Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, a health insurance company, has entered into a partnership with Google Health that will expand options for members who want to create their own personal health record.
Once integration with the Google Health platform is complete, the partnership will allow Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) members to manage all their health information in one place, and share it with health care providers who currently don’t have access to their data.
Google Health, a new product that launched in mid-May of 2008, allows patients to store and organize their medical records online. Integration with the Google Health product is expected to be complete in the fall of 2008. Google Health, a free service, will be offered to BCBSMA members at that time.
To ensure confidentiality and patient choice, members will have to elect to start a Google Health Account and authorize the import and sharing of their BCBSMA claims data with Google Health. At any time, a BCBSMA member will be able to discontinue or delete their Google Health profile.
Cleve Killingsworth, chairman and CEO of BCBSMA, said: We believe Google Health will be an important tool used by our members to improve the safety and effectiveness of their health care.