Improving asthma care in the outpatient setting.

Asthma is a chronic and costly disease that affects 5% of the U.S. population and accounts for more than 450,000 primary admissions each year. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Massachusetts attempted to identify patients with asthma and develop a comprehensive asthma management program in the outpatient setting. The program has focused on one-to-one nursing education, increased utilization of anti-inflammatory inhalers, and actively engaging patients in a customized asthma care program.