EPIC SYSTEMS SIGNS MAJOR EHR DEAL WITH BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD HEALTH CARE SERVICE CORPORATION

Epic Systems and Health Care Services Corporation Launch A Breakthrough Electronic Health Record Initiative

Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) is developing an electronic health record (EHR) information platform with Epic Systems that will form a patient/member data network with its five Blue Cross Blue Shield (BCBS) plans. It is described as “a secure, interconnected and efficient health system and information exchange between insurers, providers, and patients.”

Based in Chicago, HCSC is one of the larger BCBS holding companies in the nation

HCSC operates five BCBS plans:

• Illinois
• Montana
• New Mexico
• Oklahoma
• Texas

Better patient care and member services with better quality healthcare data and plan performance

The proposed platform will better integrate patient data from healthcare provider organizations like hospitals, health systems, medical group practices and other point-of-care sites with the payer/insurer members' plan data. The goal is to accelerate the secure sharing of patient healthcare and cost information between medical professionals and their organizations with the patient's BCBS plan administration by using Epic Systems EHR technology.

This will reduce claims processing errors while enhancing medical and financial reporting. Costs will be reduced and the conduit between plan member/patient, medical provider organizations and BCBS will be more efficient.

Epic Systems is a leading contender in the EHR data marketplace

The arrangement between privately-held Epic Systems and BCBS is highly strategic. Epic Systems has typically centered its sophisticated EHR programs with users in hospitals, health systems and other larger patient care provider entities. By partnering directly with large scale managed care organizations like BCBS plans, Epic Systems branches out of its traditional market sector. It is an admirable and effective brand extension strategy.

Epic Systems' largest competitor, Cerner, will soon likely develop countermeasures

Epic Systems primary rival, Cerner (NASDAQ: CERN), will be seeking ways to counter this competitive threat as will the distant 3^rd largest EHR company Meditech. There is no doubt Verona, Wisconsin-based Epic Systems is contemplating how to quickly and successfully replicate this business arrangement with other BCBS plans across the nation as well as with other managed care organizations –potentially Aetna, Cigna, Humana, Molina, UnitedHealth Group/Optum or other payers. 

Cerner, headquartered in North Kansas City, Missouri, is a well-established and savvy EHR technology leader. It has the necessary resources to drive innovation and strong relationships across the healthcare industry to support a more robust customer strategy transformation.