Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Expands Virtual Primary Care, Providing Members Increased Access to Affordable, Convenient Care

(ST LOUIS, MO) – Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri today announced the availability of its virtual primary care service to eligible members in its commercial health plans, meeting consumers’ demands of easier access to high-quality care – where, how, and when they want it. With virtual primary care, members will have access to a virtual care team that conducts an initial health check-in, creates a personalized care plan, and provides care services to help members improve their health and wellbeing – all at no or low-cost.

“Missourians are adopting digital technologies at an accelerating pace. To meet this demand, we continually introduce innovative services that make healthcare fit into members’ increasingly busy schedules and align with the consumer-centric experiences they have in other areas of their lives,” said Stephanie Vojicic, President, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri. “Primary care is critically important to the prevention of many illnesses and we are excited to offer members yet another way to conveniently access a primary care provider.”

Through Sydney Health - the Anthem app - eligible members will have access to virtual primary care:

• Through secure in-app medical text chat for on-demand 24/7 urgent care as well as scheduled follow-up visits for wellness, prevention, and chronic condition care;
• A video-based, preventive wellness visits resulting in a care plan, offering proactive future care guidance;
• Routine care support services including new prescriptions and refills, and preventive tests, screening and labs;
• Referrals to in-network, in-person primary and specialty care, when needed.

Anthem’s virtual primary care service is personalized to the member’s unique care needs through AI-driven modeling and analytics, improving the healthcare experience. Data and insights from the initial symptom assessment, which is informed by millions of care interactions, is also shared with the virtual primary care doctor to better inform the care visit.

Anthem’s virtual primary care providers can address many conditions and help individuals manage their chronic conditions, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, and asthma. Virtual primary care will also provide members urgent care for minor health issues, including allergies, cold and flu, skin rashes, and more. This service will also make it easier for members to complete other routine tasks such as check-ins with providers and medication refills. And for members who already have a primary care provider, Anthem’s virtual primary care complements the healthcare services they receive from in-person care.

Virtual primary care is currently available to eligible individuals enrolled in Anthem’s fully insured plans as well as select large group administrative services (ASO) clients. Anthem expects many ASO clients will make this service available to their employees and dependents by the end of the year.  

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About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri

In Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area) Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name for RightCHOICE® Managed Care, Inc. (RIT), Healthy Alliance® Life Insurance Company (HALIC), and HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates administer non-HMO benefits underwritten by HALIC and HMO benefits underwritten by HMO Missouri, Inc. RIT and certain affiliates only provide administrative services for self-funded plans and do not underwrite benefits. Independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

Media Contact:
Emily Snooks
emily.snooks@anthem.com
Ph: (720) 661-7893