Advocacy & Public Policy

As one of the country’s largest not-for-profit healthcare companies, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) understands the importance of leading with integrity to ensure we are fulfilling our purpose and working toward our mission to ensure that healthcare is accessible to and affordable for our members, employees and communities.

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As the mid-Atlantic region’s largest not-for-profit health plan and a leading employer in the Baltimore-Washington metropolitan area, CareFirst’s Week of Equity & Action is core to the organization’s mission to provide affordable, accessible and equitable healthcare for all. By dedicating time and resources to listening to one another and learning about different lived experiences, CareFirst and its employees can better act to meet the needs of the people and communities we serve.

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In 2022, CareFirst contributed $24 million to support 358 nonprofit organizations and 400,000 individuals throughout Maryland, Northern Virginia, and Washington, D.C.

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Starting in April 2023, Maryland has resumed eligibility reviews (redeterminations), which will take place over 12 months. To ensure continuity of coverage for those who remain eligible for Medicaid and those who do not, partnership and collaboration between and among federal and state governments, Medicaid Managed Care Organizations (MCOs), health insurance exchanges, providers, and community partners is necessary.

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Did you know Maryland is the only state with an 'all-payer' payment system for hospital care? Under the Maryland Model, a hospital charges the same amount for every patient from the same facility. The model is not a permanent arrangement. The future of healthcare payment in Maryland is now in the hands of policymakers. Are they considering what healthcare consumers want from their healthcare?

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Under the intense pressure of the pandemic, Maryland’s healthcare infrastructure proved remarkably resilient. Let’s make sure that continues to be possible.

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Protecting consumer data is a priority for CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst). Ensuring the confidentiality, integrity and availability of our systems is a necessary part of maintaining trust and delivering high-quality services to our customers and providers.

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CareFirst is committed to providing consumers with the best service while protecting their information and respecting their right to privacy. Consumers entrust us with their personal and medical information. We take protecting that information seriously.

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Brian Wheeler, Vice President of Provider Collaboration and Network Transformation at CareFirst BlueCross Blue Shield (CareFirst), joined WTOP News to discuss CareFirst’s work in value-based care from advocacy to provider collaboration and partnerships.

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CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) recently had the opportunity to provide a testimony in favor of Senate Bill 365 Qualified Resident Enrollment Program (Access to Care Act). If passed, this bill will create a life-changing opportunity for many to access health insurance coverage.

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Prescription drug prices continue to rise at an unreasonable pace, straining many families’ ability to afford them. See what simple yet effective solutions we’re proposing to turn the tide.

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CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) commissioned NORC at the University of Chicago—to understand the perceptions and experiences of healthcare consumers in Maryland.

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Access to behavioral healthcare is shrinking. The time for policymakers to act is now.

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As part of CareFirst's mission, we assist and support public and private initiatives for individuals without health insurance. We recently hosted a virtual event to discuss Medicaid Eligibility Redeterminations.

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In a recent virtual event hosted by CareFirst, a panel of industry experts addressed the following: what information HIPAA protects, the increasing amount of sensitive health data being collected and stored by entities not subject to HIPAA, Privacy and security safeguards that should exist for all consumer health data, policy interventions that could further protect consumer health data, and more.

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Jasmine Leonard, M.P.H., Health Equity Enterprise Manager at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, discusses with the AFRO American Newspapers why a diverse public health workforce is essential to a public health approach that proactively addresses the political and social determinants of health.

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Maryland has one of the lowest Medicare Advantage penetration rates in the nation which is a missed opportunity to better serve our Medicare-eligible community.

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CareFirst’s panel discussion explored potential solutions to increase access to affordable prescription drugs. The issue of prescription drug prices is complicated. Who should take the wheel on finding a solution?

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To celebrate 10 years of the Affordable Care Act, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield brought together industry experts for a special event The Affordable Care Act: Celebrating the Past, Securing the Future. Here’s what they had to say.

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For the fourth year in a row, CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield (CareFirst) has received a rating of 100% on its two submitted surveys from the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Corporate Equality Index (CEI). The Human Rights Campaign is the largest LGBTQ advocacy group and LGBTQ political lobbying organization in the United States. A 100% rating by the HRC recognizes CareFirst’s commitment to LGBTQ+ rights and equity.

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CareFirst recently hosted a panel discussion exploring policy solutions to increase access to prescription drugs.

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CareFirst recently hosted an event on a critical topic–the behavioral health workforce shortage.

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The consensus is clear—advancing towards value-based care is critical to addressing our healthcare system's current challenges. The following article details this need and the desire to partner with providers to move our healthcare system forward.

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As a District Medicaid managed care organization (MCO) with over 66,000 enrollees, CareFirst Community Health Plan DC (CHPDC) is committed to providing care to the District’s most vulnerable individuals, including low-income adults, pregnant women, children, the elderly, and people with disabilities. Below, you will find our recommendations for transforming the healthcare experience for our members and communities, focusing on quality, equity, affordability and access to care.

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The Biden administration recently took action to end surprise medical bills and protect consumers by issuing new rules called “Requirements Related to Surprise Billing; Part 2.” CareFirst looks forward to partnering with the administration to safeguard consumers from surprise medical bills.

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The following panel discussion featured industry experts sharing insights on the importance of accessing and unlocking the potential of patient demographic data, including race, ethnicity and language.

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Destiny-Simone Ramjohn, Vice President of Community Health and Social Impact for CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, recently authored an article for the Business Journals , sharing insights on the role employers have in Social determinants of health(SDOH).

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CareFirst Community Health Plan Maryland is committed to providing care to Maryland’s most vulnerable populations, including low-income adults, pregnant women, children, and people with disabilities. The following article details our recommendations to transform healthcare, focusing on quality, equity, affordability, and access to care.

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News of the U.S. Supreme Court's decision to uphold the Affordable Care Act (ACA) in California v. Texas led to a great deal of reactions to the rulings. In a 7-2 ruling, the majority states that the plaintiffs have no legal right to sue the individual mandate of the ACA.

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A keynote panel on centering health equity in state policies, which included CareFirst’s President and CEO Brian D. Pieninck, closed out the State of Reform’s 2021 Maryland Health Policy Conference.

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The 2021 Maryland State of Reform Health Policy Conference featured keynote sessions. CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield provided industry expertise in three sessions, including discussions on managing affordability and healthcare costs.

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The following panel discussion featured industry experts sharing insights on the role of telehealth in the future of care delivery and what is most beneficial for patients and providers moving forward.

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Given the significant funding distributed to state and local jurisdictions, the American Rescue Plan Act of 2021 provides a unique opportunity for policymakers to focus on key social determinants of health initiatives.

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Increasing the accessibility, affordability and quality of healthcare for all is at the heart of The American Rescue Plan Act of 2021, which aligns perfectly with CareFirst’s mission as a not-for-profit organization.

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