Medical tourism, which I have covered extensively in previous notes, is morphing into global healthcare and one of "the Blues" is leading the charge. (see: BlueCross BlueShield and BlueChoice HealthPlan Pioneer Global Healthcare Alternative). Below is an excerpt from an article reporting on this important phenomenon:
BlueCross BlueShield of South Carolina and BlueChoice HealthPlan of South Carolina are streamlining access to medical and surgical treatment at U.S.-accredited facilities overseas. Through BlueCross' Companion Global Healthcare, members will have a single launch point for appointments, information and travel services beginning Feb. 15. Companion Global Healthcare recently affiliated with JCI-accredited Bumrungrad International Hospital in Bangkok, Thailand, as the first hospital in its overseas network, and with World Access for travel services. The Companion Global Healthcare model is the first of its kind in South Carolina and among the first in the United States. BlueCross BlueShield and BlueChoice HealthPlan members will have access to the program by clicking on a link on the Discounts & Value-Added page on [the SouthCarolinaBlues or BlueChoiceSC web sites].... "Including a global healthcare alternative reflects our ongoing commitment to help members seek the services they want at competitive prices," said [a Blue Cross spokesperson]. "In a flattened world of increased price transparency, an international surgical network is a natural next step for those in our membership who want to travel for medical care."
Well there you have it. BlueCross, BlueShield, and BlueChoice of South Carolina are jumping into medical tourism with both feet, even to the point of creating a separate company, Companion Global Healthcare, to help patients make appointments and travel arrangements. What now seems to be emerging is a healthcare insurance company cum travel agent. They have made a wise choice in affiliating with the Bangkok-based health system, Bumrungrad, as a component of their proposed international surgical network.
It should come as not surprise that a health insurance company has launched such initiative as opposed to, say, state legislature, although I have reported that the West Virginia legislature is studying medical tourism. The "Blues" will be easily able to endure political pressure from U.S. physicians and hospital executives over an action such as this. In fact, they can turn such political angst into a public relations advantage by assuring healthcare consumers that they are working in their best interests by helping to contain rising healthcare costs and setting up competition for U.S.-based healthcare delivery systems.
What interests me greatly about this news is the emergence of the term global healthcare as a substitute for the term medical tourism. This latter label always seems to convey too much of a light-hearted tone for such a serious business. Although the term "global" can prompt a riot in some circles, the majority of healthcare consumers will probably look upon this approach as a logical progression of the delivery of healthcare services and a less expensive option for surgery than is currently available.
:: Update on 6/19/2007 @ 7:03 p.m.
See: South Carolina Blues Plan Pioneers Medical Tourism Via Affiliation With Thai Hospital
This would seem to be very big news...or am I missing something?
Posted by: John Norris | June 11, 2007 at 01:09 AM