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October 25, 2021 6:00am
October Power Poll
Memphis leaders sound off.
The Power Poll is a monthly survey sent to more than 437 influential business, political, nonprofit and cultural leaders in the Bluff City. The poll is presented by The Commercial Appeal and sponsored by BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee and DVL Seigenthaler - Finn Partners.
The October Power Poll focused on several different topics in the news recently.
The October Memphis Power Poll:
Dr. Manoj Jain, an infectious disease expert, said recently that "we're in the best place we've ever been" when it comes to the COVID-19 pandemic. How do you feel about the pandemic?
- 8.9% — Very optimistic that we are nearing the end
- 53.2% — Cautiously optimistic we are nearing the end
- 35.4% — Neutral -- waiting to see what happens during the next few months
- 1.3% — Pessimistic -- waiting for the next shoe to drop
- 1.3% — Very pessimistic -- Pretty sure there is another surge in the future
Presenting sponsor
BlueCross Receives High Quality Ratings for Health Plans
Commercial, Medicare and TennCare Plans Recognized
BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee has received high ratings for the quality of its plans across multiple business lines from key quality measurement organizations.
The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) awarded BlueCross:
- 4 Stars for the BlueCross commercial plan that serves Tennesseans through both employer-based and Individual/Marketplace coverage.
- 3.5 Stars for the BlueCare plan that serves 600,000 individuals on TennCare.
BlueCross was the only commercial plan
in the state to earn 4 stars.
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) ratings were:
- 4.5 Stars for the BlueCross Medicare Advantage PPO plan serving Tennessee’s seniors.
- 4 Stars for the Dual Special Needs program serving Tennesseans who are eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid.
BlueCross has also been recognized by U.S. News and World Report as one of the country’s Best Insurance Companies for Medicare Advantage.
“At BlueCross, we do our best each day to improve the physical and mental health of our members,” said Dr. Andrea Willis, SVP and chief medical officer at BlueCross. “Earning such high marks demonstrates the value we bring as a trusted partner in health.”
NCQA evaluates health plans on the quality of care patients receive, how happy patients are with their care and health plans' efforts to keep improving. It gathers data through the annual Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) survey of healthcare consumers and the Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS), which measures clinical performance and health outcomes.
CMS ratings are based on a review of plan operations, including members’ reported experiences and health outcomes.
In 2020, BlueCross worked with its provider partners to make telehealth more widely available. This meant members could more conveniently and comfortably have their health care needs met and close gaps in care.
BlueCross senior care teams partnered with providers in a variety of creative ways to help maintain and enhance access to quality health care. These efforts included outreach drives with doctors’ offices to encourage use of at-home colorectal screening and community-based breast screening opportunities. BlueCross also collaborated with providers and pharmacists to ensure members were sticking to their recommended care plan for prescription medications.
BlueCross Director of Clinical Care and Quality Improvement Wisterya Thompson said, “Our mission is peace of mind through better health for our members. Even during a global pandemic, we’ve been able to educate and empower our members to utilize telehealth resources, complete preventive health screenings, and get the care they need in a timely fashion.”
More from BlueCross on the Quality Ratings
Press Release: BlueCross Commercial and BlueCare Plans Earn High NCQA Quality Ratings for 2021
Press Release: BlueCross Plans Earn 4.5-Star, 4-star Quality Ratings from CMS
Last month, Ford announced plans for Blue Oval City at the Memphis Regional Megasite creating 5,800 jobs. What do you think this means for the region?
- 48.1% — It's the start of significant additional investment in West Tennessee and Memphis
- 15.2% — It will bring additional investment, but will likely only have minimal impact on Memphis
- 30.4% — It will be great for the Megasite and the immediate surrounding area, but not sure what it will mean for Memphis
- 3.8% — There will likely be little impact felt in Memphis and Shelby County
- 2.5% — I'm hopeful but skeptical about the impact in Shelby County
The Memphis Tigers are coming into the season with the top-ranked recruiting class and are picked by many to win the AAC title. What are your predictions for the season?
- 5.3% — NCAA Champions, baby!
- 24.0% — AAC Tournament champions and advance to at least the NCAA Final Four
- 53.3% — AAC Tournament champions and Sweet 16
- 10.7% — Not win the AAC tournament, but get into the NCAA tourney
- 0% — Miss the NCAA tourney
- 6.7% — Will be ruled ineligible for post-season play due to James Wiseman saga
The Memphis Grizzlies, led by Ja Morant and Jaren Jackson Jr., tip off the season this week. What is your prediction for the year?
- 2.7% — NBA Champions
- 38.7% —Western Conference Finals
- 53.3% — Eliminated in first round of playoffs
- 5.3% — Will miss the playoffs
About Power Poll: Power Poll asks questions of the most powerful, influential people in U.S. cities. It is not a scientific survey. But because the people responding to the surveys comprise the leadership structure of their cities, the results afford a fascinating glimpse into the thoughts, opinions, and beliefs of those in a position to make change. Power Poll is distinctly nonpartisan.
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