Blue Cross & Blue Shield of Rhode Island
Climate Impact & Sustainability Data (2009, 2010)
Reporting Period: 2009
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Health
- Community
- Cost Efficiency
Environmental Achievements
- New LEED®-certified headquarters designed to conserve water and energy, minimize environmental impact; saved more than $46,000 in printing costs by decreasing printed distribution.
Social Achievements
- 1,100 employees gave over 4,000 volunteer hours to the community; $626,000 in sponsorships and charitable donations; BlueAngel Community Health Grants (BACHG) provided funding for local nonprofits; partnered with ABC6 and Lifespan to sponsor skin cancer screening tests; administered nearly 700 seasonal flu shots to the uninsured.
- Primary Care Physician Loan Forgiveness Program ($1.1 million fund, BCBSRI contributed $500,000); $50,000 donation to the Rhode Island Free Clinic; participation in Rhode Island’s Chronic Care Sustainability Initiative; Electronic Health Record Grant Program ($600,000 allocated).
Governance Achievements
- Board of Directors held 45 meetings; consolidated operations from six locations into a new headquarters.
Climate Goals & Targets
Long-term Goals:
- Better health outcomes for all members; moderate long-term healthcare costs.
Medium-term Goals:
- Transform healthcare delivery in Rhode Island to be more patient-centered, coordinated, and collaborative; improve care quality and safety; moderate costs.
Short-term Goals:
- Open five patient-centered medical homes; implement Care Coordination Program; provide evidence-based medicine guidelines; introduce value-based benefits; establish online forums.
Environmental Challenges
- Rising healthcare costs exceeding approved premium rates, resulting in a $100 million premium deficiency loss; unsustainable growth rate of healthcare expenditures; wide variations in care; access to healthcare for uninsured Rhode Islanders.
Mitigation Strategies
- Transformation of healthcare delivery system in Rhode Island; increasing support for primary care physicians; leveraging technology (EHRs); establishing patient-centered medical homes; developing care plans with customized health goals; introducing value-based benefits; improving operational efficiency; using reserves to cover losses (short-term solution).
Supply Chain Management
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Awards & Recognition
- Providence Business News Community Involvement Award
Reporting Period: 2010
Environmental Metrics
ESG Focus Areas
- Quality Management
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Patient Safety
- Customer Service
Social Achievements
- Launched a cross-functional diversity initiative including member, provider, and employee education; established a Diversity Business Council; and participated in community outreach programs.
Governance Achievements
- All associates completed mandatory corporate compliance trainings.
Climate Goals & Targets
Environmental Challenges
- Inconsistent reporting of data from Patient Centered Medical Home (PCMH) practice managers; ETG methodology potentially delaying identification of complex members; inconsistent member responsiveness to Fall Prevention Program; low participation in Living Well Program workshops.
Mitigation Strategies
- Continued work with PCMH practice managers on reporting metrics; combined ETG strategy with identification of members during acute care episodes; discontinued formal Fall Prevention Program, addressing needs on a case-by-case basis; partnered with Community Relations to drive Living Well Program participation.
Supply Chain Management
Climate-Related Risks & Opportunities
Reporting Standards
Frameworks Used: HEDIS
Awards & Recognition
- AHIP award for Adolescent Immunization Program