breast Cancer: 1.1 percentage point improvement in screening rates.
  • Colorectal Cancer: 12 percent increase in screenings.
• Pediatric and Adolescent Care:
  • Immunizations: 2.5 percentage point improvement in adolescent immunizations.
  • Well-Care Visits: 5 percent increase in well-care visits for children and adolescents.

The Blue Premier Program exemplifies how value-based care can drive both financial savings and substantial health improvements. For more information on how Blue Cross NC is taking on the high cost of health care, visit treatthecost.com.