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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina, BioSignia Launch Joint

Project to Develop Predictive Modeling Program

BODY:

Pilot Program Aims to Assist Members With Chronic

Health Conditions

RESEARCH TRIANGLE PARK, N.C., Aug. 16

/PRNewswire/ -- Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC)

and BioSignia, a Durham, NC-based healthcare informatics company, have

signed a joint agreement to develop a pilot program based on the use of

a unique predictive modeling technology.

The technology holds the promise of helping

BCBSNC provide greater assistance to members with chronic health

conditions and others who can benefit from the company's free care

management programs. The programs include education and outreach for

customers with diabetes, asthma or who are pregnant. The company also

offers specialty services for members with 14 chronic, progressive

conditions such as cystic fibrosis, sickle cell anemia and multiple

sclerosis

BioSignia plans to use its proprietary

assessment technology (Health CAT) to identify candidates for BCBSNC's

health support programs. BioSignia's Health CAT technology includes two

assessment algorithms. One is a prediction of future medical claims

using regression and trend analysis, and the other is an assessment of

preventability using a decision-making algorithm. The combination of the

two algorithms makes the Health CAT unique from other assessment

technologies.

The results of the pilot study will help to

determine the effectiveness of using BioSignia's Health CAT technology

to identify appropriate candidates for BCBSNC's health support programs.

" We have been quite impressed with BioSignia's

ability to incorporate data and information into insights that we think

can lead to greater benefits to our members, " said Blackwelder,

PhD, Manager of Quality Improvement Research and Biostatistical Support

of BCBSNC. He said BioSignia's model performed well when compared

statistically to other technologies the insurance company has examined.

" This is a brand new technology that we have

developed. " Said Tim , Ph.D, president and CEO of BioSignia.

" BioSignia's solution has been shown to produce advantages over some of

the existing technologies. We are very proud of that. But the best part

of this relationship is that we will have an opportunity to work closely

with BCBSNC to refine the technology for meaningful applications to

enhance the quality of care members receive as well as impacting health

care costs. "

BioSignia, Inc. is a life sciences research

organization that specializes in understanding the epidemiology of

slowly developing multifactor diseases. The company develops

cutting-edge predictive technologies for determining risk for morbidity

and/or mortality and embeds these technologies in comprehensive systems

that augment decisions related to patient care, drug development and

marketing, and actuarial sciences. More information on these

technologies can be found at http://www.biosignia.com. Through its

business groups, BioSignia focuses on the unique needs of each sector.

Becki

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