BlueCross Health Equity Report highlights care disparities, opportunities to improve health care

Findings will inform collaboration with health providers to advance outcomes for diverse communities across the state

CHATTANOOGA, Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has released its first Health Equity Report, a six-topic review of health disparities aimed at highlighting issues and informing ways to improve care delivery and outcomes.

The report analyzed data from publicly available sources as well as BlueCross members who get health coverage through their jobs/independently, or through the state Medicaid plan. It focuses on how race and social factors impact health outcomes, providing insights around:

• Behavioral Health
• Cancer
• Child & Adolescent Well-Care
• Chronic Condition Management (high blood pressure, diabetes, asthma)
• COVID-19
• Maternal Health

“We wanted to get a better picture of the health issues and barriers to care faced by our members and Tennesseans as a whole, so that we could more effectively partner with health care providers to address those issues,” said Dr. Andrea Willis, chief medical officer. “Understanding this data helps support progress that will ultimately deliver better health for everyone, regardless of their background.”

The report includes key state-level statistics:

• Black patients were 2.5x more likely to have a pregnancy-related death than White patients.
• In Tennessee, Black adults are 40% more likely to have high blood pressure and less likely to have it under control than White adults.
• Indigenous Tennesseans reported 10 days per month with poor mental health, more than any other racial or ethnic group.
• Hispanic Tennesseans accounted for 8% of COVID-19 deaths of Tennesseans 40 years and younger.

To review the Health Equity Report and more of its key findings, visit https://www.bcbst.com/healthequity.

About BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is a taxpaying, not-for-profit health plan serving more than 3.3 million members in Tennessee and around the country. The Chattanooga-based company was founded in 1945 and has brought peace of mind to its members and local communities for more than 75 years. BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Inc. is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. For more information, visit the company’s news center at bcbstnews.com.

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee, Inc., an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
The BlueCross and BlueShield Association is an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.