One more reason to think about a PHR, personal health record. Earlier today it was announced that United Healthcare was offering their own PHR, but this set up makes more sense to me, import your information from Blue Cross in to your Google Health Record, in other words you are still in control and it is a one way street. Also, with all the organization and vendors already set up with Google Health, I’m not quite sure why United felt it was necessary to reinvent the wheel as far as the medical information included for research, etc. and of course setting up vendors where Google Health is way ahead of this game is yet another project that would have to be undertaken as well. 
Now you have the option of sharing let’s say a document or record with Blue Cross in case of a claim dispute, or something along that line but it is still the option of the patient, one thing we do not want to lose track of, patient option. Aetna has recently announced a similar situation with Microsoft HealthVault.
BOSTON—December 1, 2008—Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts (BCBSMA) announced today that its members can now import their BCBSMA health history into their own Google Health" Personal Health Record (PHR). BCBSMA is the first health insurance company to integrate on the Google Health platform allowing BCBSMA members to import their personal health information into their Google Health Account.
Google Health, a new product that launched in mid-May of this year, allows people to store and organize their medical records online, safely and securely. The product is available at no charge, and only requires a username and password to get started.
http://www.bluecrossma.com/common/en_US/press release
Related Reading: (from prior posts and there are a lot here to read up on and see who’s integrating and promoting their use too)
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