Blue Cross of California Designated by Tulare County as Local Medi-Cal Managed-Care Partner; Selection Marks Second County Where Blue Cross Serves as Local Initiative.

WOODLAND HILLS, Calif.--(BW HealthWire)--Oct. 26, 1998--Blue Cross of California has announced that it was selected by the Tulare County Board of Supervisors as Tulare's partner in implementing the local Medi-Cal managed-care plan.

The decision was made by a unanimous vote, marking the second time Blue Cross of California has been asked to serve as the locally run Medi-Cal health plan.

In bringing its Medi-Cal program to Tulare County, Blue Cross of California expects to enroll up to 44,000 new members. Total Blue Cross Medi-Cal enrollment is currently more than 400,000, making it one of the largest commercial plans in the state.

"We're excited to have been selected by Tulare as the local- approved plan," said John Monahan, general manager, Medi-Cal and Healthy Families Programs, Blue Cross of California.

"Blue Cross of California is committed to serving the health-care needs of California's Medi-Cal beneficiaries. Last year, we were chosen by Stanislaus County to administer its Medi-Cal program, and the partnership has proven very successful.

"As a leading provider of health-care coverage for more than 60 years and as a major Medi-Cal plan in 11 other California counties, we are in an ideal position to meet the health-care needs of Tulare's Medi-Cal beneficiaries."

"Quality health care and cost-effectiveness are the top priorities," said Charles Harness, chairman, Tulare County Board of Supervisors. "That's why we chose to go with Blue Cross."

In signing up for the plan, Tulare Medi-Cal beneficiaries will be eligible for Blue Cross' extensive offering of preventive-care services. These services include maternity care, immunizations, well baby care, 24-hour emergency care, prescription drugs and eyeglasses.

Additional benefits offered by Blue Cross of California include a 24-hour nurse-advice hotline, immunization and health reminder notices, health-education classes and a teen hotline.

Other counties currently offering Blue Cross Medi-Cal managed care include Alameda, Contra Costa, Fresno, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Sacramento, San Diego, San Francisco, Santa Clara and Stanislaus.

Additionally, earlier this year Blue Cross was awarded a major contract for the Healthy Families Program, a new state program that has the potential for providing low-cost health insurance for nearly 600,000 children and teen-agers of low-income families.

The only health plan to participate in all 58 California counties, Blue Cross' success in providing care to the state's Medi-Cal communities was a key factor in winning the contract to provide quality programs to Healthy Families Program beneficiaries.

Blue Cross of California, with nearly 4.4 million medical members, is the California operating subsidiary of WellPoint Health Networks Inc., one of the nation's largest publicly traded managed- care companies. WellPoint serves the health-care needs of 6.8 million medical and more than 23 million specialty members nationally.

WellPoint offers a broad spectrum of quality network-based health products including HMO, PPO, POS and specialty managed-care products. Specialty products include pharmacy benefit management, dental, utilization management, vision, mental health, life and disability insurance, flexible spending accounts, COBRA administration and Medicare supplements.