Kaiser Permanente of Georgia Receives High Marks in 2011 J.D. Power and Associates Study

ATLANTA, March 22, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- For the second consecutive year, Kaiser Permanente of Georgia members rated the organization's health plan highest in member satisfaction in the South Atlantic Region, according to the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 U.S. Member Health Insurance Plan Study(SM). The South Atlantic Region comprises North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.

Earning a total of 747 points on a 1,000 point scale, Kaiser Permanente of Georgia scored 47 points above the South Atlantic Region's average. Kaiser Permanente ranked highest in the Coverage and Benefits, Information and Communication, Statements, and Customer Service factors.

"We are very pleased that our focus on providing coordinated, high quality health care delivered with exceptional customer service continues to be recognized by our members," said Peter Andruszkiewicz, president of Kaiser Permanente of Georgia. "It is particularly meaningful to us that the J.D. Power rankings are a measure of member satisfaction relative to all other health plans and insurers."

"Kaiser Permanente's integrated model puts our members at the center of all that we do," said Rob Schreiner, MD, executive medical director of Kaiser Permanente of Georgia. "It enables us to better coordinate care to maintain their health and also care for them when they are ill."

Kaiser Permanente's health plan services are complemented by health care delivery in-person, online and by phone. With easy-to-use, Web-based tools, all members have access to useful information, medical records and tools to communicate with their providers. My Health Manager on kp.org gives registered members the ability to perform important tasks online such as scheduling appointments and ordering prescription refills. Users also have 24/7 online access to lab test results, eligibility and benefits information, and even their children's immunization records. In addition, all Kaiser Permanente physicians routinely use an electronic health record when caring for their patients in medical offices and hospitals.

Now in its fifth year, the J.D. Power and Associates 2011 National Health Insurance Plan Study(SM) measures member satisfaction among 137 health plans in 17 regions throughout the United States by examining seven key factors that each represent a distinct part of the member experience and together encompass the relationship between the health plan and its member: coverage and benefits; provider choice; information and communication; claims processing; statements; customer service; and approval processes.

About J.D. Power and Associates

Headquartered in Westlake Village, Calif., J.D. Power and Associates is a global marketing information services company operating in key business sectors including market research, forecasting, performance improvement, training and customer satisfaction. The company's quality and satisfaction measurements are based on responses from millions of consumers annually. For more information on cell phone ratings, car reviews and ratings, car insurance, health insurance and more, please visit JDPower.com. J.D. Power and Associates is a business unit of the McGraw-Hill Companies.

About Kaiser Permanente of Georgia

Kaiser Permanente is Georgia's largest not-for-profit health plan. Its mission is to provide high quality, affordable health care services to improve the health of its members and the communities it serves. Kaiser Permanente serves more than 240,000 members in a 28-county service area in metro-Atlanta with care focused on their total health and guided by their personal physicians, specialists, and team of heath care providers. Expert and caring medical teams are supported by industry-leading technology and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the art delivery, and world-class chronic disease management. Nationally, Kaiser Permanente is recognized as one of America's leading health care providers, serving more than 8.6 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. For more information, visit www.kp.org.

SOURCE Kaiser Permanente