Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

the great lake state you're connected to michigan's most engaging and influential radio and television program michigan's big show starring michael patrick shields presented by blue cross blue shield of michigan and blue care network

i'm producer and creative director tony cuthbert

now in the shadow of the capitol dome in lansing he's heard from the beaches of lake michigan to the halls of power and behind closed doors here's michigan's michael patrick shields

Um, I think, you know, when we were preparing this guidance, we did, you mentioned, I'm the lead for this statewide sepsis quality improvement initiative in the state of Michigan called Hospital Medicine Safety Sepsis Initiative.

It's funded by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

We have 69 hospitals that participate.

So these are a hugely diverse set of hospitals that range from large medical centers in the Detroit, southeastern Michigan area up to very smaller hospitals in our very rural upper peninsula of Michigan.

Today's lesson is two words: swing easy.

[golf club hits] When I became the CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Dick Witmer, my predecessor, served as the CEO for almost 19 years, left me a note on my desk, which was his desk, and it had one line in it, and it said, "Swing easy." He was a big golfer, and I play golf, and I knew exactly what he meant.

Michael Patrick, welcome to the podcast today.

Well, thank you very much.

But I said it mo-- I said it more than Tiger though, Michael Patrick.

[laughs] Well, let's tap that one in for today then and head to the 19th hole and find out who's coming in your one-on-one chat today.

My guest today is Tricia Keith, the president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Tricia and I go back a long way.

So you go there for yourself.

and get the answers to these questions, and they are published by Andy Hetzel, the Vice President of Corporate Communications at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, who is on our radio stage, our AT&T line right now, with much more serious topics as well.

Thank you.

Well, good morning to you and your listeners.

Well, they don't just affect how somebody feels emotionally.

You're exactly right about that.

And at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, we like to look at the health of our members from a whole person perspective.

And that means body and mind together because there is a very important relationship.

For example, in our system.

So we're in a struggle with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, which is the dominant commercial insurer in the state of Michigan.

This contract dispute.

And so much of...

great lake state you're connected to michigan's most engaging and influential radio and television program michigan's big show starring michael patrick shields presented by blue cross blue shield of michigan and blue care network

i'm producer and creative director tony cuthbert

now in the shadow of the capitol dome in lansing he's heard from the beaches of lake michigan to the halls of power and behind closed doors here's michigan's michael patrick shields

That's all.

That's delicious.

Andy Hetzel is essentially the publisher of ahealthiermichigan.org at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

He's the vice president of corporate communications, and he's on our radio stage, our AT&T line, right this very moment.

Thank you for being here, and welcome back to the program.

No doubt about it.

Meanwhile, a change to how Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan pays for care.

What do people who have BCBSM need to know?

Yeah, it's a little bit of a money fight between Blue Cross Blue Shield and physician practices, private doctor practices.