News Releases
Test Script
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield and WellNow Urgent Care Execute a Provider Contract Agreement Effective November 15, 2024
November 11, 2024 | Rochester, NY
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield (Excellus BCBS) and WellNow Urgent Care (WellNow) have executed a new provider contract agreement. As of November 15, 2024, WellNow will rejoin the Excellus BCBS provider network. Members will have in-network access to...
Corporate
An Update on Contract Discussions with St. Joseph’s Health (Trinity Health)
November 10, 2024 | Syracuse, NY
At Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, we are in contract discussions with St. Joseph's Health (Trinity Health) in Central New York. St. Joseph's Health has notified us that they will leave our provider network if a new contract isn't agreed upon by Dec. 31,...
Corporate
An Update on FamilyCare Medical Group
November 10, 2024 | Syracuse, NY
FamilyCare Medical Group FamilyCare Medical Group (FCMG) notified us of their decision to terminate its participation agreement with Excellus BlueCross BlueShield if a new contract isn't agreed upon by December 31, 2024. We are pleased to share that...
Corporate
Excellus BCBS Circle of Excellence Awards honors practices for innovative, high-quality patient care
November 7, 2024 | Rochester, NY
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield honored Bassett Healthcare Network’s New York Center for Agricultural Medicine and Health (NYCAMH) with a Circle of Excellence Award for their high-quality and innovative health care delivery and patient care. NYCAMH...
Corporate
Excellus BCBS expands CNY regional president’s role to include Southern Tier
November 7, 2024 | Syracuse, NY
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has announced the recent expansion of its Central New York Regional President Mark Muthumbi’s role and responsibilities, which will now include oversight of the Southern Tier region, specifically Broome, Chemung, Chenango,...
Corporate
Don’t Fall for Health Care Related Schemes
November 6, 2024 | Rochester, NY
Scammers may try to trick you to share your private information. At this time of year when many people are re-enrolling in health care coverage, we see that scammers increase their activity, so Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has several tips to help you...
Corporate
Excellus BCBS earns accreditation from NCQA
November 2, 2024 | Rochester, NY
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield once again earned accreditation across all of its health insurance products from the National Committee for Quality Assurance for 2024, earning four out of five stars. NCQA is a private, non-profit organization dedicated to...
Corporate
Get ready for peak flu season: Get your flu vaccination
November 1, 2024 | Rochester, NY
By Lorna Fitzpatrick, MD, vice president of medical affairs and senior medical director, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield It’s easy to take a casual approach to flu season when the weather is still nice. Fall in Western New York is a great time of year,...
Corporate
Medicare recognizes Excellus BlueCross BlueShield for quality
October 10, 2024 | Rochester, NY
The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) announced its 2025 quality ratings, and again this year recognized Excellus BlueCross BlueShield for its Medicare Advantage plans. This is the 12th consecutive year the health plan has ranked above...
Corporate
Excellus BCBS cuts ribbon at new Resource Center of the Mohawk Valley
October 4, 2024 | Utica, NY
Flanked by members of the community, staff and members of the Greater Utica Chamber of Commerce, Tony Vitagliano, senior vice president provider network engagement & Utica regional president for Excellus BlueCross BlueShield cut the ribbon at the...
Corporate
Unlocking the Mystery of Health Insurance Premiums
What’s driving the rising costs of health care, how this influences premiums, and what Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is doing to help its members navigate and manage the costs of their care.
September 11, 2024 | Rochester, NY
We understand that rising health care costs can create difficulties for you. Expensive prescription drugs, increases in outpatient procedures, and high-cost hospital care are challenging patients, doctors, businesses, health plans, and the entire...
Corporate
One Call Helped Frank Lower His Drug Costs
September 9, 2024 | Rochester, NY
For Medicare member Frank Pecora, making a call to Customer Care at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield meant finding medications he could afford. The 75-year-old is one of thousands of members who call the number on the back of their member card and...
Corporate
Excellus BCBS to Hold Ribbon Cutting for New Resource Center Sept. 27
September 9, 2024 | Utica, NY
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield will celebrate the opening of the Resource Center of the Mohawk Valley, located at 62 Kellogg Rd., New Hartford, with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, Sept. 27. The public is invited to this free event,...
Corporate
Excellus BCBS and WellBe Senior Medical Collaborate to Bring In-Home Care to Those in Need
September 6, 2024 | Rochester, NY
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is teaming up with WellBe Senior Medical, an independent company, to help some of our Medicare Advantage members. This program will bring care right to the homes of members who need it the most. These members often have...
Corporate
In-Network vs. Out-of-Network Care
September 6, 2024 | Rochester, NY
When you go to a healthcare provider that is "out-of-network," it means they don’t accept your insurance. This usually means you'll have to pay more for the same services compared to using an "in-network" provider, who does accept your insurance. ...
Corporate
Nonprofits Can Now Apply for Excellus BCBS Health Equity Innovation Award Funding
September 5, 2024 | Rochester, NY
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is accepting applications for its 2024 Health Equity Innovation Awards, which provide funding to community-based organizations to support health and wellness programs that address racial and ethnic health disparities in...
Corporate
Excellus BCBS Recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best-In-State Employers 2024
August 21, 2024 | Rochester, NY
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, a local non-profit Health Plan, is proud to announce its recognition by Forbes as one of America’s Best-In-State Employers for New York State in 2024. "This recognition holds special meaning because being a local health...
Corporate
Health care providers give Excellus BCBS high scores in latest satisfaction survey
August 15, 2024 | Rochester, NY
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has announced the results of their 2023 Provider Satisfaction Survey, receiving a 78 percent overall provider satisfaction score. The survey, conducted last fall, was expanded to include all behavioral health providers,...
Corporate
New partnership helps those with chronic kidney disease
August 14, 2024 | Rochester, NY
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield members with stage 4 or 5 chronic kidney disease (CKD) may be eligible for a new program, REACH Kidney Care*, that helps improve care and quality of life while delaying the need for more costly interventions such as...
Corporate
Excellus BCBS appoints Susie Hume, Senior VP Corporate Development & Strategy, Chief Risk Officer
August 5, 2024 | Rochester, NY
Susie Hume has been appointed senior vice president corporate development and strategy, chief risk officer at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. Hume most recently served as vice president of Human Resources Strategic Business Partnerships where...
Rochester
Excellus BCBS Recognized by Forbes as one of America’s Best Employers for Women 2024
July 23, 2024 | Rochester, NY
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is proud to announce its recognition by Forbes as one of America’s Best Employers for Women 2024. This award highlights the organization’s ongoing commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive workplace where women can...
Corporate
Excellus BCBS named to Best Place to Work for Disability Inclusion
July 16, 2024 | Rochester, NY
For the fourth consecutive year, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield was named to the Best Places to Work for Disability Inclusion. Excellus BCBS received a top score of 100% on the 2024 Disability Equality Index®, a national benchmarking survey by...
Corporate
Be safe outdoors - What you need to know about Lyme disease
July 10, 2024 | Rochester, NY
Summer is a time to work in the garden, visit the dog park, or hit the bike path. It is also a time to be aware of tick-borne illnesses including Lyme disease, and ways to avoid them. Infected ticks can be found across the Northeast, including in...
Corporate
New York State Rates of Birth Complications After Patients Leave the Hospital Higher than the National Average
Analysis of millions of births shows one-third of birth complications occur during the six weeks following discharge and disproportionately affect Black patients.
June 26, 2024 | Rochester, NY
The country’s maternal health crisis goes far beyond the delivery room. New data shows that dangerous, unexpected birth complications often emerge weeks after the patient and baby have left the hospital, with Black patients experiencing these...
Corporate
Excellus BCBS Supports Oswego County Early Childhood Initiative, Commits Funding to Establish Diaper Bank
June 26, 2024 | Syracuse, NY
To fight the increasing trend of diaper need among lower-income families in Oswego County, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield recently provided funding in support of the establishment of a diaper bank at the Oswego County Early Childhood Alliance...
Central New York
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Supports Access to Primary Care in Oswego County
June 26, 2024 | Syracuse, NY
When two organizations share the same vision for “keeping people healthy” remarkable things can happen through collaboration. Excellus BlueCross BlueShield recently awarded Oswego Health with Health and Wellness Award funding to support Primary Care at...
Central New York
Bonavita, Dowd join Excellus BCBS CNY Regional Advisory Board
June 26, 2024 | Syracuse, NY
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has named Dr. Louis Bonavita, Jr., and Elin R. Dowd to its Central New York Regional Advisory Board. “As a local health plan, our mission is to help people in our communities live healthier and more secure lives...
Central New York
Upstate NY Health Plans Support Legislation to Defend Medicare Advantage Plans for Seniors
June 25, 2024 | Rochester, NY
Upstate New York health plans are showing their support for recently introduced bipartisan legislation to protect benefits and access to care for hundreds of thousands of people enrolled in Medicare Advantage plans in upstate New York. Excellus...
Corporate
Excellus BCBS appoints Tony Vitagliano as Regional President in the Utica market
June 20, 2024 | Utica, NY
Antonio (Tony) Vitagliano has been appointed as the regional president of Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s Utica Market. Tony Vitagliano Excellus BCBS is the largest nonprofit health insurer in upstate New York. With this promotion,...
Corporate
Statins: A Powerful Ally for People Living with Diabetes
June 4, 2024 | Rochester, NY
If you are living with diabetes, you may already know you are at higher risk for cardiovascular disease including heart attack, heart failure, and stroke. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), people who have diabetes are...
Corporate
The Lifetime Healthcare Companies, CDPHP Announce Planned Affiliation
May 22, 2024 | Rochester, NY
Two of New York’s leading not-for-profit health care companies are teaming up to improve the quality, experience, and affordability of care for residents across the state. CDPHP® and The Lifetime Healthcare Companies, the parent company of Excellus...
Corporate
How Local Nonprofits are Addressing Health Disparities
May 14, 2024 | Rochester, NY
The work of six local nonprofit organizations over the past six months to address health disparities has so far reached thousands of individuals in the Finger Lakes Region. These on-going efforts, supported through Health Equity Innovation Award...
Rochester
Skipping Your Meds is Costly, Possibly Deadly
By Mona Chitre, Pharm.D.
May 13, 2024 | Rochester, NY
Medication adherence is the fancy term for taking medications as directed. You might assume that patients always adhere to the instructions they’re given when it comes to their meds, but that’s not the case. According to the CDC, 20% to 30% of...
Corporate
Osteoporosis: Make no bones about it, you may be at risk
April 30, 2024 | Rochester, NY
Ankit Garg, MD Osteoporosis affects every gender, race, and ethnicity. If you are 65 years or older and you broke a bone that wasn’t the result of a fall, car accident, or other obvious trauma, there’s a good chance it was related to...
Corporate
Excellus BCBS recognized by Forbes as one of the nation’s best employers for diversity
April 24, 2024 | Rochester, NY
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has been recognized by Forbes as one of the best employers in the United States for diversity. The health plan was honored among 500 organizations, with 1,000 or more employees, on the list of Forbes Best Employers...
Corporate
Mohawk Valley Prenatal & Maternal Support named recipient of Excellus BCBS Health Equity Innovation Award
$30,000 in funding awarded to support doula program
April 4, 2024 | UTICA, NY
Mohawk Valley Prenatal & Maternal Support (MVPMS) has received a $30,000 Health Equity Innovation Award (HEIA) from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield to support their Sister Circle: Black Birth & Breastfeeding Initiative (SC3BI) program. The awards...
Utica
Excellus BCBS and WellBe Senior Medical Collaborate to Bring In-Home Care to Those in Need
March 20, 2024 | ROCHESTER, NY
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has announced a new multi-year collaboration with WellBe Senior Medical, an independent company that will bring care directly to the homes of some of their most vulnerable Medicare Advantage members. Members who are...
Corporate
Forbes names Excellus BCBS #8 on list of best midsize employers in America
February 13, 2024 | Rochester, NY
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield was ranked #8 on the Forbes 2024 list of America’s Best Midsize Employers. This is the second consecutive year that Excellus BCBS has been named to the list. “We’re thrilled to once again be named a top employer in the...
Corporate
Madison County Rural Health Council named recipient of Excellus BCBS 2023 Health Equity Innovation Award
$30,000 in funding awarded to support doula program
February 12, 2024 | Utica, NY
Madison County Rural Health Council (MCRHC) has received a $30,000 Health Equity Innovation Award (HEIA) to support their doula program. The awards program provides financial support to community programs that address racial and ethnic health...
Utica
Super healthy snacking tips for Sunday’s big game
February 6, 2024 | Rochester, NY
Four quarters of big-game football can be grueling, especially for those watching at a house party with a big-time buffet just an arm’s length away. It’s important to approach kickoff with a solid game plan to assure that you make it to the post-game...
Corporate
Avoid the Silent Killer
February 1, 2024 | Rochester, NY
More than 120 million Americans have high blood pressure according to the CDC and 11 million of them don’t know it. If left untreated, high blood pressure increases the risk for heart disease, stroke, and other cardiovascular diseases. February is...
Corporate
Excellus BCBS honors two CNY medical practices for innovative, high-quality patient care
January 29, 2024 | Syracuse, NY
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield recently honored two Central New York health care providers with its first-ever Circle of Excellence awards, recognizing CNY Family Care, LLP, and Cayuga Health Partners for their high-quality and innovative health care...
Central New York
A dangerous trend: Skipping cervical cancer screening
January 19, 2024 | Rochester, NY
Angel L. Kerney, M.D. A growing number of individuals who are eligible to be screened for cervical cancer are skipping this important test, and that decision could cost them their lives. Each year in the U.S., 11,500 individuals are diagnosed with...
Corporate
Excellus BCBS honors Cayuga Health Partners for innovative, high-quality patient care
January 16, 2024 | Syracuse, NY
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield recently honored Cayuga Health Partners with its first-ever Circle of Excellence Health Equity Award, recognizing the health care organization for its significant impact on the lives of underserved populations through...
Central New York
Overuse of antibiotics has deadly results
January 7, 2024 | Rochester, NY
Antibiotics are powerful tools used to treat patients with life-threatening infections, cancer, organ transplants, severe burns, and trauma, but they are being overprescribed and not being taken as directed, which is causing them to be less...
Corporate
Don’t accept falling as part of aging
January 4, 2024 | Rochester, NY
More than 1 in 4 older adults (28%) in the U.S. report falling each year, according to an Excellus BlueCross BlueShield review of the most recent data available from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). That translates to about 36...
Corporate
Unexpected illness? Be sure to know your options for care
January 2, 2024 | Rochester, NY
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is prepared to assist members with questions about their health benefits and options for care now that WellNow Urgent Care has left their network. The health insurer recommends that members take the following steps before...
Corporate
Excellus BCBS Earns 85 percent in Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2023-24 Corporate Equality Index
November 30, 2023 | Rochester, NY
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has received a score of 85 percent out of 100 on the Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index, the nation’s foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices...
Corporate
Seasonal Depression and the Holiday Blues
November 13, 2023 | Rochester, NY
Some people love the cold weather months. For others, this time of year leaves them feeling sad, depressed or even lonely. Geoffrey Hopkins, MD, senior medical director of behavioral health at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, answers some questions about...
Corporate
Learn your risk for taking a fall
November 10, 2023 | Rochester, NY
A simple test can help identify individuals at risk for a fall. It’s called the Timed Up and Go test, or TUG test, and anyone can do it at home. “Falls are not a normal part of aging and can be prevented,” says Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Medical...
Corporate
The right meds at the best value
November 7, 2023 | Rochester, NY
An Excellus BlueCross BlueShield program is focusing on medication safety while saving millions of dollars in prescription drug costs. The program, Pharmacy Concierge, is available to most midsize and large employers through the health plan. ...
Corporate
More Than 60 Summer 2024 Internship Positions Will Be Available at Excellus BCBS
November 7, 2023 | Rochester, NY
Now through late November, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is posting more than 60 internship opportunities for Summer 2024 for college students at its locations in upstate New York. Summer internship positions currently available include jobs in...
Corporate
Excellus BCBS Awards Hospitals $28 Million for Quality Improvements
October 31, 2023 | Rochester, NY
Thirty-one upstate New York hospitals and health centers earned a combined $28 million in quality improvement payments from Excellus BlueCross BlueShield last year as part of the nonprofit health insurer’s Hospital Performance Incentive Program. Since...
Corporate
Vaccines for COVID-19, Flu, and RSV are available
What to know to be protected this fall and winter
October 20, 2023 | Rochester, NY
This fall, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends all Americans consult with their health care provider about receiving vaccines for COVID-19 and seasonal influenza (flu). In addition, an RSV vaccine may be recommended by...
Corporate
Join the movement - Help grow the blood stem cell donor registry
Seventy percent of African Americans who need a blood or bone marrow donor won’t find a match
October 17, 2023 | Rochester, NY
Each year in the U.S., more than 18,000 people are diagnosed with life-threatening blood cancers or other blood disorders that could be cured or treated with a blood stem cell transplant, according to Be The Match/the National Marrow Donor Program. For...
Corporate
Excellus BCBS names Kim McKinsey-Mabry, EdD, as Rochester region Community Investments and Partnerships Manager
October 9, 2023 | Rochester, NY
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield recently named Kim McKinsey-Mabry, EdD, as community investments and partnerships manager for the company's Rochester region. Her responsibilities in this role include overseeing strategic investments with the goal of...
Rochester
Excellus BCBS appoints Simone E. Edwards, DrPH, MPH as VP Health Equity and Community Investments
October 2, 2023 | Rochester, NY
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield announces the appointment of Simone E. Edwards, DrPH, MPH as vice president health equity and community investments, reinforcing the health plan’s unwavering commitment to a more equitable and inclusive health care...
Corporate
Excellus BCBS Medicaid HMO among the nation’s best-rated
September 21, 2023 | Rochester, NY
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is one of just 13 health plans nationwide to earn 4.5 stars (out of a possible five) and accreditation for its Medicaid HMO from the National Committee for Quality Assurance. NCQA is a private, nonprofit organization...
Corporate
Excellus BCBS members have new options to a top-selling drug
September 6, 2023 | Rochester, NY
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield members living with autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, Crohn’s disease, and plaque psoriasis, and who use HUMIRA® to address pain and inflammation, now have additional treatment options covered by the...
Corporate
Nonprofits Can Now Apply for Excellus BCBS Health Equity Innovation Award Funding
August 14, 2023 | Corporate
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield is once again inviting nonprofit organizations to apply for 2023 Health Equity Innovation Award (HEIA) funding. The awards help fund health and wellness programs that address racial and ethnic health disparities in upstate...
Corporate
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield’s Vice-President of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Receives Leadership Award
July 13, 2023 | Rochester, NY
Sady Alvarado-Fischer, Vice-President of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, has been selected as a “Healthcare Diversity Leader” by the National Diversity Council. Sady will be formally recognized for her leadership...
Corporate
Addressing uncomfortable topics with your health care provider
June 6, 2023 | Rochester, NY
Health insurers regularly conduct surveys of their Medicare members to learn about their relationship with their health care providers and the conversations they have (or don’t have) about topics that aren’t always easy to discuss. Problems with memory,...
Corporate
Addressing uncomfortable topics with your health care provider
June 1, 2023 | Rochester, NY
Health insurers regularly conduct surveys of their Medicare members to learn about their relationship with their health care providers and the conversations they have (or don’t have) about topics that aren’t always easy to discuss. Problems with memory,...
Corporate
Happy Spring: Now get outside and do your brain and body good
April 13, 2023 | Rochester, NY
Amanda Shanahan We made it: Spring is here! I welcome this change of seasons with open arms. There’s just something about spring: Seeing green return to the landscape and watching new life unfold always makes me feel rejuvenated. Even the...
Corporate
A Simple Act Can Save a Life Register to be an organ donor
March 31, 2023 | Rochester, NY
Approximately 10,000 New York state residents are waiting for transplants of organ, eye, and tissue donations that could save their life or make their quality of life better, according to a review of state data by Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. The...
Corporate
Forbes names Excellus BlueCross BlueShield as second-best midsize employer in America
February 15, 2023 | Rochester, NY
Rochester, NY – Excellus BlueCross BlueShield was ranked #2 on the Forbes 2023 list of America’s Best Midsize Employers. “We’re a top employer in America thanks to our employees, who take great pride in our culture of passionately serving our customers...
Corporate
Q&A on Medicare Basics with Ryan Dolan, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield Medicare Consultant Manager
November 21, 2022 | Rochester, NY
Are you newly Medicare eligible (turning 65), planning to retire soon, or have had Medicare for years and wonder if you’re in the right plan? Regardless, Medicare can be confusing. Ryan Dolan, Medicare Consultant Manager at Excellus BlueCross...
Corporate
Excellus BCBS recognized by Forbes as one of New York state’s best employers
October 4, 2022 | Elmira, NY
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield has been recognized by Forbes as one of the best employers in New York state. In New York state, Excellus BCBS was ranked 19th overall. The Health Plan also finished as the highest ranked insurance company in the state. ...
CNY Southern Tier
Uncomfortable topics: Promoting open dialogue between patient and provider
July 1, 2022 | Rochester, NY
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield regularly conducts health outcome surveys of a random sampling of its Medicare members to learn about their relationship with their health care providers and the conversations they have (or don’t have) about topics...
Corporate
Excellus BCBS appoints Lori Florack, Senior VP, Human Capital Management
January 10, 2022 | Syracuse, NY
Lori Florack has been appointed senior vice president of Human Capital Management at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. Florack most recently served as president of Lifetime Benefit Solutions (LBS), a subsidiary of the Rochester–based Lifetime...
Corporate
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