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Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts Recognizes Mayflower Municipal Health Group for Improving the Health of their Workforce and Lowering Health Care Costs

BOSTON — March 11, 2014 Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA), the trusted health plan of municipal and governmental  organizations for more than 75 years, announced today that the Mayflower Municipal Health Group is one of the winners of its sixth annual Municipal Blue Innovation Awards. The award will be presented, along with a $5,000 wellness grant, in Halifax on March 12 at 9:30 a.m.

“Worksite wellness is one of the most effective ways to improve employee health, while also helping to reduce health care costs. This is why we continuously partner with municipal groups such as Mayflower to develop and support strategies that engage employees and achieve positive health outcomes,” said Larry Croes, BCBSMA’s Vice President of Commercial & Municipal Markets. “Mayflower offers a role-model worksite wellness program. We are honored to partner with such an engaged leader.”

The Municipal Blue Innovation Awards highlight the new and inventive cost containment measures, collaborative and customized worksite wellness programs, and innovative health plan designs utilized by municipalities throughout the state.

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Mayflower’s wellness program has evolved into a very successful model, and includes such initiatives as:

  • Onsite fitness classes
  • An employee vegetable garden
  • Nutrition newsletter subscriptions
  • A colonoscopy incentive program
  • Affiliations with the YMCA, Live Life Believe Fitness and others

“Blue Cross is a great partner because they understand that controlling health care costs begins by helping employees make the connection between their lifestyle and long-term health. The wellness tools they offer to municipal organizations such as ours are unequalled in the marketplace,” said Michael Levy, Mayflower Chairman. “We are honored to accept this award, which will continue to fund our outstanding health initiatives throughout southeastern Massachusetts.”

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“I’d like to congratulate the Mayflower Municipal Group on receiving this award from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts, and thank them for the all the support they provide businesses in the South Shore,” said Senate President Therese Murray (D-Plymouth). “In continuing the success of our health care system in Massachusetts, as well as moving forward with reform, our focus must be on encouraging residents to recognize and adopt healthier lifestyles, especially in the workplace.”

BCBSMA has been serving Massachusetts cities, towns and regional school districts and their families for over 75 years, and 79 percent of MA municipal entities are BCBSMA customers.  Blue Cross is committed to partnering with Municipalities to reduce health care costs while improving the health of their employees. To learn more about BCBSMA’s Municipal Blue health plans and wellness options call: 617-246-7500.

About Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (www.bluecrossma.com) is a community-focused, tax-paying, not-for-profit health plan headquartered in Boston. We are the trusted health plan for more than 31,500 Massachusetts employers and are committed to working with others in a spirit of shared responsibility to make quality health care affordable. Consistent with our corporate promise to always put our 2.8 million members first, we are rated among the nation’s best health plans for member satisfaction and quality.  Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, YouTube and Google+.

About Mayflower Municipal Health Group

Mayflower Municipal Health Group is a health care Joint Purchasing Arrangement comprised of Brockton Area Transit, Carver Marion Regional Refuse Disposal District, North River Collaborative, Onset Fire District, Silver Lake Regional, South Shore Vocational, South Shore Regional Emergency Communication Center, South Shore Tri-Town Development Corp., Wareham Fire District, Whitman-Hanson Regional, South Shore Educational Collaborative, Plymouth County, Bristol County, Norfolk County, Plymouth County Retirement Association, Southeastern Regional Transit Authority, Water Works Abington/Rockland and the Towns of Abington, Bridgewater, Halifax, Hanover, Hanson, Hingham, Hull, Kingston, Marshfield, Norwell, Pembroke, Scituate, Plympton, Rochester, Whitman, West Bridgewater and Rockland.

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