Blue Shield of California’s investment in OODA Health, a San Francisco startup looking to revolutionize claims payments, is another step in its efforts to help bring technology into the digital age.
The investment in OODA (see press release) follows major announcements by the company over the past six months in technology related initiatives to help reduce costs and improve care:
- A $30 million, five-year collaboration with the California Medical Association to support independent physicians’ practices with pilot projects to test technology to assist with administrative burden.
- An ongoing investment commitment to Manifest MedEx to help it establish a state-wide health information exchange to improve the efficiency and enhance the quality of care for patients and providers.
- A collaboration with Gemini Health which has developed software to improve drug prescriptions and help reduce cost without affecting care.
Blue Shield executives will be holding a series of meetings across the state over the next 12 to 18 months to listen to consumers, providers, employers and policy makers about ideas for the health care system of the future that offers lower costs, improved access and enhanced outcomes for patients.
“We’re on a mission to transform a fragmented, often dysfunctional healthcare system into one in which all Californians can access the high-quality care they deserve at a price they can afford,” explains Paul Markovich, president and CEO of Blue Shield of California.