030226 - Affordability: Putting Spotlight on Solutions - Andy Hetzel

0:00It's always exciting when we get to talk with our next guest, Andy Hetzel from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. Hi there, Andy. Well, hello, Luciana. And I just want to take a point of personal privilege and wish my daughter, Zoe, a happy-belated birthday. She turned 22 yesterday, and I can't believe it. I can't believe that, either. My goodness. You look great, Andy. I haven't had this other a long time, yeah. Well, happy birthday, Zoe. Andy, something is happening on Blue Cross's amazing website. M-I-BlueDaily.com slash affordability. You're talking about real solutions that are helping to make healthcare more affordable. And you're moving the conversation forward to go beyond pointing out drivers of cost in the healthcare system. Absolutely, Luciana. It's a complex and complicated topic, but it's an important one. It's important to have a clear picture of why healthcare and health insurance costs are rising so dramatically because they impact everyone. We are engaging now with our members,

1:00customers, and communities. Do they better understand how upstream factors in cost end up downstream in their premiums and out-of-pocket expenses for healthcare? But at Blue Cross, we also have a responsibility to address these factors, playing a role in system-wide efforts to bring healthcare costs better under control. Andy, the conversations you and I have each week here have helped in understanding why. But as you know, they've also pointed to an important question. What are you doing to make healthcare more affordable? That is true, Luciana. Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan has answers to that question. Not just one answer, but many. Healthcare is expensive. That's a given. But we're already delivering real results that are helping to make it more affordable. That's what we're seeing on MIBlueDaily.com slash affordability, right? Yes, it is. And we're talking about things like making prescription drugs more affordable. We're talking about groundbreaking payment contracts with doctors and hospitals that change the way we pay for healthcare

2:02to focus on better patient outcomes and results. And we're talking about reducing at Blue Cross our own administrative costs by $600 million over three years, while also at the same time, improving the way we do business on behalf of our members and customers. Wow, that's incredible. So you're also highlighting the work Blue Cross does to promote preventive care and the various resources you've introduced to help your members live their healthiest lives. That's right. And it's all there for your listeners on MIBlueDaily.com slash affordability. There are so many great stories about how Blue Cross and our partners in healthcare are innovating, partnering, working every day to make healthcare much more affordable. We're going to keep telling those stories and we're going to keep doing that important work. I'd love for our listeners to check out that site, Andy. What is that again? MIBlueDaily.com slash affordability. All right, thank you so much. Great information today from Andy Hetzel at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. We appreciate you, Andy. Thanks.

3:02Thank you for the time. Andy Hetzel with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.