State of Indiana Is First to Offer Benefit That Lets Employees Compare Cost, Quality of Healthcare
Jun 3, 2013
Governor Pence Launches Transparency Tool for State Employees
State of Indiana Is First to Offer Benefit That Lets Employees Compare Cost, Quality of Healthcare
INDIANAPOLIS — June 3, 2013 — This morning, Indiana Governor Mike Pence launched a new healthcare transparency tool, Castlight Health, bringing long-awaited cost and quality information to State of Indiana benefit plan members. The Governor, along with leaders from Castlight and Anthem, completed several searches and discussed the importance of transparency.
“Indiana is leading the charge in providing tools to state employees to educate them about being informed healthcare consumers,” said Governor Pence. “Whether the focus is cost or quality, our employees are now more empowered than ever to save money and provide for their families’ medical needs by using Castlight.”
Castlight Health is a searchable database that enables self-insured employers and their employees to take control of health care costs and improve care. It provides cost estimates and quality ratings for doctors and procedures, while also educating employees about compliance for chronic health care conditions.
“Both businesses and governmental bodies continue to be stifled by the high cost of medical care in the United States,” said Giovanni Colella, M.D., co-founder and CEO, Castlight Health. “As the first state to introduce health care transparency into its workforce, the State of Indiana is taking an important leap forward by empowering employees with the information they need to make more informed, cost-effective health care decisions. Indiana was an early pioneer in the transparency movement and we believe their success will become the model for entities committed to improving health care outcomes, while better controlling costs.”
This initiative has taken more than a year to complete and involved a coordinated effort from the state, Castlight Health and Anthem, the state’s medical insurance provider.
“Useful information pertaining to the cost and quality of medical care has always been hard to come by. As a result, health care consumers have almost become bystanders in the health care system. But considering the ever rising costs, we can no longer afford to be bystanders,” said Robert Hillman, Anthem President and General Manager of Indiana. “Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield commends Gov. Pence for this innovative approach, and we look forward to partnering with Castlight Health to empower Indiana health care consumers, promote healthier lives and improve costs and quality.”
Other large self-insured employers from around the state have already launched or are preparing to launch Castlight Health to their employees. These include Cummins and Indiana University, whose senior leadership joined the Governor this morning to celebrate the launch. Photo: Governor Mike Pence joins representatives from Castlight Health, Indiana University, Cummins, Anthem and the Indiana State Personnel Department to discuss and sign up for Castlight.
About Castlight Health
Castlight Health enables employers, their employees, and health plans to take control of health care costs and improve care. Named #1 on The Wall Street Journal’s list of “The Top 50 Venture-Backed Companies” for 2011 and one of Dow Jones’ 50 Most Investment-Worthy Technology Start-Ups, Castlight Health helps the country’s self-insured employers and health plans empower consumers to shop for health care. Castlight Health is headquartered in San Francisco and backed by prominent investors including Allen & Company, Cleveland Clinic, Maverick Capital, Morgan Stanley Investment Management, Oak Investment Partners, Redmile Group, T. Rowe Price, U.S. Venture Partners, Venrock, Wellcome Trust and two unnamed mutual funds. For more information, please visit our web site athttp://www.castlighthealth.com
About Anthem
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc., an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ® ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Indiana is available at www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at www.twitter.com/healthjoinin, on Facebook at www.facebook.com/HealthJoinIn, or visit our YouTube channel at www.youtube.com/healthjoinin.
Press Contact:
Drew Smith
Blanc & Otus for Castlight Health
415-856-5127
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