Blue Cross Blue Shield of Arizona (AZ Blue) says it is expanding beyond health insurance and into the provider space with the launch of a new company called Prosano Health Solutions Inc.
Prosano has launched its first advanced primary care center with three more Maricopa County locations opening in 2024.
It was launched in January of this year for AZ Blue employees, with 1,800 employees and their dependents enrolling. It is open exclusively to BCBSAZ employees and their families in 2023 through two BlueSignature Prosano PPO plans.
Early data and patient feedback indicate positive impacts on both cost and quality of care, with higher than industry average patient satisfaction scores and a reduction of over 20 percent in emergency room visits, AZ Blue said.
The advanced primary care centers offer a comprehensive care model that includes one-stop access to a primary care team, behavioral health practitioners, lab services, same-day appointments, virtual options, and a selection of the most needed prescription medications.
On its website, Prosano Health explains that it has prioritized normalizing mental wellness as a core part of the care model. “When we talk about ‘integrated behavioral health,’ we are specifically talking about our Care Team, including trained behavioral health clinicians, working together with patients and families when needed, using a collaborative approach to provide patient-centered care. Examples of this care could include anything from the need to ‘just talk to someone’ about major life stressors or crises, or other life experiences such as substance abuse conditions, eating disorders, health behaviors (including their contribution to chronic medical illnesses) and stress-related physical symptoms.”
AZ Blue said Prosano would improve access to care, reduce waste and complexity, and advance the total healthcare experience for patients and providers.
“We've been working alongside our community, customers, and healthcare providers on strategies to transform the healthcare experience in Arizona and improve access and affordability,” said Pam Kehaly, president and CEO at AZ Blue, in a statement. “Prosano Health Solutions Inc. will enable us to have a stronger role in Arizona’s healthcare system than we do today solely as a health insurance company.”
