Blue & You - Winter 2009

Winter 09
• See what’s replacing the Explanation of Benefits, Page 4
• Keep your young adults covered, Page 6
• Develop a relationship with your doctor, Page 18
Ruben Rodriguez of Greene
County, Ark., is back to
helping others after heart
surgery. See his story on
Page 10.
A publication for the policyholders of the Arkansas
Blue Cross and Blue Shield family of companies

Jason Green and Tona Schmidt
discuss the Fit4Life program
at the Baldor Electric Company
headquarters in Fort Smith.
on Page 30
14 A SilverSneakers
competition winner
23 Medicare benefits for 2010
24 Online Health Tools
INSIDE
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Out of the Blue
Personal Health Statement keeps members
“up to date”
Keeping your young adult covered
Are you taking prescription antacids?
Healthy lifestyle may reduce Alzheimer’s risk
Let the sunshine in — for your health
Treating gestational diabetes reduces health risks
Heart attacks on the rise in women
Healing a giving heart
SilverSneakers competition winner logs
more than 1,000 miles
Behavioral health services now available
Lose weight The Healthy Weigh!
Babies born to obese women at greater risk
Mammogram wellness benefits continue
Costs Matter: Developing a relationship with
your doctor
Senior Moments with Dr. David
From the Pharmacist —
Paying for your medications
Happy New Year to our Medi-Pak and
Medi-Pak Advantage members
Online Health Tools
Blue & You Fitness Challenge registration under way
The Doctor’s Corner
Good for Your Community
What is a hospitalist?
Baldor — Building a lean machine
Customer Service telephone numbers
Good for you
Winter 09
is published four times a year by
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield for
the company’s members, health-care
professionals and other persons
interested in health care and wellness.
Editor: Kelly Whitehorn — BNYou-Ed@arkbluecross.com
Designer: Gio Bruno Photographer: Chip Bayer
Contributors: Chip Bayer, Matthew Creasman, Damona Fisher, Kristy Fleming,
Jennifer Gordon, Trey Hankins, Heather Iacobacci-Miller, Ryan Kravitz, Kathy
Luzietti and Mark Morehead
Vice President, Communications and Product Development: Karen Raley

Out of the
Blue
A message from our
CEO and President,
Mark White
Employees who care
The beginning of a new year is a time in which many
of us pause to reflect on the blessings we’ve enjoyed
during the past year. As I stop to consider the things I
am most grateful for, the men and women who work
at Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield are always near
the top of the list. I am grateful for their concern for
you, our valued customers. I am grateful for the energy
and dedication with which they approach their jobs here
at Arkansas Blue Cross. But above all, I am grateful for
the kinds of citizens they are; the kind of compassionate,
engaged and accountable people that every community
can use.
With so many comments in the media today vilifying
those of us who work in the insurance industry, I
hope you will allow me a moment to tell you about the
people that walk the halls of this insurance company
every day. Although we have a few employees out of
state, our employees are largely Arkansans. Many are
your friends, your neighbors, your children’s coaches
and your Sunday school teachers. Because they count
themselves fortunate to have good jobs during these
difficult times, they always are mindful of those whose
paths have been more challenging.
And they walk the talk. Collectively, they contribute
thousands of volunteer hours to communities all across
the state. And they open their pocketbooks to help the
causes they believe in as well. In fact, just the contributions
our employees made to nonprofit organizations
through Arkansas Blue Cross totaled more than
$100,000 in 2009. That doesn’t count what they did on
their own.
Because of their generosity, tornado victims got a
helping hand. Cures for diabetes and sickle cell anemia
and cystic fibrosis are a little closer to reality. They
donated to hospice organizations and humane societies
and helped children with disabilities. Our employees
provided money to feed the hungry and shelter the
homeless. They were there for the victims of fires and
accidents and poverty. They are people of value contributing
to organizations of value. And I am grateful for
them every day.
At Arkansas Blue Cross, we know that being a good
corporate citizen begins with employing productive
and responsible citizens. I’m proud to work with such
a community-minded group of men and women. And
you’ll be glad to know they bring that same spirit of service
to the workplace as they serve you, our members,
every day.
3
Blue & You Winter 2009

4
A new view of your claims
Personal Health Statement keeps members “up to date”
At Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, we want
the conversations we have with our members to be
helpful, clear and complete, whether we’re talking by
telephone, on our Web sites or in writing.
One of our most frequent member communications
— the Explanation of Benefits (EOB) — is getting a new
look and content, and, a new name.
The EOB is the health-care benefit statement generated
every time your doctor or hospital files a claim. The
EOB notifies you that we received a claim and how we
handled that claim. Beginning in March, many Arkansas
Blue Cross members will begin receiving a Personal
Health Statement (PHS) in place of their EOB.
The PHS is more comprehensive than the EOB and
designed to make claims processing easier to understand.
The PHS also gives more information about
health benefits.
“Health insurance is a complex industry with lots of
moving parts and a language all its own,” said Karen
Raley, vice president of Communications and Product
Development. “We want to simplify industry terms into
everyday language, clearly explain claims, and help our
members know exactly where they are with their outof-pocket
costs (deductibles,
copayments, coinsurance
and more).”
The new PHS is the result
of feedback from member
focus groups. “First and
foremost, members told us
they want to know ‘what do I
owe?’” Raley said. “So we’ve
put this information in red
on the first page. We’ve also
added a ‘Benefits at a Glance’ section, so members are
reminded of their health benefits. Charts and graphs,
hopefully, will make the information displayed easier to
understand.”
Members also asked for:
• A better description of the discounts they receive
on their health-care services.
• Information on how to get in touch with us.
• A quick understanding of how much they owe and
to whom.
• Help in understanding the benefits they have and
how they work.
A Benefit Summary section shows members their
personal health benefits and tracks where they are in
meeting deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums.
Pharmacy information has been added, including
generic medication recommendations. Another new
feature on the PHS will be personal health messages
and reminders to get health screenings.
Members still have the option to confidentially view
their PHS electronically. To sign up for a notification
e-mail, members can go online and sign up through the
My Blueprint member self-service center. Then, when a
Blue & You Winter 2009

new PHS is generated, you will receive an e-mail.
The new PHS will be issued two times a month
instead of every time a claim is filed. If a member only
has pharmacy claims during a month, the PHS will be
issued quarterly.
The PHS was piloted with three groups in Arkansas
to get member reaction to the new format and content.
“We love the new statements!” said Sharon
Burdine, vice president and assistant director of Human
Resources with Simmons First.
“We think the “Our associates are finding
new PHS will the new Personal Health
Statement is easy to understand.
The statement
be a valuable tool for
helping us to become shows several things
better consumers that were not available
of health care.” — before, such as prescriptions.
The information
shown is more
Barb Gordon,
Northwest Arkansas descriptive of what our
Community benefits are, of services
received, what the health
College
plan pays for and what the
member’s portion is going to be. We’re seeing how the
PHS also can serve as a backup for a flexible spending
account (cafeteria plan) — all services are listed in case
you lose a receipt or forget to include an expense to
be filed.”
“We think the new PHS will be a valuable tool for
helping us become better consumers of health care,”
said Barb Gordon, benefits specialist with Northwest
Arkansas Community College in Fayetteville. “The PHS
gives employees a great snapshot of where they are at
a given time and is backed up with all the details they
need to be informed about their benefits. For employees
who have spouses with other insurance coverage,
the PHS is a great tool for coordination of benefits
— it’s easy to see what has been paid to whom and
what is owed. The discounts on health-care
services are easier to see, and, wow,
what a difference in cost! I don’t think
many employees realized the true cost
of prescription drugs until the new format.
Once you become familiar with the
new format, it is more understandable
overall.”
Ann Freeman, vice president
of Benefits with First
National Bank and Trust of
Mountain Home, said,
“Our employees are
finding the new Personal
Health Statement
easier to read. The
language is better
and doesn’t sound
so ‘insurance-y’
and the charts
provide a good
picture of where
the employees
are with their
deductibles and
out-of-pocket
maximums.”
The new PHS will be available
to many Arkansas Blue
Cross members beginning in the
spring of 2010 and later in the
year for Health Advantage. “We
love to hear from our members,” said
Raley. “Feedback always is welcome
on how the PHS can be improved.”
5
Blue & You Winter 2009

Keeping your young adult
covered
(one less thing to worry about!)
6
Parents with young adults know
they can’t protect them at every
turn, but now they can have peace
of mind about their health-care
coverage. Arkansas Blue Cross and
Blue Shield and Health Advantage
are changing the dependent coverage
requirements under our fully
insured group health plans to help
more families continue covering their
young adults.
Beginning Jan. 1, 2010, Arkansas
Blue Cross and Health Advantage
will no longer require dependents 19
and older to be in an accredited college
or university in order to remain
a dependent under their parents’
group health plan. Dependents who
are unmarried, whose parents provide
the majority of their financial
support and whose parents’ home
is their primary residence can remain
on their health-care plan until
they reach the maximum dependent
age on the policy. The maximum
dependent age varies based on the
plan selected by the employer. This
change also applies to groups that
have Arkansas Blue Cross dental
coverage plans.
Arkansas Blue Cross and Health
Advantage will no longer request
verification of a dependent’s status
as a student and will no longer
cancel coverage for those who do
not meet the previous student status
requirements. Dependents under
the maximum dependent age who
currently are not covered, (due to
attending non-accredited education
facilities, etc.) and who meet the
criteria, now can be added to their
parents’ coverage.
If you wish to have a dependent
covered, you may complete an
employee application asking that the
dependent be enrolled. Dependents
not currently covered will not be
subject to late enrollment rules, nor
deferred to open enrollment, as long
as the application is submitted by
Feb. 28, 2010. Groups may submit
applications anytime between now
and February 28. The first effective
date will be Jan. 1, 2010. Applications
received in January will get
February 1 effective dates, and
those received in February will have
March 1 effective dates.
Dependents do not have to apply
upon reaching the age of 19; as long
as they remain dependents, coverage
will continue until they reach
the maximum dependent age. If you
have questions, please don’t hesitate
to contact us using the Customer
Service number on your member
ID card.
Blue & You Winter 2009

Are you
taking
prescription
antacids?
If you take the Proton Pump Inhibitors
(PPI) Prevacid, Prilosec
or Nexium, you should be aware
that some upcoming changes in the
PPI class of medications might save
you money.
PPIs are medications, often called
antacids, that are taken for conditions
such as heartburn or acid
reflux. In the past, the Arkansas
Blue Cross and Blue Shield standard
formulary (drug list) has covered
Prevacid and Nexium on its highest
cost level. However, there have
been three significant changes in
the PPI class of medications, and
because of these changes, we
are changing our drug list. The
changes are:
1. In November, Prevacid became
available for purchase over the
counter (OTC).
2. Prescription-strength Omeprazole,
a generic version of
Prilosec, previously was not
priced as a generic medication
but now is priced as a generic.
OTC versions (lower strength) of
these medications are available.
3. A new PPI — Kapidex — has
proven to be effective anytime,
even if taken during or following
meals. All other PPIs have to be
taken one hour ahead of meals.
Whenever there are multiple
changes in a class of medications,
Arkansas Blue Cross reviews its
drug list to ensure members are
receiving the best therapy and value
for their prescription drugs. The following
changes have occurred:
Prevacid was removed from the
formulary when available OTC.
Kapidex now is available on our
highest cost level of the drug plan.
Omeprazole, the generic for
Prilosec, now is available on the
lowest cost level of the drug plan for
those members requiring prescription
strength.
Nexium has been removed from
the drug plan altogether as it lacks
the advantages of – and is priced
30 percent higher (retail) – than
Kapidex.
Arkansas Blue Cross takes the
importance of making safe, affordable
prescription medications available
to our members seriously. Our
staff pharmacists seek advice from
a Pharmacy and Therapeutics (P&T)
Committee comprised of independent
physicians and pharmacists
(who practice in both retail and
hospital environments) throughout
Arkansas to ensure our formularies
are complete and current. For a drug
to be included in our formulary, the
P&T Committee members consider
(in order of importance) safety and
efficacy, then uniqueness, then
cost. After additional review, our
P&T Committee reaffirmed that
there is no clinical difference between
any of the PPIs.
7
Blue & You Winter 2009

Healthy lifestyle may
reduce Alzheimer’s risk
Based on data from two separate studies, research concludes that
people who follow diets resembling a Mediterranean diet, which is rich in
fruits, vegetables, legumes and healthy fats, and who remain physically
active had a 61-67 percent lower risk of Alzheimer’s disease. The research
does conclude that one of these behaviors may not be enough, and it may
be best to focus on both eating well and staying active.
8
Sources: WebMD and Medline Plus
Let the sunshine in —
for your health!
More and more research is pointing to vitamin D deficiency
as the culprit for a number of conditions, and the deficiency in premenopausal women may increase the
The American Heart Association found that vitamin D
quickest way to improve your levels is to step outside! risk of developing high blood pressure later in life. The
The body produces vitamin D in response to sunlight. study showed that women who had vitamin D deficiency
in 1993 had three times the risk of developing high
It also occurs naturally in some foods (oily fish, egg
yolks and beef liver) and in fortified dairy and grain products.
Vitamin D is essential for strong bones because it Taking vitamin D also may reduce falls in older
blood pressure 15 years later.
helps the body use calcium. Extreme vitamin D deficiency
causes rickets, an illness resulting in soft bones people older than 65 who took vitamin D supplements
people by improving muscle strength. In clinical trials,
and skeletal deformities. But subtle vitamin D deficiency
is harder to trace and may affect more people, about a fifth within two to five months of starting treat-
between 700 and 1000 IU per day reduced falls by
across all ages, than once realized.
ment.
A recent Harvard Medical School study found that Low vitamin D blood levels also have been associated
with the following:
6.3 million children in the United States — almost one
in five — have less than the recommended amount of • Increased risk of death from cardiovascular disease
vitamin D in their systems. The amount of deficiency • Cognitive impairment in older adults
was even higher in black and Hispanic children.
• Severe asthma in children
A study by Johns Hopkins School of Public Health • Cancer
found that teens with low vitamin D levels were more • Diabetes
likely to have high blood pressure and high blood sugar • Glucose intolerance
and were at greater risk for diabetes and heart disease. • Multiple sclerosis
Blue & You Winter 2009

Treating even mild gestational
diabetes reduces health risks
According to a National Institutes of Health network study, treating even mild gestational
diabetes appears to have advantages for both infant and mother. It was found that
women who received treatment were:
• Half as likely to have a large baby at risk for health problems later in life.
• Half as likely to deliver a baby with shoulder dystocia, an emergency condition in
which the baby’s shoulder becomes stuck during delivery.
• Less likely to deliver by Cesarean.
• Less likely to develop high blood pressure.
Source: National Institutes of Health
Good news,
bad news:
Heart attacks on
the rise in women
9
The bad news is that the heart attack
gap between men and women
is narrowing. A study of more than
8,000 men and women aged 35 to
54 shows that while men still have
more heart attacks, heart attacks
among women is on the rise.
So what’s the good news? The
good news is that while heart
attacks in women are rising, the
risk of death after a heart attack is
improving more for women than for
men under the age of 55.
With heart attacks for women on
the rise, it’s important for
women to know the symptoms.
While some may be similar to those
for men, many, like chest pain, are
not as common for women. So pay
attention to your body and know the
different symptoms:
• Shortness of breath
• Weakness
• Unusual fatigue
• Nausea
• Dizziness
• Lower chest discomfort
• Upper abdominal pressure that
may resemble indigestion
• Back pain
Source: WebMD
Blue & You Winter 2009

Healing
a giving heart
10
Ruben Rodriguez, 58, has a generous and giving
heart. As an associate pastor at Stonewall Community
Church outside the little community of Lafe in Greene
County, Ark., he and his wife Martha help with the
church’s outreach activities, take and teach classes
through Integrity Bible College and share their faith
through music and ministry. But on July 14, Ruben’s
giving heart started giving out.
It started as a pressure in Ruben’s chest while he
was working at his day job at Emerson Electric Co. in
Paragould, but eased off after he took one of the nitroglycerin
tablets he’d been keeping with him since his
first heart attack 12 years earlier. He’d already had three
stents put in the arteries leading to his heart at two
different times, but in the last decade he’d been feeling
pretty good, so good he hadn’t bothered with the cholesterol
medication he was supposed to be taking.
That evening Ruben met Martha at the house and
they discussed going into Paragould for pizza, but he
confessed that he was having some discomfort in his
chest. Ruben tried to reassure Martha that it didn’t hurt
much and it was probably indigestion. The two headed
for Paragould, but instead of getting pizza they went
straight to the emergency room at Arkansas Methodist
Medical Center. “We don’t fool with that,” was Martha’s
steadfast response.
Doctors quickly confirmed that Ruben was having
pain associated with a lack of blood to his heart and
sent the two to St. Bernards Medical Center in Jonesboro,
about 25 miles away. Through an agreement
between the two hospitals, heart patients at Arkansas
Methodist Medical Center often are referred to St. Bernards
for their excellent care. That high quality is one
reason St. Bernards has been named a Blue Distinction
Center of Excellence for Cardiac Care by the Blue Cross
and Blue Shield Association.
Blue & You Winter 2009

Blue Distinction Centers of Excellence must meet
He added that Ruben was much like his father in that
high quality standards established by an expert panel he was determined to get well and was willing to take
of physicians, surgeons and other health-care professionals.
When a hospital has been designated a Blue the opportunity to speak Spanish with Dr. Stevenson
the steps needed to get there. And both men enjoyed
Distinction Center, you know they have expertise in who is conversational in the language but always looking
for opportunities to brush up his skills.
that specialty, that they focus on quality and that they
have a history of patients with positive outcomes. Dr. Stevenson said it also helped that Ruben was in
Hospitals provide care differently, and Blue Cross has a cardiac program that has gone to great lengths to be
created a process where hospitals can demonstrate comparable with some of the top cardiac programs in
their expertise.
the nation.
If you are looking for a hospital with a Blue Distinction
designation, go to our Web sites and visit our same environment and offer the same technology you
“If you are in our hospital, we want to provide the
“Member” section. We do the work for you, so you can would see at Mount Sinai in New York or Vanderbilt
be assured you are receiving the best care possible. Medical Center in Nashville,” he said. “We strive to offer
care commensurate with any top cardiac facility.”
In the St. Bernards emergency room, Ruben was
fussing more about his missed pizza than his heart Dr. Stevenson said that the excellent care at St. Bernards
begins even before patients get to the operating
pain, but the results from the tests brought some
somber news; blockage in Ruben’s heart arteries had room. This care then continues through the operating
caused a small heart attack. He needed a triple bypass. staff to the ICU staff and on to the progressive care
Had the nitroglycerin tablet that afternoon helped? “It staff. In the progressive care unit the patient-to-nurse
wasn’t any good,” he said laughing, thinking about that ratio is four to one. And before a patient leaves, each
10-year-old pill. He later learned that nitroglycerin tablets
are only good for about six months.
recovery. “It’s a compendium of care across a continuone
is referred to outpatient rehabilitation to continue
Ruben requested
Richard Stevenson, M.D.,
medical director of the
cardiovascular program
at St. Bernards to do the
surgery. For Dr. Stevenson,
the request was an
honor; he had performed
a successful heart surgery
on Ruben’s father, Eusebio
“E.S.” Rodriguez, years
earlier.
“That is the highest
compliment I could have
Ruben and Martha Rodriguez sit in front of flags
received,” Dr. Stevenson representing the countries helped by their church.
said of Ruben’s request.
11
Blue & You Winter 2009

Richard Stevenson, M.D., (also in inset photo) performs surgery at
St. Bernards Medical Center.
12
um of care,” he explained.
Dr. Stevenson said the cardiac care physicians and
hospital leaders have collaborated on training the nurses
in cardiac care. “I’m extremely proud of our heart
care nurses,” he said. “We told them, ‘We will train you
to take care of any complication and manage it until a
doctor can get there.’” The nurses are empowered to
take actions they know will help their patients. “‘No
Fear’ is our motto.”
Dr. Stevenson has a special tie with St. Bernards —
he was born there, back when many of the nurses were
Catholic nuns. He left Jonesboro to pursue his medical
career and ended up at Louisiana State University
Medical Center in Shreveport, La., but found himself
wanting to return to his family and his roots, and to
provide care that could make a difference in Northeast
Arkansas.
The high level of care Dr. Stevenson described is
exactly what qualifies St. Bernards as a Blue Distinction
Center of Excellence. Each Blue Distinction Center
for Cardiac Care must meet stringent clinical criteria
recommended by expert physicians and medical organizations,
including the American College of Cardiology
and the Society of Thoracic Surgeons. Blue Distinction
Centers for Cardiac Care provide a full range of cardiac
care services, including inpatient cardiac care, cardiac
rehabilitation, cardiac catheterization and cardiac surgery
(including coronary artery bypass graft surgery),
and each center is re-evaluated regularly.
The cardiac program at St. Bernards seeks to be
the tertiary care center for the area, only taking cases
when needed. Dr. Stevenson said that when it comes
to working with the other hospitals, the heart surgeons
try to be available. Most of all, Dr. Stevenson said, he
is grateful to St. Bernards for allowing the physicians
to look beyond the scope of what an average hospital
does to truly make it a center of excellence. That
excellence is what brought Ruben Rodriguez to Dr. Ste-
Blue & You Winter 2009

He said he has learned not to ignore the warning signs his body may give
him and to continue on his medications even when he is feeling well.
venson in July, trusting in his skills, St. Bernards and, as
always, God.
Asked if he was concerned at all about the procedure,
Ruben thought back to the moment the hugs
and kisses from family ended and he was being rolled
into the operating room. In that quiet moment, he said,
he reached out to God and
heard, “Fear not, for I am
with you,” and he was at
peace. At the same time,
Martha said she had also put
her faith in God. A gospel
song, “I’ve Been Through
Enough to Know that He’ll
be Enough for Me,” ran
through her mind as Ruben
was wheeled away.
Ruben’s surgery was successful,
and within hours
he was up and walking. He
said the breathing treatments
were painful, but he
knew the more he did them
the easier it would become.
Within the week, Dr. Stevenson
told him, “I take care
of sick people, and you’re
not sick.” Martha cared for
him at home, grateful to be a teacher and be out for the
summer. She and other family members drove Ruben
to Paragould to meet with Dr. Stevenson for his follow
up appointments and rehabilitation.
While the Rodriguez family was very focused
on Ruben’s health, they didn’t have to
worry about his health-care coverage. Ruben’s
insurance was through Blue Cross and Blue
Shield of Alabama, but through BlueCard ® , his medical
care was coordinated between their office and Arkansas
Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
BlueCard is a national program that enables members
of one Blue Plan to obtain health-care services
while traveling or living in another Blue Plan’s service
area. The program links
The Heartcare Center participating health-care
at St. Bernards
Medical Center is a providers with the independent
Blue Plans worldwide
Blue Distinction
Center of
Excellence. through a single electronic
network for claims processing
and reimbursement.
The Alabama Blue Cross
Plan took care of Ruben’s
needs, and Arkansas Blue
Cross made sure the
doctors, specialists and
hospital received the quick
service they needed.
Ruben is back to work
and sharing his faith with
others. He said he has
learned not to ignore the
warning signs his body may
give him and to continue on
his medications even when
he is feeling well. His giving
heart has been given another chance.
Go to Blue & You Online on our Arkansas
Blue Cross and Health Advantage Web sites
for more on our Blue Distinction Centers.
13
Blue & You Winter 2009

SilverSneakers
competition
winner logs more
than 1,000 miles
14
Dorothy Straub on
the stationary bicycle
and in the Rogers
Adult Wellness Center
garden.
Go to Blue & You Online on our Arkansas
Blue Cross and Health Advantage Web sites for
more on SilverSneakers.
Blue & You Winter 2009

Dorothy Straub is a fierce competitor. As the oldest
of six children and the mother of three boys, she
quickly learned to dust herself off and keep going when
faced with a challenge. So when the SilverSneakers ®
100 Miles, 100 Days Challenge kicked off, she said, “I
can do that,” and she did. When her grown sons shared
their doubts that she could log more (1,000 miles in 100
days), she didn’t quit until she had logged 1,145 miles
— winning the statewide contest.
For Dorothy, the contest wasn’t Dorothy
just a race against her buddies retired and joined the
at the Adult Wellness Center Adult Wellness Center,
in Rogers, Ark., it was also a benefit provided to
a way to get her out of the her through Medi-Pak
house after losing her loving Advantage as part of the
husband, Donald Straub, to SilverSneakers
Alzheimer’s disease in April.
Program.
“It’s easy to sit and feel sorry for
yourself, and I did that for awhile,” Dorothy
remembered, but after a few weeks she said she
started looking for things to do — about the same time
flyers showed up at the Wellness Center advertising the
contest. Dorothy decided, “why not,” and proceeded to
log in five miles at a time, several times a day.
After the first month, Dorothy already had logged 300
miles, so she made it her goal to reach 1,000 miles,
putting off a trip to Florida until after the contest, and
working in extra sessions on the stationary bike or on
the track if she had to miss a day.
Lucky for Dorothy, the Adult Wellness Center in
Rogers has state-of-the-art exercise equipment and
a beautiful walking trail that wraps around a waterfall
and fishpond and includes several exercise stations. As
Dorothy got closer and closer to her goal, she realized
that the walking and biking did wonders for her blood
pressure. “It has gone down tremendously,” she said.
Dorothy has used exercise to ease tension for years.
After a whirlwind life, living in more than 10 states and
raising their boys to appreciate the wonders of the
world, Dorothy and Don settled on a 20-acre cattle farm
in Summers, Ark., just miles from the Oklahoma border.
Dorothy worked for the Fayetteville Prosecutor’s Office
and helped Don on the farm, but in 2003 she had to
take time off as Don’s memory became clouded from
the Alzheimer’s. She measured out a small track on
the farm so she could walk and keep an eye on Don.
When Don’s disease progressed to the point where he
needed more care than she could give him at home,
Dorothy moved him to a nursing home and in
2005 went back to work full time, but shifted
her hours so she could leave in the afternoon
to spend the rest of the day with Don, often
walking with him in the park. “It was very
good for him,” she said.
In May 2008, Dorothy retired to spend more
time with Don and joined the Adult Wellness
Center, a benefit provided to her through Medi-Pak
Advantage (PFFS) as part of the SilverSneakers Program.
To enroll in SilverSneakers, Medi-Pak and Medi-
Pak Advantage (PFFS) members can go to a participating
fitness center near them and show their ID card. Fitness
center staff will assist with enrollment and provide
tours of the locations. Because new fitness centers are
being added to the program regularly, members can
go online to silversneakers.com to find all participating
locations in Arkansas.
Even though Don has passed away, Dorothy continues
to visit the nursing home where he stayed because
she has developed so many friendships there. She even
has become a volunteer ombudsman for the home
through the Arkansas Area Agencies on Aging. She still
volunteers one day a week at the prosecutor’s office.
And she still logs her miles on the track and the stationary
bikes at the Adult Wellness Center. Because Dorothy
Straub doesn’t give up.
Healthways, Inc. administers the SilverSneakers Fitness Program for
Arkansas Blue Cross Medi-Pak and Medi-Pak Advantage (PFFS) policyholders.
Healthways, Inc. is an independent company that operates
separately from Arkansas Blue Cross.
15
Blue & You Winter 2009

16
Behavioral health services
now available
Behavioral health referral and management services now are available
to some employer group health plans with Arkansas Blue Cross and
Blue Shield and Health Advantage, and a number of plans administered
by BlueAdvantage Administrators of Arkansas. If you receive a new
ID card with a mental health assistance telephone number, your plan
includes these services.
A customer service staff trained to help with the special requirements
of accessing behavioral health services is available from 7 a.m. to
7 p.m., Monday through Friday, to assist in explaining benefits and available
services, selecting a mental health provider and gaining access to
needed services.
For assistance, please call toll free 1-877-801-1159. (This telephone
number will be on the back of your health plan ID card if this service is
available to you.)
Please be aware that you have some new responsibilities in order
to make best use of your behavioral health benefits. These responsibilities
are:
• Calling 1-877-801-1159 (or ensuring that your mental health provider
has made the call) for prior authorization of any outpatient mental
health visits after the eighth session.
• Calling the number above (or ensuring that the inpatient facility
does so) prior to any inpatient mental health/substance abuse
inpatient stay.
• Check your benefits certificate for full details on any excluded mental
health/substance abuse services.
To find out if your health plan includes modifications for behavioral
health, you can contact your human resources administrator, check our
Web sites and review your benefits information on My Blueprint, or call
the customer service number on your health plan ID card. We love to
hear from you!
Lose
weight
The Healthy
Weigh!
The Healthy Weigh! Education
Program is free for members of Arkansas
Blue Cross and Blue Shield,
Health Advantage, Blue Cross and
Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan
(Federal Employee Program), and
eligible members of BlueAdvantage
Administrators of Arkansas.
To enroll, complete the attached
enrollment form and return it in the
self-addressed, postage-paid envelope
included in this magazine. The
program starts when you enroll.
After enrollment, you will begin
to receive information through the
mail, which you can read in the
privacy of your own home and at
your own pace. The program is
completely voluntary, and you may
leave the program at any time. If
you have further questions about
the program, call the Health Education
Program’s toll-free number at
1-800-686-2609.
Simply complete, sign and return
the attached enrollment form in
the self-addressed, postage-paid
envelope.
Blue & You Winter 2009

Obese women at
greater risks of
giving birth to babies
with heart defects
Women who are overweight or obese
before they become pregnant have approximately
an 18 percent higher chance of having
a baby with certain heart defects as compared
to women who were not overweight while
severely obese women have approximately a
30 percent higher chance — this, according to
a study by the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention.
The study, which is the largest study ever
conducted in the United States to identify risk
factors for birth defects, found a significant
increase in several types of heart defects in
babies born to overweight or obese women.
Members continue
to receive screening
mammograms as
a wellness benefit
Although the U.S. Preventive
Services Task Force
announced recently that
routine mammograms are
no longer recommended for
women 40 to 49, Arkansas
Blue Cross and Blue Shield
and its wholly owned subsidiary,
Health Advantage, will
continue to cover screening
mammograms as a part of our wellness benefit.
“We understand there is concern among our members
about the new recommendations from the U.S. Preventive
Services Task Force, but we want to assure our members
that we will continue to cover annual screening mammograms
for all Arkansas Blue Cross and Health Advantage
female members age 40 and above who have our wellness
benefit and who have the service performed by an in-network
physician and facility,” said James Adamson, M.D., Arkansas
Blue Cross senior vice president and chief medical officer.
The U.S. Preventive Services Task Force recently reversed
a 2002 recommendation by eliminating the recommendation
for screening for women ages 40 to 49, and increasing the
screening interval to every two years for women 50 to 74.
The American Cancer Society and the American College of
Radiology have expressed significant concerns over the new
recommendations of the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force,
and these two organizations continue to recommend screening
mammography on an annual basis to all women beginning
at age 40. Recommendations vary for those who are considered
at higher risk.
17
Blue & You Winter 2009

Costs Matter:
Developing a
relationship
with your
doctor
18
You might not think about it in financial terms, but
having a good relationship with your primary care physician
(PCP) can save you money. How?
Studies show that people who have a trusting relationship
with their PCP, and regularly go for wellness screenings
and checkups, are less likely to develop chronic
illness later in life. Chronic illness can lead to missed
work, paying for high-priced medications, trips to the
emergency room, inpatient hospital costs and more.
Even if you seldom get sick, it is good to have a relationship
with your doctor. PCPs are trained to
help you prevent health problems. They can point out
choices you may be making today that can affect your
health tomorrow.
Blue & You Winter 2009

Developing the relationship
Communication is a two-way street, but sometimes
it can be hard to start the conversation with your doctor.
According to the Annals of Family Medicine, the
average face-to-face time with a doctor during an appointment
is about 15 minutes. That means you have to
be prepared with your concerns and questions right off
the bat. Writing information down ahead of time, and
bringing a family member with you to write information
down during the visit, can help keep the conversation
on course.
Getting started
As soon as the appointment starts, be sure to tell
your doctor the main reason for your visit, including any
symptoms you are having, or have had recently. Don’t
leave out symptoms that seem unrelated; they may be
important. Keeping a health journal can give a day-today
log of symptoms and be valuable in your diagnosis.
Let your doctor know if your personal life has changed
since you last came in. Did you change jobs? Are you
stressed?
Bring any medications, vitamins and supplements
you may be taking with you, or make a list. Be sure you
include the strength of the medication and how often it
is taken. Let your doctor know of any side effects you
have had from your past or present medications. If you
have any medical records or test results from other
locations, bring them with you.
Ask questions
Ask your doctor if you don’t understand something. If
you don’t, your doctor will think you understand everything
he or she has told you. The following are some
tips on asking your doctor questions during the exam:
• Write down questions before the appointment and
ask them during the exam. Be sure to ask the most
important questions first.
• Bring a family member with you to take notes
and have them write down the answers to
your questions.
• Let the doctor know if you don’t understand
something.
• Tell your doctor if you need more information or
assistance to understand your condition. He or she
may get a physician assistant or nurse to help you.
• If your doctor prescribed a medicine, ask if there are
generics available.
Take it home
Take the following information home:
• Notes taken during the appointment by you or your
family member.
• Written instructions from your doctor.
• Brochures or other educational materials.
Follow up
Make sure to follow any instructions your doctor gave
you during the appointment, like taking medicine, going
for a test or going to an appointment with a specialist.
Contact your doctor:
• If you have questions after the appointment. Ask
to leave a message for the doctor or speak with a
nurse.
• If you start to feel worse or have problems with your
medicine.
• If you haven’t gotten the results of tests.
Source: American Academy of Family Physicians
… the average face-toface
time with a doctor
during an appointment
is about 15 minutes.
That means you have to
be prepared with your
concerns and questions
right off the bat.
19
Blue & You Winter 2009

Senior Moments
with Dr. David
David A. Lipschitz, M.D., Ph.D.
Every 70 seconds an American is diagnosed with
Alzheimer’s disease. In the coming years, as the 72 million
baby boomers reach the age of 80 and beyond, the
burden of this illness could single-handedly overwhelm
our health-care system.
There are many myths and misconceptions about
memory loss. The evaluation and care of those who suffer
from memory loss and their families leaves much to
be desired. Most see their primary care physician who,
sadly, if a problem is suspected, prescribes a medication
to treat Alzheimer’s disease instead of directing
them to a specialist. This is the least important component
of the evaluation. If you suspect that you or a
loved one may have a memory problem, it is important
to be seen by a doctor who specializes in memory
disorders.
20
Making the diagnosis
The first step in the evaluation is to confirm that a
memory problem exists. Mild decreases in intellectual
function, often referred to as benign forgetfulness (you
may have difficulty remembering names), is not significant.
In order to diagnose the problem, a person must
have a decline in memory that is of sufficient severity
to interfere with his or her ability to function in the community
or interact with others (work, shop, remember
appointments). Family members may raise concerns
that a loved one is repeating information, seems confused,
cannot accomplish familiar tasks and is obviously
forgetful. The diagnosis is made through extensive
memory testing to determine the extent of the problem
and assist in identifying the cause.
Is it Alzheimer’s disease?
Identifying the cause
The earliest sign of Alzheimer’s disease is loss of
short-term memory. Other causes, such as multiple
strokes or vascular disease, depression and medication
use can lead to different patterns of memory loss. To
confirm the diagnosis, blood tests and imaging studies
of the brain are done. Eighty percent of the time,
the cause is Alzheimer’s disease or multiple small or
larger strokes. In the remainder, a potentially treatable
cause may be found. This includes certain medications,
depression (a common treatable cause of significant
Blue & You Winter 2009

Editor’s Note: David A. Lipschitz, M.D, Ph.D., is nationally
recognized as a leader in the field of geriatrics.
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield is honored to have
him as a contributor to Blue & You magazine.
sure, depression, sleep problems
or inappropriate medication use can
make memory loss worse. Treating
these conditions can improve health
and slow the rate at which the disease
progresses.
Paying attention to the caregiver
and family education
Taking care of a family member
If you suspect that you
or a loved one may have
a memory problem, it is
important to be seen by a
doctor who specializes in
memory disorders.
forgetfulness), Vitamin B12 deficiency, sleep disorders, delusions, aggressive behavior, agitation and difficulties
Parkinson’s disease and a condition called Normal Pressure
Hydrocephalus in which memory loss is accom-
of health-care providers is critical to optimally deal with
with sleep become common. Having access to a team
panied by problems with walking, balance and bowel these problems. It does indeed take a village to care for
and bladder incontinence. Identifying and treating these someone with Alzheimer’s disease and their family.
conditions on occasion can lead to dramatic improvements
in memory.
Medications to treat Alzheimer’s
Several drugs have been shown to slow the progression
of memory loss. They include Aricept, Exelon,
Treating conditions that can make memory
loss worse
Reminyl and Namenda. None of these drugs will lead to
Even if the diagnosis is Alzheimer’s disease, other dramatic improvements in memory, but they should be
medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pres-
considered based on evidence that slowing the progression
of the disease may provide
a number of additional years of independent
life and reduce the need
for placement in a nursing home.
The future
While we do not know the cause
and cannot prevent Alzheimer’s
disease, there is much we can do to
reduce the rate at which the illness
with memory loss is an overwhelming burden. Caregivers,
often spouses or children, often do not take care exercising your mind and your body can delay the age
progresses. Living a stress free, heart-healthy lifestyle,
of themselves, are severely stressed, are at great risk at which Alzheimer’s disease presents by 10 or more
of becoming ill and are desperate for help. Understanding
the condition and how to approach someone with stand the fundamental cause of this serious disease.
years. We also must commit to more research to under-
Alzheimer’s disease is essential. Caregivers must be There is hope that through research, new approaches to
encouraged to meet their own needs, have regular care will become available, and that in our lifetime there
medical checkups and spend some time alone.
will be a cure.
21
Treating complications of the disease
As Alzheimer’s progresses to other areas of the
brain, unusual additional symptoms may develop.
Personality changes are common, hallucinations and
Blue & You Winter 2009

Paying for your medications
22
“Why do I pay for some medications
through my insurance
differently?”
If you are on several medications,
you may have noticed that the
claims for some of your medications
may be filed under your medical
benefit, and others may be filed
under your retail pharmacy benefit.
You may even see the same medication
filed differently under both
benefits. Why?
Where did you get it?
The first thing to look at is where
the medication is given. If you
received a medication while in a
hospital or in an outpatient surgical
center, it is included in the allowable
charge for the hospital services. If
you received a medication in your
physician’s office, your payment is
based upon allowable charges under
your medical benefit. That means
you may have to pay toward your
calendar-year deductible and
coinsurance.
If you went to your pharmacy to
receive your medication, how much
you pay is determined by the allowable
charge for the medication and
the type of retail pharmacy benefit
plan you have. When you receive
medications from a retail pharmacy,
you may have to pay a prescription
drug copayment. Finally, if you need
home infusion therapy and you get
it from a designated provider, your
medication is covered under your
medical benefit based upon the allowable
charge for the medication.
How did you get it?
Another situation to consider is
how the medication is administered.
If you can take the medication yourself,
orally or through an injection
under the skin (subcutaneous), it is
filed through your retail pharmacy
benefit, and you pay a copayment.
If your medication must be given
by injection into the muscle, or in
a vein, then it is intended to be
administered only by a health-care
professional, and is considered part
of your medical benefit. If covered,
you may have to pay toward your
calendar-year deductible and
coinsurance.
Your Benefit Certificate lists
self-administered medications as
“A” medications and professionally
administered medications as “B”
medications. If you need to know if
a medication is an “A” or “B” medication
you can contact Customer
Service.
From the
Pharmacist
by Trey Gardner, Pharm D.,
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Blue & You Winter 2009

Medi-Pak and Medi-Pak Advantage (PFFS)
Members: Resolve to Have a Healthy 2010
Happy New Year means resolutions; and in 2010,
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield will make it easier
for our Medi-Pak and Medi-Pak Advantage (PFFS) members
to keep them — if one of your New Year’s resolutions
is to have a Healthy 2010.
As a Medi-Pak or Medi-Pak Advantage (PFFS) member
you may enroll — or continue your enrollment — in
SilverSneakers ® at no cost to you. As a member of
SilverSneakers, you have access to amenities such
as treadmills, weights and — in some cases — even
heated pools at no additional cost. As a SilverSneakers
member, you can take advantage of all the equipment
and services available with a basic membership at a SilverSneakers
participating fitness center. Many of these
fitness centers also offer the signature SilverSneakers
exercise classes, designed for older adults and taught
by SilverSneakers-certified instructors. Don’t know
which fitness centers in your area participate? Simply
go to the SilverSneakers Web site at silversneakers.
com. The SilverSneakers Web site also offers fabulous
resources such as great new recipes and tools to create
shopping lists and design your own exercise plans.
Another benefit available to both Medi-Pak and
Medi-Pak Advantage (PFFS) members is our online
Personal Health Record. This tool combines information
from your medical claims and information you enter
yourself to provide a clear medical history. By keeping
this record current, it will make visits to your doctor go
more smoothly and efficiently. You simply can hand your
doctor a printout of your Personal Health Record (PHR)
from our Web site at arkansasbluecross.com (you must
register with My Blueprint to access your PHR). And,
speaking of doctor’s visits — don’t forget — as a Medi-
Pak Advantage (PFFS) member, you get an annual exam
with no copayment!
If you are a Medi-Pak Advantage (PFFS) member,
throughout the year, you will receive helpful newsletters
offering sound advice on staying healthy. And if you have
the holiday blues, we have a new depression hotline.
With all of these resources available to you, keeping
your New Year’s resolution of working to maintain your
health should be easier!
If you have questions, we’re here to help. Please call
the appropriate toll-free customer service telephone
number listed below:
Medi-Pak Customer Service
1-800-338-2312
Medi-Pak Advantage (PFFS) Customer Service
1-877-233-7022
If you’re not a Medi-Pak or Medi-Pak Advantage
(PFFS) member but want to learn more, call our licensed,
certified agents toll free at 1-800-392-2583.
You can also use the Medi-Pak Choice Plan Finder on
our Web site at arkansasbluecross.com/MedicarePlans
to help you determine which of our Medi-Pak Choice
products works best for you.
23
Blue & You Winter 2009

Online Health Tools
A healthier life is only keystrokes away with online
health tools available to Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue
Shield and Health Advantage members and eligible
members of BlueAdvantage Administrators of Arkansas
through My Blueprint.
Our online programs can provide support on a variety
of topics, including:
• Getting active
• Healthy eating
• Healthy weight
• Healthy thinking
• Quitting smoking
• Dealing with low back pain
• Sleeping well
To access these programs, go to My Blueprint on
the Arkansas Blue Cross, Health Advantage or BlueAdvantage
Web sites, select HealthConnect Blue, choose
the HealthyLiving tab from the Dialog Center and then
choose a “Healthy Conversation.” The name of these
tools has changed, but the ability to create a plan as
unique as you are has not!
To start a program, all you need to do is answer a
questionnaire about yourself and the way you live,
which takes about 15 minutes. The health-care professionals
will use that information to create a one-of-akind
just plan for you.
24
Blue & You Fitness Challenge
group registration under way
Need help waking from a long
winter’s nap back into the “fit”
of things? Then move from hibernation
to becoming part of the
“hyper”nation with the 2010 Blue
& You Fitness Challenge exercise
contest.
Although spring is months away,
now is the time to plan for the Challenge.
All you have to do get 10 of
your friends together, pick one of
you to sign up your group and keep
up with the details (the group
administrator) and register on blueandyoufitnesschallenge-ark.com.
The Blue & You Fitness Challenge
is an exercise contest that encourages
participants to work toward
the public health recommendation
of adult physical activity 30 minutes
each day, most days of the week.
A total of 167 groups — large and
small — with more than 11,500
participants took part in the 2009
Challenge.
The Web site is live, and there’s
still time to sign up for the contest.
Whether your group has 10 or 1,000
members, you have until January
31 to sign up. Individuals who will
be participating in Challenge groups
will begin registration in February.
Schools, companies and organizations
and others may form teams
within their larger body of participants,
too. Students ages 13 and
older can form teams and challenge
other schools or other teams within
their schools. (Note: Group administrators
must be 18 or older.) All
individuals must be registered on a
team by Feb. 28, 2010.
We will begin exercising on our
virtual tour on March 1. For more
information, call toll free 1-800-686-
2609. You may download a planning
kit in PDF form from the Web site.
Blue & You Winter 2009

The
Doctor’s
Corner
Drinking hot liquids associated
with throat cancer
Smoking and heavy alcohol use
kids about the danger of permanent
hearing loss from excessive noise.
Encourage them to turn down the
by Ray Bredfeldt, M.D.,
Regional Medical Director
Northwest Region, Fayetteville
are both associated with throat
cancer. Now, another risk factor has
been identified — very hot beverag-
music and to use earplugs when
they operate loud machinery such
as lawnmowers.
the shoulders or back from the
backpack.
es. Researchers
recently found
that people
who drink very
hot beverages
increase their risk of developing
throat cancer. The study found that
people who drink tea within two
minutes after boiling were five
times more likely to develop throat
cancer than those who waited four
minutes or more to drink their tea.
Is your child’s backpack
too heavy?
Backpacks, if stuffed
too full, can be so
heavy that they can
cause back pain
and injury. Here
are some warning
signs that your
child’s backpack
is too heavy,
courtesy of
Surfing the Web can keep
your brain young
Surfing the Internet just might be
a way to preserve your mental skills
as you age. A new study suggests
that Internet activity can help keep
older people alert. Researchers
found that older adults who started
browsing the Web experienced
improved brain function after only a
few days.
Have your medical proce-
25
Kids losing hearing from
the U.S. Na-
dures done early!
loud noise exposure
tional Safety
Doctors are just like everyone
Do your kids like loud music or
Council:
else – they get tired after a long day
loud computer games? You may
• Your child’s posture changes
at work. A recent study found that
want them to turn it down a notch.
when the backpack is on.
for people undergoing a colonos-
Studies indicate 12 percent or more
• Your child has difficulty putting
copy, doctors do a better job of
of children between the ages of 6
the backpack on or taking it off.
finding abnormalities in the morning
and 19 already have suffered some
• Your child has pain while the
than in the afternoon. What is true
degree of irreparable hearing loss.
backpack is on.
for colonoscopies may be true for
The major culprit is the loud noise
• Your child feels a sensation of
other medical procedures. It makes
they experience listening to music
numbness or tingling while wear-
sense, therefore, to ask for a morn-
using headphones or while driving
ing the backpack.
ing procedure rather than one later
in vehicles. Be sure to talk to your
• Your child has red marks on
in the day.
Blue & You Winter 2009

Arkansas Blue Cross
and Blue Shield and
asked if BlueAnn
could be Ethan’s
buddy at Texarkana’s
26
BlueAnn Ewe
makes a Buddy!
BlueAnn Ewe was checking her
e-mail one day and came across
a special request. The e-mail was
from Jenni Smith, who is the
mother of a 2-year-old boy affected
by Down syndrome, a genetic disorder
caused by the presence of too
many chromosomes.
Each year, Texarkana hosts a
National Down Syndrome Society
Buddy Walk ® , and Jenni’s son,
Ethan, asked his mom if BlueAnn
could come and participate. Jenni,
a registered nurse at CHRISTUS
St. Michael, immediately contacted
2009 National
Buddy Walk.
Traci Gatlin, R.N.,
medical affairs
manager, and Hillary
Cross, R.N., regional
case manager from
the Arkansas Blue
Cross Southwest
Regional Office, gladly volunteered
to take BlueAnn to the walk to meet
Ethan. More than 500 people, along
with BlueAnn, walked around Buddy
Ferguson Park on October 31, to help
raise money for families and individuals
affected by Down syndrome.
Mothers of children with Down syndrome
hope the National Buddy Walk
Jenni Smith, R.N.
and her son, Ethan
will help raise awareness about the
condition and build support systems,
both of which last long after the onemile
walk is over.
BlueAnn participated in the walk
and played games that helped raise
$15,000 for those locally born with
Down syndrome.
Ethan Smith was delighted to
have BlueAnn’s support!
BlueAnn goes back to school
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Southeast
Regional Office in Pine Bluff accompanied
BlueAnn Ewe to the Back-to-School Festival in
McGehee, Ark., on August 24. BlueAnn and Debi
Attwood greeted kids and handed out BlueAnn
coloring books to more than 100 children.
BlueAnn, along with Arkansas Blue Cross’ Central
Regional Office, also attended the first annual
Back-to-School Community Health Fair at Trinity
Worship Center in Conway, Ark., on August 15.
Blue & You Winter 2009

The 2009 Arkansas Blue Cross
JDRF “Walk for a Cure” team
Arkansas Blue Cross raises $10,000 for JDRF
Mark White, president and chief
executive officer for Arkansas Blue
Cross and Blue Shield, was named
the corporate walk chair for the
Greater Arkansas Chapter of the
Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation
(JDRF). In support of Mark and
JDRF, more than 500 Arkansas Blue
Cross employees joined him at Murray
Park on September 19.
In addition to walking for a
cure, Arkansas Blue Cross hosts
an annual corporate fundraiser to
raise money for JDRF. Our leadership
team in past years has been
dunked, called Bingo and fought obstacles,
all to help juvenile diabetes
research. There only was one thing
they had not done — sing!
This year, our fundraiser theme
was, “Arkansas Blue Cross Idol:
Karaoke for a Cure,” styled after
the No. 1 hit television show,
“American Idol.”
Arkansas Blue Cross executives
agreed to be Idol contestants — but
only if the price was right. Each executive
agreed to sing “karaoke style”
if $1,000 was raised in his or her
name through employee pledges.
The employees of Arkansas Blue
Cross raised more than $10,000
for JDRF!
27
Blue & You Foundation awards $1.5 million in grants
to improve health
The Blue & You Foundation for a
Healthier Arkansas has awarded a
total of $1,574,691 in grants to 33
health improvement programs in
Arkansas.
“Our grants this year went to programs
across the state that address
such issues as obesity, diabetes,
healthy lifestyle choices, medical
care for low-income individuals,
dental health, safety and worksite
wellness,” said Patrick O’Sullivan,
executive director of the Blue & You
Foundation.
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue
Shield established the Blue & You
Foundation in 2001 as a charitable
foundation to promote better health
in Arkansas. The Blue & You Foundation
awards grants annually to nonprofit
or governmental organizations
and programs that positively affect
the health of Arkansans.
In its eight years of operation, the
Blue & You Foundation has awarded
more than $10 million to 162 health
improvement programs in Arkansas.
The grants awarded for 2010 are:
• American Diabetes Association,
Bentonville ($35,000)
• Area Agency on Aging of Southeast
Arkansas, Pine Bluff ($25,876)
• Arkansas Hunger Relief Alliance,
Little Rock ($110,000)
• Arkansas Mission of Mercy, Sherwood
($50,000)
• Arkansas Quality Foundation,
Little Rock ($43,262)
• Baptist Health Foundation, Little
Rock ($149,940)
• Cedarville Schools, Cedarville
($62,160)
• Chicot Memorial Hospital Foundation,
Lake Village ($60,182)
Grants, continued on Page 29
Blue & You Winter 2009

28
What is a hospitalist?
A hospitalist is a physician whose
primary professional focus is the care
of hospitalized patients, so if you or
someone in your family is ever hospitalized
— there are doctors right there
when you need them to answer your
questions and coordinate hospital
care. These physicians have dedicated
their careers to the care of hospitalized
patients.
In the past, if you were hospitalized,
you could expect to see your primary
care physician (PCP) at the hospital coordinating
all your hospital care. Many
physicians continue to admit their
own patients to the hospital, and this
system works well for them.
Today, however, most PCPs focus
their attention on patients in their clinic
and entrust the care of their hospitalized
patients to the specialist who admitted
the patient (such as a surgeon
or cardiologist) or to the hospitalist.
The hospitalist usually is a general
medicine physician who is trained on
a wide variety of medical problems,
and who takes responsibility for the
patient during the hospitalization. The
hospitalist calls in other doctors as
needed, but primarily is in charge of
the hospitalization and communication
among all the doctors, the patient and
the family.
Hospitalists provide valuable
services by:
• Being available to quickly meet the
needs of hospitalized patients and
by Randal F. Hundley, M.D., FACC
Special Guest Contributor
their families.
• Handling situations quickly by
having an in-depth knowledge of
the hospital and its staff.
• Allowing PCPs to focus on patients
in their clinics.
• Providing a report of the hospitalization
with any treatment
changes to the PCP.
The possible downside of working
with a hospitalist is that he or she
may not know you as well as your
PCP. With thorough communication,
however, this issue can be avoided.
If your care (or a family member’s)
is coordinated by a hospitalist, you
should expect your PCP and the
hospitalist to communicate at the
beginning and end of the hospitalization,
and if any big issues arise. It
is especially important for your PCP
to have all the important information
from the hospitalization.
You can help the process by asking
the hospitalist whether there
has been or will be communication
with your PCP. If unsure, you can
call your physician’s office to be
sure they know that you (or a loved
one) are in the hospital. Although
the hospitalist will be able to obtain
your office records as needed, it is
extremely helpful to hospital admission
staff to give your doctors and
nurses a list of:
• Your current medications.
• Any allergies.
Blue & You Winter 2009

• Previous operations and medical
• Know when you will visit with
from the hospital without adequate
conditions.
your PCP and any specialists you
follow-up arrangements, leading to
• All your physicians’ names and
saw in the hospital.
complications at home and readmis-
telephone numbers.
• Know if you need to schedule ap-
sion to the hospital.
• The name and telephone num-
pointments with other providers
At Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue
ber of a family member or other
such as physical therapists.
Shield, experiences with most
contact person.
• Ask that a report of your hospi-
hospitalists have been excellent.
At discharge, several things are
talization, with any changes in
When there has been a problem,
important:
medications or other treatment,
it is often because the patient did
• Have a clear list of all your medi-
be forwarded to your PCP.
not have a PCP before going into
cations. Be sure you understand
Gener-
The hospitalist
the hospital, making it difficult to
which medicines have been
started, stopped or changed, as
well as any instructions on diet
or other issues.
ally, the
hospitalist
will not see
you again
takes responsibility
for the patient
during
hospitalization.
arrange good follow-up care after
hospital discharge. Arkansas Blue
Cross strongly recommends having
a relationship with a PCP before
• Know if you will have home
unless you come back into the
needing to go into the hospital. This
health visits and know when to
expect a visit.
hospital. A recent study showed
that many patients are discharged
is the best way to ensure a smooth
transition from hospital to home.
29
Grants, continued from Page 27
• Crawford-Sebastian Community
Development Council, Fort Smith
($5,032)
• Dallas County Alliance Supporting
Health, Fordyce ($8,805)
• FoodShare and Opportunity Network,
Prescott ($11,250)
• Friendship Community Care, Russellville
($41,528)
• Group Living, Arkadelphia ($4,107)
• Harding University College of
Pharmacy, Searcy ($50,447)
• Harmony Health Clinic, Little Rock
($50,000)
• Helen R. Walton Children’s Enrichment
Center, Bentonville ($58,255)
• Hospice of Texarkana, Texarkana
($11,505)
• Kimmons Junior High and Sutton
Elementary, Fort Smith ($104,860)
• Lawrence Memorial Health Foundation,
Walnut Ridge ($42,270)
• Madison County Health Coalition,
Huntsville ($66,360)
• NEA Clinic Charitable Foundation,
Jonesboro ($30,400)
• North Arkansas Partnership
for Health Education, Harrison
($117,371)
• Northwest Arkansas Free Health
Center, Fayetteville ($50,000)
• Northwest Arkansas Women’s
Resources, Rogers ($49,756)
• Paragould Light, Water and Cable
Employees, Paragould ($17,000)
• Parenting and Childbirth Education
Services, Jonesboro ($33,617)
• Pulaski County Youth Services,
Little Rock ($16,050)
• River City Ministry of Pulaski
County, North Little Rock ($24,000)
• Shepherd’s Hope Neighborhood
Health Clinic, Little Rock ($25,000)
• University of Arkansas at Little
Rock (UALR), Little Rock ($50,100)
• University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences (UAMS), Little Rock
($34,397)
• University of Arkansas for Medical
Sciences (UAMS), Little Rock
($80,961)
• Van Buren County Schools, Clinton
($55,200)
The Blue & You Foundation
received 94 grant applications requesting
$5.7 million in support.
The Blue & You Foundation will
accept proposals for its next funding
cycle any time between Jan. 1 and
July 15, 2010. For more information,
visit the foundation Web site at
blueandyoufoundationarkansas.org.
The foundation is an independent
licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue
Shield Association and serves the
state of Arkansas. The foundation is
a 501(c)(3) organization.
Blue & You Winter 2009

30
Baldor — Building a lean machine
At Baldor Electric Company, employees are encouraged
to look for innovation — whether it is creating
new products and work processes, finding ways to trim
excess costs, developing and implementing leading
edge information technology or developing and promoting
wellness initiatives. Baldor’s leadership knows
that when everyone contributes, everyone wins. And,
when you want to both lower costs and improve health,
visionary companies like Baldor look to themselves and
their employees to lead the way.
In 2008, Baldor chose to switch all employees nationwide
to one source for the administration of its group
health insurance, and BlueAdvantage Administrators of
Arkansas — a subsidiary of Arkansas Blue Cross and
Blue Shield — was a perfect fit. Baldor, whose world
headquarters is located in Fort Smith, Ark., wanted a
health plan administrator that understood their longterm
objectives around creating a healthy workplace
and had the resources to assist them in creating a
culture of health.
So in early 2009, the Baldor Wellness Council, comprised
of employees from each of
its 22 U.S. locations, was formed
to promote the new “Fit4Life”
wellness program nationwide and
engage all 6,500 employees in
healthier lifestyles. The Fit4Life
program encourages employees to
get involved in workplace wellness
educational activities and initiatives,
while focusing on improving
their overall health and well being.
Martha Carlson, regional executive for the Arkansas
Blue Cross West Central Regional Office in Fort Smith,
started discussing the concept of wellness with Jason
Green, the vice-president of human resources at Baldor,
and Tona Schmidt, the staffing manager and coordinator
A Baldor
employee
gets his
blood pressure
checked during a
health screening.
I think Arkansas Blue
Cross has as much
of a vested interest in
not only the success
of the program but
in the health of our
employees as we do.
of the Baldor Wellness Council.
“Martha helped us understand the resources that
were available to us through our relationship with Arkansas
Blue Cross,” Green said, referring to HealthConnect
Blue, Arkansas Blue Cross’ multi-faceted integrated
health resource that provides a wide variety of tools
for healthy living.
Get Your Motor Running
As a start to their Fit4Life companywide wellness
efforts, Baldor encouraged all employees, not just those
on the company’s insurance plan, to
complete the online Personal Health
Assessment available through
HealthConnect Blue. This was not
an easy accomplishment in an environment
where most employees
work on a production line.
Baldor began the process by
providing onsite biometric screenings
(blood pressure, blood sugar,
cholesterol and weight) for employees
to assess their health. Arkansas Blue Cross
representatives then walked Baldor employees through
the registration process for My Blueprint using onsite
computers and instructed them on how to complete
the Personal Health Assessment. By participating in the
Blue & You Winter 2009

Personal Health Assessments, Baldor will establish a
benchmark on their employee’s current health status.
While individual results are strictly confidential, aggregate
data (overall results combined) can be used to help
the Wellness Council define activities and support the
needs of Baldor employees in the future. Additionally,
after completing the Personal Health Assessment,
each employee received a copy of personalized information
on how they can improve their health and, if
needed, were guided to health education programs provided
by BlueAdvantage to help them care for chronic
conditions.
“Baldor is a great company,” Carlson said. “They
are very focused on treating their team members with
respect and dignity. That certainly shows through the
investment they’ve made in their employee’s health
and wellness. This is a top down initiative with a solid
company wellness team focused on a multi-year wellness
plan. We enjoyed working side by side with Baldor
during these onsite events, and it’s just the beginning.”
“We are working together to make the program successful
and ultimately improve the health of our employees,”
Green said. “I think Arkansas Blue Cross has
as much of a vested interest in not only the success of
the program but in the health of our employees as we
do. So I think that makes a big difference. It isn’t just
another wellness program, it’s our vision for the future.”
We love to hear from you!
May we help? For customer service, please call:
Little Rock Toll-free
Number (501) Number
Medi-Pak members 378-3062 1-800-338-2312
Medi-Pak Advantage members 1-877-233-7022
Medi-Pak Rx members 1-866-390-3369
Arkansas Blue Cross members 378-2010 1-800-238-8379
Pharmacy questions 1-800-863-5561
Specialty Rx Pharmacy questions 1-866-295-2779
Health Advantage members 378-2363 1-800-843-1329
Pharmacy questions 1-800-863-5567
BlueAdvantage members 378-3600 1-888-872-2531
Pharmacy questions 1-888-293-3748
State and Public School members 378-2364 1-800-482-8416
Federal Employee members 378-2531 1-800-482-6655
Looking for health or dental insurance? We can help!
For individuals, families
and those age 65 or older 378-2937 1-800-392-2583
For employer groups 378-3070 1-800-421-1112
(Arkansas Blue Cross Group Services, which includes
Health Advantage and BlueAdvantage Administrators
of Arkansas)
Prefer to speak with someone close to home? Regional Office
telephone numbers:
Pine Bluff/Southeast Region 1-800-236-0369
1800 West 73rd St.
Jonesboro/Northeast Region 1-800-299-4124
707 East Matthews Ave.
Hot Springs/South Central Region 1-800-588-5733
100 Greenwood Ave., Suite C
Texarkana/Southwest Region 1-800-470-9621
1710 Arkansas Boulevard
Fayetteville/Northwest Region 1-800-817-7726
516 East Milsap Rd., Suite 103
Fort Smith/West Central Region 1-866-254-9117
3501 Old Greenwood Rd., Suite 5
Little Rock/Central Region 1-800-421-1112
320 West Capitol Ave., Suite 900
31
Go to Blue & You Online on our Arkansas
Blue Cross and Health Advantage Web sites
for more on Baldor’s Fit 4 Life Program.
Web sites:
arkansasbluecross.com
healthadvantage-hmo.com
blueadvantagearkansas.com
blueandyoufoundationarkansas.org
blueannewe-ark.com
Blue & You Winter 2009

32
At Arkansas Blue Cross
and Blue Shield, we are
always looking for new
ways to be "Good for You."
Here are some of our
latest accomplishments.
Information is good for you! Especially information from
your member magazine, Blue & You! That’s why we’ve
created Blue & You Online. It’s an online version of our
magazine with more information about our featured
stories, more photos and links to more information on
plans, products and information to help you better manage
your health and your health plan. Go to our Arkansas
Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Health Advantage
Web sites and enjoy even more information that’s good
for you!
Want to get fit and need a good deal?
We offer both! If you are a member, visit our Web sites
and receive a discount to a fitness center near you! Go
to arkansasbluecross.com or healthadvantage-hmo.com,
select the “Discount Wellness Program” in the Blue &
You Online section or visit the “Members” section and
select the “Member Discount Programs” under the
Popular Links heading. Either way, find a gym, start saving
money and get fit!
Prepare for a Pandemic
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield wants you to be
prepared during a pandemic or other emergency, so we
have updated a special publication to help you and your
family. “Preparing for a Pandemic,” is available in the
“Members” section of all of our Web sites, or you can
find a link to the publication in the Blue & You Online
section on the home page of the Arkansas Blue Cross
and Health Advantage Web sites.
In Preparing for a Pandemic, you will find:
• Tips on how to avoid spreading germs and how communities
may respond during an emergency.
• Instructions on caring for sick family members and
when to seek medical help.
• Key local and national pandemic resources, how to
access your personal health information, and a place
to assemble critical information about your family.
• Information on how your benefits may change during
a declared pandemic and how to reach us during an
emergency.
Blue & You Winter 2009