News Releases

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

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

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

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

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

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

Excellus BCBS 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

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 (OCECA) ...

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