Stellarus and Blues Plans Collaborate on Health Technology Platform

Stellarus, a company created in January as part of Blue Shield of California’s new corporate structure, has entered into a collaboration with the Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas. The two health plans have joined Blue Shield of California as co-founders of Stellarus and are among the first to use its artificial-intelligence-powered platform.

As co-founders, HMSA and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas will hold governance roles, including participation on Stellarus’ board and involvement in determining which capabilities are developed. Executives said the plans intend to use Stellarus’ technology to improve the member experience, automate processes such as prior authorization, and apply AI-based tools to increase efficiency.

Stellarus was launched following Blue Shield of California’s decision to create Ascendiun, a nonprofit parent organization overseeing Blue Shield, Stellarus, and Altais, a clinical services company. Stellarus was established to scale healthcare solutions and began with programs previously developed at Blue Shield, such as the Pharmacy Care Reimagined model, which shifted from a traditional pharmacy benefit management approach to one involving multiple companies.

Vanessa Colella, president and CEO of Stellarus, said the company provides technology infrastructure for nonprofit, community, and regional health plans. She explained that the company’s model is designed to allow organizations to automate operations and make use of AI to support service delivery. “Having spent a lot of time in technology, it’s very easy to fall behind on the technology curve, especially for companies that don’t have giant pocketbooks and giant margins,” Colella said.

Colella noted that building modern technology independently can be costly, and Stellarus’ approach enables multiple plans to use a shared platform. She referenced existing capabilities such as the Experience Cube, a data hub built with Microsoft that combines 60 datasets, and a digital health record that provides longitudinal health data for members.

She also pointed out that nonprofit and regional plans may face challenges integrating advanced technology because of legacy systems and high implementation costs. Colella said Stellarus’ platform is intended to address integration by making advanced tools more accessible to such plans.

The company’s platform can be applied to functions such as call center automation, real-time prior authorization, and personalization of member engagement. Executives said these tools can also help close care gaps and improve the use of longitudinal health data.

For more than 80 years, HMSA, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, and Blue Shield of California have operated as nonprofit health plans in their respective markets. Leaders of HMSA and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas outlined their reasons for joining Stellarus.

Mark Mugiishi, M.D., president and CEO of HMSA, stated, “The people of Hawaii deserve world-class care.” He added that HMSA sees value in investing in Stellarus with other nonprofit health plans to strengthen innovation while maintaining local independence.

Matt All, president and CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Kansas, said the initiative allows nonprofit plans to work together on developing a connected system. He added that the collaboration enables participation in innovation nationally while retaining a focus on local communities.

The creation of Stellarus also highlights how regional and nonprofit health plans are joining forces to compete with larger players in the healthcare market. By pooling resources and building a unified technology platform, Stellarus and its partners aim to level the playing field while retaining a community-based approach.

Experts note that Stellarus represents a rare collaboration across multiple Blues plans, focused not only on cost savings but also on reimagining patient experience with digital-first tools. If the model succeeds, it could serve as a blueprint for other nonprofit health plans across the country that face similar challenges with modernization and technology adoption.

Looking ahead, Stellarus is expected to expand its capabilities beyond prior authorization and automation, potentially incorporating predictive analytics, digital member engagement strategies, and advanced population health tools. Such developments could help nonprofit health plans compete effectively while maintaining their focus on affordable, high-quality care.