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Blue Shield of California and Landmark Expand Access to Home-Based Medical Care for Chronically Ill Patients

Patient-centered program now available to members with Blue Shield commercial and Care1st Medi-Cal and Cal MediConnect plans

SAN FRANCISCO (Oct. 1, 2018) – Blue Shield of California and Landmark are expanding their comprehensive home-based care, making their service available to more patients who have complex health issues and multiple chronic illnesses.

The program launched in April this year for eligible members enrolled in Medicare plans offered by Blue Shield and its subsidiary Care1st Health Plan. More than 600 members are already benefitting from this care.

Now, Landmark services are available to about 10,000 additional members enrolled in Blue Shield’s individual and employer-sponsored health plans and Care1st’s Medi-Cal and Cal MediConnect health plans. The program is being made available in the San Francisco Bay Area, greater Los Angeles/Orange County area, Sacramento, San Diego, San Bernardino and Riverside.

landmark logo

“I have great doctors, but sometimes they can be hard to get a hold of during the day or after hours. With Landmark, I know I have access to doctors and nurses 24/7 without leaving my home,” said Shirley Ehlers, 73, of San Diego. “As you get older, having in-home care also really provides that social support. I have been absolutely pleased with Landmark.”

Landmark is a healthcare company that provides community-based, physician-led care to patients in the comfort and convenience of their homes. Landmark care teams deliver medical and behavioral care, and social support services to patients 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They conduct routine and urgent care visits, as well as post-discharge home visits for patients to ensure a safe transition from the hospital or skilled nursing setting back to their place of residence.

For eligible members, there is no additional cost to participate in this program or for services provided by Landmark. Covered services provided by non-Landmark providers through a referral from Landmark may be subject to cost-sharing based on members’ health plan benefits and coverage.

For Blue Shield, its collaboration with Landmark is part of the nonprofit health plan’s growing suite of comprehensive in-home care services designed to improve quality and access to care for its members.

“Our goal is patient-centered care, ensuring our members – especially those who are very ill – have access to quality medical and support services that they need to improve their health,” said Jeff Bailet, M.D., executive vice president of Health Care Quality and Affordability at Blue Shield. “Blue Shield’s collaboration with Landmark is just the latest example of our vision of providing Californians access to care that is worthy of our family and friends.”

While the Landmark program provides in-home access to care for members suffering from multiple, specific chronic conditions, it doesn’t replace the care provided by their primary care physician or specialists. Instead, Landmark’s 24-hour care augments the member’s existing care support, working in coordination with the member’s current providers to help them better manage their conditions.

Landmark’s model of care has resulted in meaningful outcomes nationally, including a 39 percent reduction in emergency room visits and 53 percent reduction in mortality rates.

“Landmark’s model is designed to better meet the needs of complex patients,” said Michael Le, M.D., chief medical officer and co-founder of Landmark. “People with multiple chronic conditions need access to multidisciplinary, coordinated care that comes to them routinely and urgently, to help them stay well and stay home.”

About Blue Shield of California

Blue Shield of California strives to create a health care system worthy of its family and friends that is sustainably affordable. It is a not-for-profit, independent member of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association with 4 million members, 6,800 employees and more than $17 billion in annual revenue. Founded in 1939 and headquartered in San Francisco, Blue Shield of California and its affiliates provide health, dental, vision, Medicaid and Medicare health care service plans in California. The company has contributed more than $500 million to Blue Shield of California Foundation since 2002 to have an impact on California communities.

For more news about Blue Shield of California, please visit www.news.blueshieldca.com.

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About Landmark

Landmark is an industry leader of home-based medical care for patients with complex health needs, covering more than 80,000 lives. Its community-based, physician-led medical teams specialize in house calls and deliver medical, behavioral, social and palliative care to individuals with multiple chronic conditions wherever they reside, and wherever they need it. Landmark’s teams of mobile clinicians collaborate with patients’ families, caregivers and other medical providers to bring coordinated healthcare to people who need it the most. Landmark operates nationally, expanding coverage to reach 13 states in 2018. For more information, visit www.landmarkhealth.org.

Contact:          Matthew Yi                                                      Jessica Diaz

                        Blue Shield of California                                  Landmark Health

                        (415) 229-5359                                                (657) 234-8416

                        media@blueshieldca.com                             JDiaz@landmarkhealth.org