Louisiana Department of Health and Hospitals Secretary Alan Levine has appointed Sabrina Heltz, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana’s senior vice president, healthcare system quality, to chair a panel that will advise his department on the implementation of healthcare cost and quality transparency initiatives.
Levine appointed 26 Health Data Panel members representing consumer, technology, academic, and healthcare organizations. Appointing the panelists is the first step toward implementing the provisions of the Consumer’s Right to Know Act of 2008, which will give Louisiana healthcare consumers expanded, web-based access to re
liable information on the cost, quality and performance of their healthcare providers and health plans.
The Consumer’s Right to Know Act was the result of legislation sponsored by DHH and supported by the Louisiana Association of Health Plans (LAHP), the trade association representing Louisiana health insurers. Its passage was the culmination of a three-year effort by LAHP to provide more quality and cost information to healthcare consumers – an effort supported by BCBSLA as well as the national Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.
Heltz was given her current title in July 2008 along with responsibility for the Network Administration Department and all medical economics functions of the company, including provider reimbursement and medical and pharmacy management programs. Heltz’ previous title was senior vice president of medical economics. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, La., and she is an Associate in the Society of Actuaries and a Member of the American Academy of Actuaries.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana is Louisiana-owned and -operated. Marking its 75th anniversary in 2009, the company is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. It is a tax-paying mutual company, owned by its policyholders. Headquartered in Baton Rouge, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Louisiana also has district offices in Alexandria, Houma, Lafayette, Lake Charles, Monroe, New Orleans and Shreveport. The company’s subsidiaries include HMO Louisiana, Inc. and Southern National Life Insurance Company, Inc.
