The Sachs Group, a healthcare information provider based in Evanston, Ill., has identified 13 health plans that make the grade for member satisfaction through its Sachs HMO Honor Roll analysis report. Choicecare Health Plans, Inc (Cincinatti), Harris Methodist Health Plan (Dallas), Independence Blue Cross (Philadelphia) and Kaiser Permanente (Atlanta, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.) were among the1997 honor roll recipients.
The winning plans were judged by their marketing strength in these four key areas:
- Building value proposition. The value proposition is what sets plans apart from others and includes attention to personal detail, outstanding service and sophisticated information systems.
- Communicating openly with stakeholders (plan members, employees, employers and physicians).
- Developing close physician relations. The winning plans offer more than just networked, commoditized models of communicating with their physicians.
They demonstrate strong historic ties with physicians that include group-model HMOs, provider-sponsored plans and plans started by physicians.
- Ensuring operational success. Each of the honor roll recipients made high marks in committing significant time, energy and resources to ensure delivery of benefits.
Look for HPRMN to cover winning plans of some of the HMO honor roll recipients in upcoming case studies. (Sachs, 800-366-PLAN)