The Connections Health Management Program provides 24/7 disease management and decision support to eligible members through Health Coaches and online resources. The program covers a variety of chronic conditions and offers decision support and general health information. Special focus is put on common, chronic diseases such as asthma, coronary heart disease (CHD), chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), heart failure (HF), and diabetes.
Connections Health Coaches offer disease management and decision support to all eligible members.
Health Coaches help members work effectively with their physicians to make “shared decisions” that are right for them.
The best way to refer a patient for Health Coaching is to complete the physician referral form and fax it to the Connections Health Management Program at 1-800-276-3075. Providers can also call the program to make a patient referral at 1-866-866-4694. Eligible members can speak with a Health Coach directly 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by calling 1-800-ASK-BLUE.
The following are some of the tools available to all providers to use with their patients. For more information or for additional quantities, please contact a Connections Program Specialist at 1-866-866-4694.
Asthma symptom response planFAQ on inhaled steroid medications for asthmaControllers and asthma managementAsthma triggersPatient handout – How to use a metered-dose inhalerPatient handout – How to use a metered-dose inhaler with a mask spacerPatient handout – How to use a metered-dose inhaler with a spacerBeta blocker brochureCardiometabolic risk FAQsHeart failure action planHeart failure symptom response planBMI resource card General awareness handoutHealth coach brochureMedication trackerPHQ-9 depression screening questionnaire Physicians who have patients with one or more of the common chronic diseases of the program will receive a report that summarizes key aspects of care. Reports are provided at patient-level and practice-level, as well as compared to overall network.
To ensure the safety of our members’ protected health information, SMART Registry CDs are password-protected. Providers can look up their password on the NaviNet® web portal by selecting Reference Material and Reports from the Plan Transactions menu and then selecting SMART Registry Password.
Sample of a small SMART Registry sent to practices with fewer than 11 Independence Blue Cross patients with a chronic condition.Sample of a large SMART Registry sent to practices with 11 or more Independence Blue Cross patients with a chronic condition.The Connections Shared Decision-Making program offers physicians the resources to enhance doctor/patient dialog and make better-informed decisions. This brochure also includes information on and a list of the Shared Decision-Making videos available to your eligible members who are facing an important medical decision, such as surgery, treatment options, or end-of-life issues.