Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota's (BCBSND) MediQHomeSM quality program has won two national awards for its innovative patient-centered work that has improved the quality of health for North Dakotans.

"Through the active participation of providers, MediQHome has improved the quality of health for all North Dakotans by improving clinical quality and patient outcomes," BCBSND President and CEO Paul von Ebers said. "MediQHome is instrumental to BCBSND's efforts to create a more sustainable health system in North Dakota."

The program received two Case in Point Platinum Awards in the Managed Care categories: a first-place award for Utilization Management Program and an honorable mention for Disease Management/Population Health. The awards ceremony, sponsored by health publication publisher Dorland Health, was held May 9 at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C.

MediQHome is a collaborative effort between patients, the state's medical providers and BCBSND to improve quality outcomes for patients and rein in the rising costs of health care. This innovative quality program is a flexible patient-centered medical home that focuses on nine common chronic conditions that are costly to treat. It also includes preventive measures such as immunizations and cancer screenings.

The program has led to a 30 percent reduction in emergency room use among MediQHome patients with chronic illnesses compared to BCBSND patients with chronic illnesses not participating in MediQHome. Inpatient hospital admission rates among patients in MediQHome are 18 percent lower than those in the general BCBSND patient population.

The North Dakota Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention also played a role in the program's success, von Ebers said.

The complete list of winners and finalists can be found online at the Dorland Health website.

BCBSND is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.