Blue Button, accessible to Humana health plan members that use MyHumana.com, encourages these members to participate in and manage their health and health care. The technology equips them with tools to understand and track their health benefits in an easy, streamlined way. Blue Button furnishes members with detailed health and claims records, which they can bring to physician visits to discuss their health and treatment options.
The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs launched the Blue Button program in 2010 to allow the simple exchange of a patient’s personal health data in a standard, consistent format. Since then it has been adopted by federal agencies and private companies via the US Department of Health & Human Service’s voluntary Blue Button Pledge Program.
“As the health care system rapidly becomes more interconnected, combined with the continued growth of electronic health records, Humana continues to empower its members by securely making their health care information available at their fingertips,” said Brian LeClaire, Humana’s Chief Service and Information officer. “By providing members with secure access to their health information electronically, the Blue Button enables better quality of health care and strengthens the relationship between patient, physician and Humana.”
The Blue Button extends Humana’s effort to ensure consumers have a seamless experience with integration from their provider and Humana, providing personalized integrated care-management information accessible by the member. This approach centralizes medical information and streamlines information-sharing. It can also potentially reduce costs associated with duplicate tests while improving quality of care.
Humana members are encouraged to keep the Blue Button information for their records not only to share important medical history with their health care professionals but to validate doctor bills and manage the financial aspect of their health care.
Initially designed for use by veterans, Blue Button is now used by more than a million and a half veterans, Medicare beneficiaries, and U.S. military service members. It is available through health care providers and plans to more than 88 million Americans. More information on Blue Button can be found at http://www.healthit.gov/bluebutton.
The Office of the National Coordinator for Health Information Technology (ONC) spearheads the Blue Button Pledge Program, which is designed to catalyze and support organizations empowering individuals to be partners in their health and health care through health IT.
Humana Inc., headquartered in Louisville, Ky., is a leading health care company that offers a wide range of insurance products and health and wellness services that incorporate an integrated approach to lifelong well-being.
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