Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan Dual logo

Group of doctors and business people

Hospital and Physician Update
November – December 2018
Focusing on quality, cost

A message from Steve Anderson
Here’s what we’re doing to help hold down health care costs
Health care spending is a growing component of our country’s gross domestic product. It’s estimated that it will reach 18.2 percent of our GDP this year, up from 15.8 percent in 2006. And the upward trend isn’t likely to reverse anytime soon. According to a report by The Wall Street Journal, health care expenditures will soon reach 20 percent of the national GDP — by far the highest among major economies. Read more.

Michigan Hospital Medicine Safety Consortium targets unnecessary antibiotic use
After nearly a year of data collection, the Michigan Hospital Medicine Safety Consortium launched an initiative earlier this year to improve antimicrobial use for patients with pneumonia and urinary tract infections. Read more.
Battling the opioid epidemic

A message from Dr. Amy McKenzie
We’re working to increase number of providers able to treat opioid use disorder
Opioid use disorder continues to be a troubling public health concern. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimated that 2.1 million people in the U.S. suffered from OUD in 2016 — and 116 died each day from opioid-related drug overdoses. Read more.

A message from Dr. Duane DiFranco
Battling the opioid crisis and treating patients experiencing chronic pain: A delicate balance
One of the key challenges in battling the opioid epidemic is balancing the needs of individuals who are experiencing chronic pain — and whose conditions are best treated with an opioid prescription — against those who are misusing or abusing opioids. Read more.

A roundup of news and information
We’ve compiled recent news and information about the opioid epidemic to help you stay abreast of current laws, campaigns and studies. Read more.
Other news and information

A message from Dr. S. George Kipa
We need to work together to confront the growing problem of Alzheimer’s disease
When President Ronald Reagan designated November as National Alzheimer’s Disease Awareness Month in 1983, fewer than 2 million Americans had Alzheimer’s. Today, the number has soared to an estimated 5.7 million, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Read more.
Twitter Icon Facebook Icon A Healthier Michigan Icon MI Blues Perspective Icon

No portion of this publication may be copied without the express written permission of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, except that BCBSM participating health care providers may make copies for their personal use. In no event may any portion of this publication be copied or reprinted and used for commercial purposes by any party other than BCBSM.

The Blue Cross Blue Shield Association is an association of independent, locally operated Blue Cross and Blue Shield Companies

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.