<?xml version='1.0' encoding='UTF-8'?><?xml-stylesheet href="http://www.blogger.com/styles/atom.css" type="text/css"?><feed xmlns='http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom' xmlns:openSearch='http://a9.com/-/spec/opensearchrss/1.0/' xmlns:georss='http://www.georss.org/georss' xmlns:gd='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005' xmlns:thr='http://purl.org/syndication/thread/1.0'><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196604945409109400</id><updated>2011-09-17T16:00:50.299-07:00</updated><category term='cutting healthcare costs'/><category term='project boost'/><category term='improving the healthcare system'/><title type='text'>Blues In the News</title><subtitle type='html'>The Blues are constantly trying to improve the health of Michigan. We have posted a series of articles and information to display media recognition for our efforts.</subtitle><link rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#feed' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bluesinthenews.blogspot.com/feeds/posts/default'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3196604945409109400/posts/default?max-results=100'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bluesinthenews.blogspot.com/'/><link rel='hub' href='http://pubsubhubbub.appspot.com/'/><author><name>Editor</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03156570389536812948</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><generator version='7.00' uri='http://www.blogger.com'>Blogger</generator><openSearch:totalResults>6</openSearch:totalResults><openSearch:startIndex>1</openSearch:startIndex><openSearch:itemsPerPage>100</openSearch:itemsPerPage><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196604945409109400.post-686988450290002743</id><published>2010-06-08T07:43:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-06-08T07:43:55.982-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Blues partner with Detroit firm to create Michigan jobs, avoid outsourcing</title><content type='html'>&lt;o:smarttagtype name="State" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"&gt;&lt;/o:smarttagtype&gt;&lt;o:smarttagtype name="PlaceName" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"&gt;&lt;/o:smarttagtype&gt;&lt;o:smarttagtype name="PlaceType" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"&gt;&lt;/o:smarttagtype&gt;&lt;o:smarttagtype name="City" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"&gt;&lt;/o:smarttagtype&gt;&lt;o:smarttagtype name="place" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"&gt;&lt;/o:smarttagtype&gt;&lt;style&gt;&lt;!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:#606420; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;}@page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;}div.Section1 {page:Section1;}--&gt;&lt;/style&gt;  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;div class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt;"&gt;An innovative solution to a common business dilemma is creating new jobs in &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:state w:st="on"&gt;Michigan&lt;/st1:state&gt;&lt;/st1:place&gt; rather than outsourcing them overseas. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan is the &lt;a href="http://www.wwj.com/S3-Opens-Detroit-Development-Center--150-Tech-Jobs/6974802"&gt;first anchor client&lt;/a&gt; for Strategic Staffing Solutions’ &lt;a href="http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20100504/FREE/100509964"&gt;new contract IT development center&lt;/a&gt; in downtown &lt;st1:city w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Detroit&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:city&gt;. The center will &lt;a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20091218/COL06/912180374/IT-idea-kept-Blue-Cross-jobs-in-state"&gt;help the Blues realize savings&lt;/a&gt; while initially &lt;a href="http://metromodemedia.com/innovationnews/strategicstaffingsolutionsdetroit0162.aspx"&gt;creating 53 jobs&lt;/a&gt;. The goal is to have 150 working at the &lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:placename w:st="on"&gt;Penobscot&lt;/st1:placename&gt; &lt;st1:placetype w:st="on"&gt;Building&lt;/st1:placetype&gt;&lt;/st1:place&gt; office by year’s end and more than 400 workers in four years.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3196604945409109400-686988450290002743?l=bluesinthenews.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bluesinthenews.blogspot.com/feeds/686988450290002743/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://bluesinthenews.blogspot.com/2010/06/blues-partner-with-detroit-firm-to.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3196604945409109400/posts/default/686988450290002743'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3196604945409109400/posts/default/686988450290002743'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bluesinthenews.blogspot.com/2010/06/blues-partner-with-detroit-firm-to.html' title='Blues partner with Detroit firm to create Michigan jobs, avoid outsourcing'/><author><name>Ashley Star</name><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='32' height='24' src='http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_UTjaWqc_eDg/S-mcrlIUAwI/AAAAAAAAADo/4sOFQsCun4I/S220/self_pic.jpg'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196604945409109400.post-4510650633964747937</id><published>2010-03-26T13:21:00.001-07:00</published><updated>2010-03-26T13:41:16.587-07:00</updated><title type='text'>Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s reaction to  national health care reform</title><content type='html'>&lt;style&gt;&lt;!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:#606420; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;}@page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;}div.Section1 {page:Section1;}--&gt;&lt;/style&gt;  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;div class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.5pt;"&gt;National health care reform is law that will likely change how health care is financed, delivered and regulated for years to come. Michigan Blue Cross’ &lt;a href="http://www.freep.com/article/20100322/BUSINESS06/100322042/1318/Leaders-Bill-is-1st-step-of-reform" title="http://www.freep.com/article/20100322/BUSINESS06/100322042/1318/Leaders-Bill-is-1st-step-of-reform"&gt;executive&lt;span style="font-weight: normal;"&gt; &lt;/span&gt;leaders&lt;/a&gt; have been answering questions from news media about its &lt;a href="http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/grand_rapids/Health-care-reform%3A-%27wait-and-see%27" title="http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/grand_rapids/Health-care-reform%3A-%27wait-and-see%27"&gt;positive effects&lt;/a&gt; , &lt;a href="http://www.annarbor.com/news/what-do-ann-arbor-area-experts-have-to-say-about-the-health-care-legislation/" title="http://www.annarbor.com/news/what-do-ann-arbor-area-experts-have-to-say-about-the-health-care-legislation/"&gt;impact&lt;/a&gt; on us and our members, and our &lt;a href="http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20100322/FREE/100329990" title="http://www.crainsdetroit.com/article/20100322/FREE/100329990"&gt;reaction&lt;/a&gt; to what is going on. We’re ready to adapt to these regulatory changes, but also realize that more &lt;a href="http://fwix.com/grandrapids/share/fbf58b50ff/blue_cross_ceo_reform_bills_passage_just_the_beginning_of_reform" title="http://fwix.com/grandrapids/share/fbf58b50ff/blue_cross_ceo_reform_bills_passage_just_the_beginning_of_reform"&gt;reform&lt;/a&gt; will be necessary to control the escalating cost of health care. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3196604945409109400-4510650633964747937?l=bluesinthenews.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bluesinthenews.blogspot.com/feeds/4510650633964747937/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://bluesinthenews.blogspot.com/2010/03/blue-cross-blue-shield-of-michigans.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3196604945409109400/posts/default/4510650633964747937'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3196604945409109400/posts/default/4510650633964747937'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bluesinthenews.blogspot.com/2010/03/blue-cross-blue-shield-of-michigans.html' title='Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan’s reaction to  national health care reform'/><author><name>Editor</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03156570389536812948</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196604945409109400.post-7018997514782385262</id><published>2010-03-03T09:37:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-03-03T09:37:15.999-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='improving the healthcare system'/><title type='text'>Despite being lumped with other insurers, Michigan Blues are models of health care reform.</title><content type='html'>&lt;o:smarttagtype name="State" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"&gt;&lt;/o:smarttagtype&gt;&lt;o:smarttagtype name="place" namespaceuri="urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:smarttags"&gt;&lt;/o:smarttagtype&gt;&lt;style&gt;&lt;!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:#606420; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;}@page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;}div.Section1 {page:Section1;}--&gt;&lt;/style&gt;  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;div class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Arial;"&gt;The Obama administration recently criticized health insurers, including Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, for raising rates. That criticism overlooks a huge, key factor: We’re already well aligned with where the president wants to go with health care reform. As a guest columnist in today’s &lt;a href="http://detroitnews.com/article/20100303/OPINION01/3030339/1008/opinion01/Don-t-vilify-Michigan-s-Blue-Cross--it-practices-Obama-s-health-reforms"&gt;Detroit News&lt;/a&gt;, CEO and President Dan Loepp explains how the Blues are swimming upstream in &lt;st1:state w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:place w:st="on"&gt;Michigan&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;/st1:state&gt;’s out-of-balance health care market.&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3196604945409109400-7018997514782385262?l=bluesinthenews.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bluesinthenews.blogspot.com/feeds/7018997514782385262/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://bluesinthenews.blogspot.com/2010/03/despite-being-lumped-with-other.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3196604945409109400/posts/default/7018997514782385262'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3196604945409109400/posts/default/7018997514782385262'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bluesinthenews.blogspot.com/2010/03/despite-being-lumped-with-other.html' title='Despite being lumped with other insurers, Michigan Blues are models of health care reform.'/><author><name>Editor</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03156570389536812948</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196604945409109400.post-2590528885885555007</id><published>2010-03-01T11:08:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-03-02T07:10:39.642-08:00</updated><title type='text'>New Blues savings program targets personal health.</title><content type='html'>&lt;style&gt;&lt;!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";}a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;}a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:#606420; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;}@page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;}div.Section1 {page:Section1;}--&gt;&lt;/style&gt;  &lt;br /&gt;&lt;div class="MsoNormal"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Arial;"&gt;A new program from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan rewards your pocketbook when you make healthy purchases. The Healthy Blue Xtras is a savings program that offers members discounts and special offers with Michigan-based companies like Weight Watchers, Moosejaw and Shanty Creek Resorts. Both &lt;a href="http://www.annarbor.com/news/blue-cross-blue-shield-of-michigan-announces-discount-program-for-members"&gt;AnnArbor.com&lt;/a&gt; and &lt;a href="http://www.detnews.com/article/20100202/BIZ/2020329/1001/biz"&gt;The Detroit News&lt;/a&gt; profiled the initiative in recent stories. &lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3196604945409109400-2590528885885555007?l=bluesinthenews.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bluesinthenews.blogspot.com/feeds/2590528885885555007/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://bluesinthenews.blogspot.com/2010/03/new-blues-savings-program-targets.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3196604945409109400/posts/default/2590528885885555007'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3196604945409109400/posts/default/2590528885885555007'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bluesinthenews.blogspot.com/2010/03/new-blues-savings-program-targets.html' title='New Blues savings program targets personal health.'/><author><name>Editor</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03156570389536812948</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196604945409109400.post-263021742164100010</id><published>2010-02-05T09:48:00.000-08:00</published><updated>2010-03-02T07:08:42.635-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='improving the healthcare system'/><title type='text'>Nursing retention program earns recognition.</title><content type='html'>&lt;span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;Efforts are underway to keep nurses in the field and extend their careers. Nursing for Life: the RN Career Transition Program, developed by the College of Nursing at Michigan State University, is helping build and retain Michigan's nursing workforce. Nursing for Life is a joint project of the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Foundation and the MSU College of Nursing. &lt;a href="http://www.blogger.com/goog_1267542324067"&gt;Read why the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation supports the program.&lt;/a&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;a href="http://www.rwjf.org/grants/product.jsp?id=55096"&gt;&lt;br style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" /&gt;&lt;/a&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3196604945409109400-263021742164100010?l=bluesinthenews.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bluesinthenews.blogspot.com/feeds/263021742164100010/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://bluesinthenews.blogspot.com/2010/02/nursing-retention-program-earns.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3196604945409109400/posts/default/263021742164100010'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3196604945409109400/posts/default/263021742164100010'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bluesinthenews.blogspot.com/2010/02/nursing-retention-program-earns.html' title='Nursing retention program earns recognition.'/><author><name>Editor</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03156570389536812948</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry><entry><id>tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-3196604945409109400.post-8350327577607484004</id><published>2010-02-05T09:43:00.001-08:00</published><updated>2010-03-02T07:09:16.484-08:00</updated><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='cutting healthcare costs'/><category scheme='http://www.blogger.com/atom/ns#' term='project boost'/><title type='text'>Modern healthcare praises BCBSM's Project Boost</title><content type='html'>&lt;div style="color: black;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Arial;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt;Blue  Cross Blue Shield of &lt;/span&gt;&lt;st1:state style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" w:st="on"&gt;Michigan&lt;/st1:state&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt; is working with  the &lt;/span&gt;&lt;st1:place style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;" w:st="on"&gt;&lt;st1:placetype w:st="on"&gt;University&lt;/st1:placetype&gt; of  &lt;st1:placename w:st="on"&gt;Michigan&lt;/st1:placename&gt;&lt;/st1:place&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"&gt; and the Society of  Hospital Medicine on a new program to avoid unplanned or preventable  readmissions to hospitals.&amp;nbsp; Read about it in &lt;a href="http://www.modernhealthcare.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20100201/NEWS/302019973/1153#"&gt;Modern Healthcare&lt;/a&gt;.  &lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;b&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"&gt;&lt;span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10pt; font-weight: bold;"&gt;&lt;o:p&gt;&lt;/o:p&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/span&gt;&lt;/b&gt;&lt;/div&gt;&lt;div class="blogger-post-footer"&gt;&lt;img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/3196604945409109400-8350327577607484004?l=bluesinthenews.blogspot.com' alt='' /&gt;&lt;/div&gt;</content><link rel='replies' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://bluesinthenews.blogspot.com/feeds/8350327577607484004/comments/default' title='Post Comments'/><link rel='replies' type='text/html' href='http://bluesinthenews.blogspot.com/2010/02/moden-healthcare-praises-bcbsms-project.html#comment-form' title='0 Comments'/><link rel='edit' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3196604945409109400/posts/default/8350327577607484004'/><link rel='self' type='application/atom+xml' href='http://www.blogger.com/feeds/3196604945409109400/posts/default/8350327577607484004'/><link rel='alternate' type='text/html' href='http://bluesinthenews.blogspot.com/2010/02/moden-healthcare-praises-bcbsms-project.html' title='Modern healthcare praises BCBSM&apos;s Project Boost'/><author><name>Editor</name><uri>http://www.blogger.com/profile/03156570389536812948</uri><email>noreply@blogger.com</email><gd:image rel='http://schemas.google.com/g/2005#thumbnail' width='16' height='16' src='http://img2.blogblog.com/img/b16-rounded.gif'/></author><thr:total>0</thr:total></entry></feed>
