Health Business Blog

Interview with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts CEO Andrew Dreyfus

May 8th, 2012 by David E. Williams of the Health business blog

There’s been no shortage of interest in the Massachusetts health care system this election year, and the level of attention is certain to be sustained as Mitt Romney, who signed near universal health reform into law as Governor in 2006,  picks up the Republican mantle. Commentators –even those who aren’t trying to score political points against federal health reform that’s modeled on Massachusetts– tend to emphasize the role of government and reform’s inability to control costs.

But Massachusetts has a vibrant private health care financing sector. All the major commercial health plans are at the top of the national rankings and are focused on quality and cost containment. And after years of hefty premium increases, customers will be seeing renewal rates that are nearly flat.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBS MA) is the largest health plan in the state, and is making substantial progress with its innovative Alternative Quality Contract (AQC). In this podcast interview, BCBSMA CEO Andrew Dreyfus and I discuss:

• Why premiums are stabilizing
• The role of BCBS in cost containment, and how things have changed from the early days of managed care
• How the AQC emphasizes quality
• Opportunities for employers to play a role
• How state government fits in
• Potential impact of the Supreme Court’s review of the federal law
• Health care issues we will be debating five years from now

You can read the transcript here.

Share

David Williams interviews Blue Cross of MA CEO Andrew Dreyfus [ 24:34 ] Play Now | Play in Popup | Download

Posted in Health plans, Podcast | 5 Comments »

5 Responses

1. Health Wonk Review: Spring Hath Sprung! Edition | Zonabacaan Says:
   May 10th, 2012 at 8:30 am

   [...] Blue Cross/Blue Shield. As we’ve long noted here at IB, MassCare has its flaws, but David’s interview focuses on the role that commercial insurers play in reining in health care costs, and pushing for [...]

2. Interview with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts CEO Andrew Dreyfus (transcript) » Health Business Blog Says:
   May 11th, 2012 at 9:32 am

   [...] of Benefits (EOB)Malpractice defense: Paraesophageal Hiatal Hernia Following Nissen FundoplicationInterview with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts CEO Andrew DreyfusWhat’s the difference between Colgate Total Gum Defense toothpaste and regular Total?Defending [...]

3. Interview with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts CEO Andrew Dreyfus (transcript) — US Health Crisis Says:
   May 11th, 2012 at 9:46 am

   [...] News This is the transcript of my recent podcast interview with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts CEO Andrew Dreyfus. I inadvertently published an [...]

4. Effective Pain Management At Stake: Three Ways To Address Blue Cross Blue Shield’s July 1 Policy Changes « Intractable Pain Journal Says:
   June 12th, 2012 at 10:09 pm

   [...] President and CEO Andrew Dreyfus acknowledged just last month that the company was focusing on cost containment measures as a way to improve BCBSMA’s bottomline. Is this policy an dramatic attempt at cost-cutting? If not, I am sure many chronic pain sufferers [...]

5. Effective Pain Management At Stake: 3 Ways To Address July 1 BCBS Policy Changes « Intractable Pain Journal Says:
   June 13th, 2012 at 2:05 am

   [...] President and CEO Andrew Dreyfus acknowledged just last month that the company was focusing on cost containment measures as a way to improve BCBSMA’s bottomline. Is this policy an dramatic attempt at cost-cutting? If not, I am sure many chronic pain sufferers [...]

Leave a Comment