Highmark Inc. Continues Its Long-Standing Relationship with Verisk Health

WALTHAM, Mass. – Verisk Health, Inc., announced today that Highmark Inc. has renewed its contract to license Sightlines™ DxCG Risk Solutions to identify and mitigate clinical and financial risk associated with its commercial and Medicare populations.  Verisk Health is a global leader in identifying, analyzing, and predicting healthcare risk.  Highmark Inc. is a leading health insurer that serves 4.7 million people through the company’s healthcare benefits business.

“Highmark has a long-standing relationship with Verisk Health and has been successfully using its DxCG models to identify cost drivers, identify members for specific management programs, and develop pricing strategies,” said Brian Day, director of advanced analytics at Highmark.  “Understanding our risk is critical in the ever-changing healthcare landscape.  We chose to renew our business agreement with Verisk Health because its tools provide us critical information for cost containment and clinical initiatives.”

Highmark Inc., which began using DxCG methodology in 1999, will continue to use the risk assessment technology to understand the health and wellness of its population and proactively manage the clinical needs of its members. Sightlines DxCG Risk Solutions provides Highmark Inc. deep analytical insight on current and future healthcare metrics.  The health plan also uses the solution to demonstrate success and achieve key business goals, including:

• analyzing risk for underwriting and pricing
• demonstrating return on investment for disease intervention programs
• monitoring movement of members from high to low risk
• identifying individuals for clinical interventions and case management services
• analyzing employer trends and provider efficiency  

“Maintaining business vitality and providing quality care is the key struggle facing health insurers today,” said Nathan Gunn, M.D., chief medical officer at Verisk Health.  “With medical spending on the rise, identifying potential risks and intervening in a timely manner are the best line of defense.  Highmark continues to be an industry leader by implementing and using tools that help the company put the most effective and efficient strategies in place for improved member health and reduced costs.”

About Verisk Health
Verisk Health, a subsidiary of Verisk Analytics, leverages healthcare data to help businesses and governments understand their medical and financial risk for the purpose of managing costs and clinical outcomes more effectively.  Through the combination of leading predictive science, a comprehensive evidence-based clinical engine, and advanced technology, we have created one of the most extensive independent risk-assessment and decision-analytics platforms in the healthcare industry.  Our primary focus is to identify actionable strategies for managing healthcare costs and quality at both the individual and population levels.  We consistently research, evaluate, and invest in our business to ensure that we remain leaders in our industry and provide the most efficient and effective solution for our clients.  For more information, please visit www.veriskhealth.com.

About Highmark Inc.
As one of the leading health insurers in Pennsylvania, Highmark Inc.’s mission is to provide access to affordable, quality healthcare enabling individuals to live longer, healthier lives. Based in Pittsburgh, Highmark serves 4.7 million people through the company’s healthcare benefits business. Highmark contributes millions of dollars to help keep quality healthcare programs affordable and to support community-based programs that work to improve people’s health. Highmark exerts an enormous economic impact throughout Pennsylvania. A recent study states that Highmark’s positive impact exceeded $2.5 billion. The company provides the resources to give its members a greater hand in their health.
Highmark Inc. is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans. For more information, visit www.highmark.com.