Press Releases

Empire To Offer Web-Enabled Doctor Visits

Secure Internet Technology from RelayHealth Will Allow Patients and Doctors To Conduct Reimbursed webVisits® That Become a Part of the Patient's Record

New York, NY, September 29, 2004 — This fall, Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield will pilot a new program that allows doctors to conduct and be paid $25 for internet-based medical visits using RelayHealth's secure and advanced technology and services.

Unlike e-mail, interactive webVisits use secure technology and clinically structured algorithms to ask patients a series of questions, producing a concise clinical summary for physicians, much as a patient history taken when arriving at a doctor's office. Further, because the system is linked directly to Empire's member portal at www.empireblue.com and can access a member's benefits, the system can automatically check member eligibility, calculate and collect co-payments or co-insurance and submit claims to the health plan automatically for physician reimbursement. All the information is captured and the system allows the information exchanged between patient and doctor to become a part of the patient's medical records.

The new technology provides doctors with HIPAA-ready secure Internet connections with the ability to gather medical information, make treatment recommendations and receive reimbursement for the webVisit. Physicians also have the ability to attach medically reviewed online educational resources, and to prescribe online for established patients. Further, Empire members will be able to use the RelayHealth Service for routine matters such as appointment requests, prescription renewals, lab results, and simple messages. The pilot program will include physicians who sign up through RelayHealth, and Empire members who are employees at participating organizations. Participating physicians will receive a $20 payment from Empire and a $5 co-payment from members.

"This program brings together the power of the internet with medical care," said Alan Sokolow, M.D., chief medical officer at Empire. "Our expectations are that the patients and doctors involved in our upcoming pilot program will find that this program improves doctor-patient communication and raises the level of access to patient care."

About Empire
Empire is the largest health insurer in New York State, based on PPO and HMO membership. Empire HealthChoice Assurance, Inc., d/b/a/ Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield, and Empire HealthChoice HMO, Inc., d/b/a Empire Blue Cross Blue Shield HMO, are licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans, and have the exclusive right to use the Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and marks throughout 10 downstate New York counties and one or both of these names and marks in select upstate counties. For more information visit www.empireblue.com.