Blue & You - Spring 2015

Spring
2015
A publication for the policyholders of the Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield family of companies
page
10
Find a
family doctor
page
6
Using weight
machines
page
14
Shop
healthy
page
16

3
- Treating illness at its source
4
- Welcome to Arkansas Blue Cross
and Blue Shield
6
7
- Find a family doctor
- Get immediate access to your health
care information through My Blueprint
Add weight machines to your routine
to improve strength and reach health
goals faster. — page 14
- Easy ways to pay
8
9
10
12
13
14
16
18
- Tax form information
- Open enrollment is over, but chances
to enroll aren’t
- Community paramedics: Helping
a community live fearlessly
- Arkansas Blue Cross endows chair
in primary care at UAMS
- ArkansasBlue health insurance
store in Lowell now open
- Your Personal Trainer: Weight machines
are for everyone – including you!
- Become a grocery store guru
- Important information about the
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield
security breach
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
- Get your personal health statements
by email
- Personalized medical cost estimates
for all members
- We love the Central Arkansas Heart Walk in April
- The Blue & You Fitness Challenge is underway
- Danny Beck named regional executive
of Arkansas Blue Cross
- Arkansas Blue Cross business scholarship
recipients
- Blue & You Foundation awards $2.6 million
in grants to improve health
- Customer service numbers
- Find us on LinkedIn
Spring
2015
EDITOR: Jennifer Gordon – bnyou-ed@arkbluecross.com • DESIGNER: Ryan Kravitz • PHOTOGRAPHER: Chip Bayer
CONTRIBUTORS: Chip Bayer, Ben McVay and Alex Roberts VICE PRESIDENT of CORPORATE MARKETING: Karen Raley
DIRECTOR of CORPORATE MARKETING: Kelly Whitehorn
BLUE & YOU Spring 2015
on the
cover
David Sator, a community paramedic for Baxter Regional Medical
Center, checks on his patient, Charley Angel, during an in-home
visit. Find out what makes this program special on page 10.

Treating illness at its source
At Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, our
mission always will be to provide you with the most
affordable health care coverage, and we understand
that people want to pay for health care that works.
Our current health care system sometimes has a
difficult time delivering on that promise.
We want you to know that we are looking at the
future of health care by collaborating with providers
of care to deliver on three areas: to improve quality,
improve patient satisfaction with the experience, and
contain the cost of health care. We’ve created new
alliances with hospitals that reward cost efficiency. We
are working to build new structures in primary care
to assure you receive preventive care and evidencebased
treatment. We are working with specialists
to help them understand the appropriate cost and
quality expectations for procedures they perform.
With all this, we still recognize that there are aspects
of health that fall outside the health care system.
What we are finding is that when it comes to illness,
your ZIP code is as important as your genetic code,
and while it is important to focus on the health of
individuals in a community, it is as important to
focus on the health of the community itself. We
will always need to treat people’s symptoms when
they get sick, but what if we started looking at why
people get sick?
Rishi Manchanda, M.D., M.P.H., a doctor and public
health innovator in California, is an “upstreamist.”
He is reinvigorating primary care by teaching
doctors to think about – and treat – the social and
environmental conditions that often underlie illness.
In a recent TED Talk, he told a parable about three
friends who see many children struggling to stay
afloat in a river. The first friend reaches in to pull
out the children who are closest to drowning (like
our emergency and specialist doctors and hospitals
do today). The second friend builds a raft to allow
others to hang on (much like our primary care
doctors). But the third friend swims upstream to
find out why the children are falling in the river in
the first place. This person – the upstreamist – is
often missing in our health care system.
So how do we change our focus from the
symptoms to the conditions that make people
sick in the first place? We start in medical schools,
nursing schools and health professional education
programs by training more upstreamists. Our
support of an endowed chair in primary care at
the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
and scholarships for primary care students is
part of our commitment to training the medical
community in thinking upstream. By asking patients
about their lives, doctors and nurses can identify
environmental factors triggering illnesses and
locate upstreamists to help solve the issues.
For Dr. Manchanda, a pivotal moment was when he
recognized that a patient he had been treating for
debilitating headaches was suffering from a mold
allergy caused by water leaks in her apartment. He
treated her symptoms, but he also helped her to
address the environment that was making her, and
her family, ill.
Another way we can focus on the cause of illness
is by discovering patterns within our communities.
You may live where there is heavy air pollution, an
abundance of fast food restaurants to choose from,
or you may have access to city parks and walkways.
These may seem to be small differences, but living
in those conditions day after day can have a big
influence on your health.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans throughout
the country are using their health care data
and working with public health agencies and
community-based programs to compile maps that
can show the positive and negative aspects of
various communities. Rest assured that this data
doesn’t identify any members, but pairing it with
other information can provide insight into patterns
of illness. If we can discover patterns in our data
and identify an upstream cause of illness, we can
focus resources on ways to address these issues.
Looking upstream is a very different way of
addressing health issues, but it is one we hope will
get more attention in the future. Because ultimately,
we want you to be healthy, and live fearlessly.
Spring 2015 BLUE & YOU

to
Arkansas
Blue Cross
and Blue Shield
If you just recently joined Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, we want to
welcome you. Here are some great services we offer that you might not know about:
My Blueprint
Our online personalized
health self-service center,
My Blueprint, gives you:
• Immediate access to claims
information, benefits and
coverage information
• The ability to review
your doctor, a personal
health record
• A way to estimate your
treatment costs
• A customer service corner
• Health and wellness
resources
Member discounts
As a member of Arkansas
Blue Cross, you have
access to Blue365 ® .
Blue365 offers access to a
wide range of savings from
top health and wellness
brands around the country
plus some of your favorite
local companies. You can
save on healthy products,
along with discounts on
health and fitness clubs,
weight-loss programs,
healthy travel experiences
and so much more.
Coverage when
you travel
Your health plan ID card is
accepted by almost every
doctor and hospital in
Arkansas, and you can take
your health care benefits
with you across the country
and around the world.
You can find a doctor or
hospital outside of Arkansas
by going to our website, or
calling Customer Service.
4 BLUE & YOU Spring 2015

Case management
If you need help navigating
the health care system,
case management can be a
powerful tool. Our nurse case
managers can help you:
• Understand and manage
your health condition
• Help identify physicians
and facilities appropriate
for your needs
• Better understand the
complexities of the health
care system
• Understand and maximize
your benefits
QUESTIONS?
We are
here for you!
We know health care and insurance can be
confusing. We are here to help! If you have
questions or concerns about your health
care coverage, there are a number of ways
we can help:
• Our Customer Service representatives
are a phone call away. They can explain
your benefits, check into a billing
question, help you find a doctor, or
get you in contact with a nurse case
manager. Just call the number on the
back of your member ID card, or find the
number for your health plan on page 23.
• Our websites offer a huge amount
of information. You can find news
about upcoming events sponsored by
Arkansas Blue Cross, learn more about
your health plan, check out the health
and wellness information and even read
Blue & You magazine. You also can email
a Customer Service representative. We
are always a click away.
• Sometimes it is nice to talk to
someone face to face. We have
offices located throughout Arkansas
(see page 23). Come in, enjoy a cup of
coffee and let us help you. Our offices
offer sales, customer service, medical
management and more.
However you choose to talk to us, please
don’t hesitate. We love hearing from you!
Learn more in the “members” section
at arkansasbluecross.com
There are many other benefits to being Blue. If you have
any questions, feel free to visit our website, call one of
our friendly customer service representatives or drop
by one of our offices. We love to hear from you!
These services may not be available to members with Medicare health plans.
Spring 2015 BLUE & YOU
5

Find a
FAMILY
Doctor
At Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, we want
to make sure you get the care you need. In fact, we
are so passionate about this goal that we want to
encourage you to pick a family doctor and tell us.
Why are family doctors important?
• Having a family doctor can improve your
health! Studies show that people with a
family doctor have lower overall health care
costs and are happier with their care.
1.
2.
3.
4.
6 BLUE & YOU Spring 2015
How to choose a doctor
It’s great to ask around to family and friends to find
a doctor, but you want to be sure he or she is in
our network of doctors. To find your family doctor:
Go to the website for your health plan:
arkansasbluecross.com, healthadvantage-hmo.com
or blueadvantagearkansas.com.
Go to the “Members” drop-down menu at the
top of the page and select “Find a Doctor.”
Add your member ID number or the type
of health plan you have.
Choose to search by doctor’s name, location,
specialty or hospital affiliation.
• Sooner or later, everyone needs medical
care. You will receive better and more
personalized care when you see a doctor
who knows you.
• There is a shortage of family doctors in
Arkansas. We want to make sure you, as
our member, have a family doctor when
you need one.
What next?
When you access a list of doctors from our
networks online, you can see each doctor’s
profile, get directions to the clinic and even
rate them after your visit.
We encourage you to schedule a doctor’s
appointment and get to know the doctor
you have chosen. Then, let one of our
customer service representatives know
who you have chosen.
DON’T DELAY
Choose a FAMILY DOCTOR today!

Get immediate access to your health
care information through
[ My Blueprint
[
Our secure member website, My Blueprint, is your
fastest way to access personalized information
regarding your health care coverage.
When you register for My Blueprint you can:
• Estimate your treatment costs, including
personalized medical out-of-pocket amounts
• Review claims history and personal
health statements
• Access a personal health record
• Order a new member ID card
or print a temporary card
• Find out what health care services are
covered through your Benefit Summary
• Review your recent doctor visits
• Access a personal health record
• And much more
All it takes is your member ID card and a few minutes to create the account information.
A version also is available when visiting arkansasbluecross.com on your mobile phone.
If you haven’t registered for My Blueprint, do it today.
These services may not be available to members with Medicare health plans.
Easy ways to pay
If you have an individual or family health plan purchased directly from us
or with help from an agent, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield offers several
convenient ways to pay your bill — online or mobile, by phone or through a bank draft.
ONLINE or MOBILE
Go online to
arkansasbluecross.com/
paybill to make a payment
24/7. You can pay online
using a credit card, debit
card or check. You will need
your member ID number
from your invoice.*
BY PHONE
Call 1-800-354-9904
to pay your bill using
a credit card, debit card
or check. You will need
your member ID number
from your invoice.*
BANK DRAFT
Go to our website or call us
for a form to set up a
monthly automatic
bank draft. It’s the
easiest way to pay!*
If you have questions, visit our website, arkansasbluecross.com.
* Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug plan product members must call Customer
Service (see page 23) to discuss available payment options. Health Advantage
conversion plans are not eligible for online, mobile or pay-by-phone payment options.
Spring 2015 BLUE & YOU
7

tax form
information
The following is a simple explanation about
1095 tax forms, along with some important
information if you received one this year.
What is a 1095?
In 2016, everyone who files a 2015 federal income
tax return will also need to attach a 1095 tax form.
This form is proof that a person has health care
coverage. You may receive a 1095 A, B, or C tax
form from either the federal government, your
health insurance provider or your employer.
1095-A
If you purchased health care coverage
through healthcare.gov in 2014 and received
an advanced premium tax credit (subsidy) to
help lower the cost of your monthly health
insurance premium, you should have received
a 1095-A tax form from the federal government.
This form provides basic information about
your health insurance and is needed for filing
your 2014 taxes.
Do you have the correct 1095-A tax form?
About 20 percent of 1095-A tax forms sent
out in February had incorrect information.
The benchmark plan premium amount, which
is used to determine the premium tax credit
you receive, was incorrect. You should have
received a corrected 1095-A tax form.
You can find out if your form was incorrect by
logging in to your account at healthcare.gov.
You will see a notice message that will let you
know if your form was, or was not, affected.
People who find errors on their form can
contact the Marketplace Call Center at
1-800-318-2596 to request a corrected form.
1095 -B and 1095-C
If you purchased your health plan directly from
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
without going through healthcare.gov, or if you
have health care coverage through an employer,
you will not receive a 1095 tax form this year,
but will receive a 1095-B or 1095-C tax form from
either Arkansas Blue Cross or your employer in
2016 to use in filing your 2015 taxes.
Exclusions
Members with coverage under Arkansas’ private
option (the Healthcare Independence Program)
did not receive a 1095 in 2015, but may in the
future. You also will not receive a 1095 if you
have a non-qualified health plan, such as a
short-term plan.
Your tax preparer should be able to answer any
questions you have regarding your health care
coverage and taxes.
This information should not be construed as tax or legal
advice. Questions about your specific circumstances
should be referred to your tax or legal professional.
8 BLUE & YOU Spring 2015

Open enrollment
is over, but chances
to enroll aren’t!
Opportunities for
Arkansans without
health care coverage and
members with certain
individual and family
health care plans
This information does not apply to
Medicare health plans. For information on
Medicare health plan special enrollment
periods, go to arkansasbluecross.com.
T
he open enrollment period for individual and family health
care coverage ended in February, but you may still be able
to enroll if you are in either of the following situations.
Shared Responsibility Payment
If you ended up paying a Shared Responsibility Payment
(commonly referred to as a tax penalty) for not having
health care coverage when you filed your 2014 tax return,
you may be eligible to apply for coverage this year during a
special enrollment period, from March 15 through April 30.
To qualify, you must meet the following guidelines:
• You currently are not enrolled in coverage through
healthcare.gov for 2015
• You paid the Affordable Care Act penalty for not
having health coverage in 2014 when you filed
your 2014 tax return
• You first became aware of, or understood the
implications of, the penalty in connection with
preparing your 2014 taxes after the end of open
enrollment (February 15, 2015)
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield also will offer this
special enrollment period through its online marketplace
from March 15 through April 30 for customers who paid
a tax penalty but who would rather purchase health care
coverage directly from us.
Qualifying Life Event
Certain life events (usually really big life changes) can make
you eligible to enroll in a new plan at any time in the year.
Examples of these qualifying life events are:
• Marriage
• Birth/adoption/new guardianship
• Recent move to Arkansas
• Involuntary loss of other health insurance coverage
Other qualifying life events like pregnancy or divorce
allow you to make changes to your current health
plan. Visit arkansasbluecross.com to view our individual
and family plans and learn more.
Spring 2015 BLUE & YOU
9

Charley Angel and his wife, Shirley, describe
the Community Paramedic program as
their “life saver” because of the enormous
impact it has had on their lives.
Community Paramedics:
Helping a community live fearlessly
Doctors may not make house
calls anymore, but around
Mountain Home, Arkansas, they
have the next best thing — the
Baxter Regional Medical Center
(BRMC) Community Paramedic
Mobile Healthcare Program.
The Community Paramedic
Program, which sends
paramedics out to recently
discharged patients to help
them Live Fearlessly at home,
recently received their first
grant from the Blue & You
Foundation for a Healthier
Arkansas. The program is the
first community paramedic
pilot in the state and one of
only about 250 nationwide.
“We decided to fund this
program because it continues to
help patients after they leave the
hospital,” said Patrick O’Sullivan,
executive director of the Blue &
You Foundation. “The program
takes the care and attention that
patients received at the hospital
and extends it into their homes,
checking on their progress,
monitoring their recovery and
helping to prevent a return trip
to the hospital. It reverses the
traditional direction of medical
10 BLUE & YOU Spring 2015
care, taking preventive care to
the patient’s home, rather than
waiting for problems to develop
and the patient coming back to
the hospital.”
The Mountain Home area,
tucked between Bull Shoals
and Norfolk lakes in the heart
of the Ozarks, has been an ideal
location for many retirees. In
fact, the percentage of people
65 and older in Baxter and
Marion counties is nearly twice
the Arkansas average. BRMC
is the fifth highest Medicaredependent
hospital in the
United States.
Dan Snyder, the community
paramedic coordinator for
BRMC, said that as much as
the senior community creates a
special culture in the Mountain
Home area, it also creates
a health care challenge. In
2013 BRMC was penalized
by Medicare for its rate of
re-admissions. Dan said the
hospital staff realized that if
they couldn’t find a way to help
patients to heal at home and
stay home, they were going to
be in big financial trouble.
With the Community Paramedic
Program, patients who don’t
qualify for home health care,
and who are recommended by
their doctors, can expect a visit
24 to 48 hours after they arrive
home. Because the paramedics
have access to the patients’
electronic medical records and
can add information as needed,
the medical team has a clear
understanding of the patients’
needs. During the first visit
the paramedics can assess
the home for fall risks, make
sure the patient has plenty of
food available, verify that their
prescriptions have been filled
and that they know how to take
them and put them in contact
with area resources if needed.
“It is the future of health care,
in our eyes,” said Dan.
Ron Peterson, the chief
executive officer of BRMC, said
the Community paramedic
program has been beneficial
to the hospital and the
patients. “The word ‘discharge’
has disappeared from our
vocabulary because we
continue to follow our patients
once they leave the hospital.
The program is a win-win
because we offer better patient
care and it saves the hospital
money in the long run.”
The program is estimated to
have saved BRMC a great deal
in penalties by avoiding readmissions
since the beginning
of the program in March 2013.
How has it been received by
the patients?

This program … we call it our
life saver,” said Shirley Angel,
whose husband, Charley, has
been a patient in the Community
Paramedic Program.
Never one to slow down,
Charley had put off taking
care of a hernia until he was
just too uncomfortable. It was
supposed to be a relatively
simple procedure, but instead
of one hernia, there were
several. He went home a few
days later, but by that evening,
he and Shirley knew something
wasn’t right.
Shirley called the Community
Paramedic hotline for someone
to check on him. The paramedic/
registered nurse who came out
recognized that Charley needed
immediate medical attention,
contacted his doctor and called
for an ambulance. By the time
Charley reached BRMC, they
were ready to quickly remove
fluid in his abdomen from
the surgery.
While Charley’s situation was
a re-admission, it was one that
could have been worse had
the Community Paramedic
Program not been available to
assess his situation.
After being released a second
time, Charley was more than
willing to allow the community
paramedics to visit him weekly
and check his health.
“The pleasure of these
gentlemen coming here and
taking care of me,” Charley
said, “it brings peace to us.”
“Charley has been one of our
successes,” said David Sator,
a community paramedic who
regularly checks on Charley.
“He follows directions and
he has Shirley to make
sure he does what he is
supposed to do.”
The program takes the care and attention
that patients received at the hospital and
extends it into their homes.
By getting more involved in the
lives of patients who repeatedly
call for an ambulance or end
up in the ER, the paramedics
have been able to find out
why a person’s health is failing
and address their needs. And
instead of telling patients what
to do, a big part of setting
recovery goals is asking them
what they believe would help
them get better.
“We’ve had several patients who
were so shocked when we asked
them what they needed that they
started crying,” Gerald Cantrell,
RN, the paramedic/emergency
medical services manager said.
The program is making a
difference in the lives of the
paramedics as well. “What
we are doing is not only
benefitting our patients, it is
career changing for
our staff,” Gerald said.
That was readily apparent when
the community paramedics
‘‘
– Patrick O’Sullivan
executive director of the Blue & You Foundation
stopped by to check on Ron
Tate, who has struggled with
the effects of a severe stroke
and a heart attack that would
have stopped most people.
With the help of the Community
Paramedic program, Ron’s family
gets the support they need to
keep Ron at home, and Ron gets
to visit with people who have
become close friends.
“It’s peace of mind that they
come every Wednesday,” Ron’s
wife, Jeannie, said.
Ron’s speech is still limited
by the stroke, but as Jeannie
talked about his progress in
the program, he shared a few
choice words — which got the
group laughing — and then
stood up and took a few steps
on his own with a cane. That
was met with cheers and a few
glimmers of tears in the eyes of
the burly paramedics. After all,
he isn’t just a patient to them;
he is one of their friends.
Ron Tate, left, a victim of both a stroke and heart attack, has made
great strides in his recovery in large part because of the attention he
receives from Dan Snyder and the Community Paramedic Program.
Spring 2015 BLUE & YOU 11
‘‘

Mark White, president and chief
executive officer of Arkansas
Blue Cross and Blue Shield,
addresses members of the
media and representatives of
the University of Arkansas for
Medical Sciences immediately
after presenting a check for
$1 million to the school.
Arkansas Blue Cross
endows chair in
primary care at UAMS
The Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, George
K. Mitchell, M.D., Endowed Chair in Primary Care
was announced at the University of Arkansas for
Medical Sciences (UAMS) in February.
The $1 million endowment honors Mitchell —
a UAMS graduate, Arkansas Blue Cross board
member and retired president. The chair holder,
when appointed, will focus on innovations in
primary care to meet the triple aim of health
system reform — better care, better patient
experience and lower cost — through the
incorporation of team-based care, health
promotion, health literacy and population
health strategies into primary care settings.
“We believe this chair is an investment — not only
in the good partnership between Arkansas Blue
Cross and UAMS to provide quality health care for
Arkansans — but also to ensure that the future of
excellent primary health care is secure for all of
Arkansas,” said Mark White, president and chief
executive officer of Arkansas Blue Cross.
Mitchell, who graduated with honors from
the UAMS College of Medicine in 1956, was
president and chief executive officer of Arkansas
Blue Cross from 1975 until his 1993 retirement.
He was a co-founder and senior partner of the
Little Rock Diagnostic Clinic prior to joining
Arkansas Blue Cross as medical director in
1968. He serves on the boards of Arkansas
Blue Cross and the Blue & You Foundation.
Blue & You Foundation supports
programs at UAMS
The Blue & You Foundation for a Healthier
Arkansas awarded $150,000 grants each to the
UAMS Center for Dental Education and to the
UAMS Office of Interprofessional Education.
The grant to the Center for Dental Education
in the UAMS College of Health Professions
will expand an externship program that brings
fourth-year dental students from the University
of Tennessee College of Dentistry to UAMS for
two-week clinic rotations.
The grant to the UAMS Office of Interprofessional
Education will fund development of a curriculum
for interprofessional education, which occurs
when students from two or more professions
learn from, about and with one another to
improve health outcomes.
12 BLUE & YOU Spring 2015

Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
opens ArkansasBlue health
insurance store in Lowell.
At Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue
Shield, we want to be as easy to
reach as a mouse click or a phone
call. But sometimes you need a bit
more — a friendly smile, a cup of
coffee, a chance to talk face to
face. In January, we made that
easier for our members and
customers in Northwest Arkansas
by cutting the ribbon to the
new ArkansasBlue health
insurance store in Lowell.
The staff of the Lowell
ArkansasBlue health
insurance store stand
ready to help customers
with their insurance needs.
The new ArkansasBlue, located at 507
W. Monroe, Suite B, in Lowell, Ark., is
the fourth insurance store in the state. It
is place for the residents of Northwest
Arkansas to shop for affordable health,
dental and vision insurance and get
one-on-one help from ArkansasBlue’s
staff of health insurance experts.
“Arkansas Blue Cross knows how
important Lowell and the surrounding
communities are to our great state
and we want to make it easy and
convenient for residents to find the
most affordable health insurance plan
possible,” said Mark White, president
and chief executive officer. A fullservice
regional sales and service
center is still located in Fayetteville.
Danny Beck is the regional executive
of the Northwest and West Central
regions for Arkansas Blue Cross.
The original ArkansasBlue store is
located in West Little Rock at the
Shackleford Crossings Shopping
Center. The state’s other ArkansasBlue
stores are located in Pine Bluff
at 509 Mallard Loop Drive and
Hot Springs at 1635 Higdon
Ferry Road – Suite J.
Spring 2015 BLUE & YOU
13

Your Personal
Trainer
Weight machines
are
foreveryone
— including you!
If you’ve ever been intimidated by the gym, you’re
not alone. About 67 percent of people with a gym
membership never use them. Many people don’t
know where to start, especially if they’re looking to
add strength training to their routine. Pulleys here,
levers there, pin this, hold that—weight machines
can be a nightmare to the uninitiated.
But weight machines are a good place to start if
you’re new to strength training. Here’s why: weight
machines guide your muscles through simple-toperform,
introductory movements. This allows you
to worry less about your coordination and more
about form and breathing. You’ll build up strength
while the machines give support and stability and
reduce your risk of injury.
Strength training offers a lot of health advantages,
so it’s in your best interest to add it to your
wellness routine. Always check with your doctor
before beginning an exercise program.
Who Should use Weight Machines?
Everyone! Weight machines are good for
people of all fitness levels. Beginners get
the support they need and experienced
lifters can target specific muscle groups.
People with injuries can work around
them, and older people receive awesome
benefits. Women who fear getting bulky
needn’t worry—weights only lean your
muscles and give them more definition.
Starting a Strength Training Program
In addition to your cardio workouts, fitness
experts recommend strength training with
a variety of machines 2-3 times a week to
receive maximum benefits. That means you
need a plan!
ST
ND
RD
Mark your calendar with the times
you want to work out.
Decide whether you will
target specific areas or do a
full-body workout each session.
Write down your routine.*
Visit your gym to become familiar with the
equipment available. Most machines have
pictures and diagrams to show you how
to use them, but staff is also there to help.
It’s their job to ensure your safety so don’t
be afraid to ask!
Benefits of Strength Training
LOWERS:
• Body fat
• Risk of osteoporosis by increasing spinal
bone density
• Risk of heart disease by lowering blood
pressure and LDL (bad cholesterol) while
raising HDL (good cholesterol)
• Risk of diabetes by changing the way
the body processes sugar
IMPROVES:
• Attitude and fights depression
• Sleep quality
• Strength and reduces risk of injury,
back pain and arthritis
* For a sample strength training guide, go to
Blue & You magazine in the members section
of arkansasbluecross.com or CLICK HERE:
http://issuu.com/action/page?page=25
14 BLUE & YOU Spring 2015

How to Know How Much to Lift
If you’re just starting a program, you’ll want to
lift 50 to 60 percent of the maximum amount of
weight you can lift for one repetition. Start by
picking a reasonable weight you can lift. If you
can lift it more than 10 times, it is too light; less
than 10, it is too heavy. Divide that weight in
half, or maybe slightly more, in order to find a
good starting point. Repeat this process for each
machine you use.
Lifting for Lean Muscle Mass or Endurance
All weight training builds lean muscle mass. The
question is, do you want to build more muscle
mass or increase your muscle endurance?
Remember, the more lean
muscle mass, the less body fat.
For lean muscle, lift heavier weights and do fewer
reps (8-10). For endurance, lift lighter weights at
higher reps (12-16).
Performing Your Routine
Before you start your session, make sure:
• To warm up with 10-20 minutes of cardio
and dynamic stretching.
• The machine is adjusted to your height.
If seated, your thighs should parallel the floor.
• The pin reserves the right amount of weight.
Too much weight can cause injury.
Limits of Weight Machines
Weight machines have their perks, but they
also have limits.
1. Weight machines are designed for people
of average height. You may not be able to
use proper form if you are shorter or taller
than average.
2. The repetitive movement of isolated
muscle groups means your muscles,
tendons and ligaments have an increased
risk of pattern overload injuries.
3. Weight machines do not train stabilizing
muscles and muscle groups to work
together. If you have trouble lifting a 50
pound box but you can lift 100 pounds
on the weight machine, you might need
to switch to free weights. Free weights
engage multiple muscle groups to avoid
these issues.
As you perform your set:
• Keep your back straight.
• Maintain muscle tension by completing the
movements in a slow and controlled manner.
• Breathe out when you’re
pushing or pulling. Breathe
in when you’re returning the
weight to its original position.
• Perform to near fatigue. Your last set
should tax you but not be impossible.
Exhale
through the
exertion!
Spring 2015 BLUE & YOU
15

Grocery
store
tours
become a
A healthy trip to the grocery
store can be difficult!
There are so many products
to choose from — dozens of
breads, organic versus nonorganic
produce and sugary
cereals that masquerade in
healthy-looking boxes. How
do you tackle the grocery
store with confidence and
keep your cart filled with
a healthy bounty? Check
out the following tips from
Arkansas Blue Cross and
Blue Shield’s registered
dietitian and wellness
specialist, Kristen Rowe.
what every grocery guru should remember
COOK
FOOD
WALK THE
PERIMETER
Ready-made meals are more likely
to be high in fat, salt and sugar.
Prepare your meals at home, from
scratch, to help trim your waistline.
The middle of the grocery store
features less healthy, more processed
food. The healthier food is on the
outskirts, so stick to the perimeter.
EVERYTHING IN
MODERATION
Don’t load up 32 bunches of
bananas because the latest
trend is bananas. Eat and drink
everything in moderation.
16 BLUE & YOU Spring 2015

produce
– Buy in season for the best value
– The more colors, the better
– Add a new fruit or vegetable each week
DID YOU KNOW?
Organic fruits and veggies are grown
without conventional pesticides,
synthetic fertilizers or other bioengineering.
However, no research shows any
nutritional difference between organic
and conventional fruits and vegetables.
meat, poultry, fish & seafood
– Be careful of packaged deli meats and
canned seafood — they usually contain
high amounts sodium
– Avoid cuts of meat that have lots of
marbling, which is high in saturated fat
– Frozen seafood has the same nutritional
value as fresh
grains
– Choose bread with at least 2-4 grams
of fiber per serving
– Buy whole grain or 100 percent
whole wheat bread
cereal
– Find a cereal with at least 4-5 grams
of fiber per serving
– Choose a cereal with no more than
5-8 grams of sugar per serving
dairy
– Select 1 percent or skim
– Choose non-fat or low-fat yogurt
– Eat real cheese, stick to the serving size
eggs
– Eat no more than 3-4 whole eggs a week
DID YOU KNOW?
The average supermarket sells more than 47,000 products.
beverages
DID YOU KNOW?
DID YOU KNOW?
– Avoid all high-sugar beverages
like soda and fruit drinks
– Drink diet beverages sparingly
(even though it says diet!)
canned goods
– Watch the salt content in
canned vegetables
– Look for fruit packed in water
or its own juices
Ingredients are always listed in descending order on the
package, so the first ingredient is the largest component
of the food.
frozen foods
– Frozen fruits and vegetables have all the
nutrients of fresh fruits and vegetables
There are many labels in the
meat and poultry section.
Some mean more than others:
Certified organic = Must meet specific requirements, including
no antibiotics, hormones, pesticides or biotechnology.
Free-range = Chickens must be given access to the outdoors,
but the amount of time and space is not regulated. There is
no “free range” definition for beef or pork products.
Grass-fed = Animals are given regular access to the pasture,
so they eat grass instead of grain. When the animal eats
outside the pasture, then it’s hay. However, grass-fed animals
can still be given antibiotics and hormones.
Natural = The meat contains no artificial ingredients or
added color and was minimally processed. This designation
does not address how the animal was raised.
Spring 2015 BLUE & YOU
17

Important information
about
the
Anthem
Blue Cross and Blue Shield
security breach
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and our
affiliated companies, take seriously the data breach
that occurred in January at our sister Blue Plan,
Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Our mission is protecting the people
and communities we serve – your health, your financial security, and in the
21st century, your privacy. We have made good on that promise for years,
and we will continue to do so.
Data breaches are a serious and constantly evolving threat confronting
all sectors of our economy and society. We understand and share the
anxiety and frustration our members have about their personal information
being at risk. We continue to work to protect your members’ information.
All members of Blue Plans affected by this data
breach received a letter and have been offered
free credit monitoring and free identity repair
services. Arkansas Blue Cross will stay on top of
the situation and keep our members informed.
If you notice services on your
Personal Health Statement that you
or your family members have not
received, please call the number on
your member ID card immediately.
Get notice of your Personal
Health Statements by email
These days it is hard to find time to slow down and
look through your mail, so Arkansas Blue Cross and
Blue Shield offers a more efficient way to get notice
of your Personal Health Statement — by email.
Your Personal Health Statement (PHS) is designed
to help you better understand your recent medical
and prescription claims, including:
• Total amounts charged
• Your discounts just for being a member
• What your health plan paid on your claims
• What you owe, or may have paid, to your
medical provider
A PHS is issued twice a month if you have medical
claims, and quarterly if you only have pharmacy claims.
You can register to receive notification of your PHS
by email through My Blueprint, our member selfservice
center on our websites. When you receive
an email notification, you can log in to My Blueprint
to view your PHS. When you share your email with
us it also allows us to communicate with you by
email if we have other important information for
you. As a courtesy to you, our customer service
representatives may ask you for an email address,
or to update your email address. Sharing your email
address with us is always voluntary.
If you like to save trees, and want to get your PHS
efficiently, signing up to get notice of your PHS by
email is the way to go!
18 BLUE & YOU Spring 2015
These services may not be available to members with Medicare health plans.

Personalized Medical Cost
Estimates For All Members
Transparency in health care cost and quality is
quickly becoming the new normal. At Arkansas
Blue Cross and Blue Shield, we know you want
transparency when it comes to your doctors,
your health and your money.
Nationwide, and here in Arkansas, the Blues
have been meeting those needs through
initiatives such as the Blue Distinction Centers
of Excellence (designation for facilities that
meet standards for quality care); provider
}
Including YOU!
reviews (members can review recent health
care provider office visits after a claim is filed);
and through a link in our secure member
website/account (My Blueprint), where
you can estimate your treatment costs. This
link gives you access to the cost (including
your out-of-pocket costs based on your
health plan) of 1,632 different treatments.
These services may not be available to members
with Medicare health plans.
It’s easy to use. Simply log in to
your secure member account, then:
1. Select yourself or a covered dependent
2. Select a location
3. Select a category for treatment
(i.e. back or eyes or diabetes, etc.)
4. Select a specific treatment
Select the “Get Results” button
and you will receive:
• Facility options
• Cost estimate by facility
• Average cost by facility
• Estimated out-of-pocket cost
(matched to your benefits)
• Distance from your ZIP code to the facility
The tool also provides definitions and lets
you know where the closest Blue Distinction
Center is located for the treatment selected.
This tool is available to all Arkansas Blue
Cross, Health Advantage and BlueAdvantage
members through My Blueprint, our secure
member website.
From January through September 2014,
111,899 members viewed a treatment
category and 47,952 members viewed
the results.
The tool is an important part of our focus
on improving cost and quality transparency.
These services may not be available to members
with Medicare health plans.
Spring 2015 BLUE & YOU
19

NEWS
We
the Central Arkansas Heart Walk in April!
Share the love and join
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue
Shield for the Central Arkansas
Heart Walk at 9 a.m., Saturday,
April 25, in Burns Park in North
Little Rock. The walk begins at
the soccer fields.
Come visit the Arkansas Blue
Cross team and get hugs and
high-fives from Blue Ann Ewe,
our health ambassador. The
American Heart Association is a
nonprofit that is near and dear
to our hearts!
The Blue & You Fitness
Challenge is underway!
Ready, set, go… If you registered for the Blue & You
Fitness Challenge, then you’d better get moving!
The Challenge officially started in March.
The Blue & You Fitness Challenge is an exercise contest,
held March through May of each year, that encourages
people to exercise 30 minutes each day, most days of
the week. Participants log their exercise online to earn
virtual medals. Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield,
the Arkansas Department of Health and the Arkansas
Department of Human Services host the Challenge.
18 20 BLUE & YOU Spring 2015
So, if you are in the Challenge, don’t give up and
don’t forget to log your exercise! If you missed it this
year, go to the health and wellness section under
“Members” at arkansasbluecross.com to learn more.

Danny Beck named regional executive
of Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield –
Northwest and West Central Regions
Danny Beck has been named regional executive
of the northwest and west central regions for
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, including
offices in Fayetteville, Fort Smith and the new
ArkansasBlue store in Lowell.
Beck joined Arkansas Blue Cross in 1994 and
most recently was an account manager in
Northwest Arkansas. He earned his bachelor’s
degree in finance from the University of Arkansas
at Fayetteville and his master’s in business
administration from the University of Arkansas
at Little Rock. He is a certified financial manager
and earned a professional designation from the
Academy for Healthcare Management.
Danny Beck
Other Arkansas Blue Cross offices and ArkansasBlue
stores are available throughout the state. Come see
our regional executives in the following locations:
Bryan Dorathy
Hot Springs and Texarkana
John Glassford
Little Rock and Pine Bluff
Bill Brown
Jonesboro
Arkansas Blue Cross business
scholarship recipients
In 2003, Arkansas Blue
Cross and Blue Shield
established an endowed
scholarship fund for
undergraduate students in
the University of Arkansas
Sam M. Walton College of
Business. Each year, several
outstanding business
students are rewarded
this scholarship for their
academic achievements
and dedication.
The following students are the 2014-2015 recipients of the scholarship:
• Kendall Ashworth of Fayetteville will graduate in May 2016
with a degree in accounting/information systems.
• Edgar Camarillo of Berryville will graduate
in May 2017 with a degree in finance.
• Elizabeth Simmons of Huntsville will graduate in May 2017
with a degree in accounting.
• Amy Zhu of Hope will graduate in May 2017
with a degree in international business/Chinese.
Spring 2015 BLUE & YOU 21

Blue & You Foundation
awards $2.6 million in grants to improve health
From walking trails, to food pantries to training
first responders, the Blue & You Foundation
for a Healthier Arkansas touches the lives of all
Arkansans. Recently the Foundation awarded a
total of $2,674,119 in major grants to 35 health
improvement programs in Arkansas.
The major grants awarded for 2015:
Statewide
Arkansas Children’s Hospital Foundation – Little Rock
GoNoodle Plus activity breaks for public schools
Arkansas Trauma Education and Research
Foundation, Inc. – Little Rock
Research on trauma costs and response
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences
(UAMS) – Little Rock
Dental student program
UAMS – Little Rock
Interprofessional education
Baptist Health Foundation – Little Rock
Training for breastfeeding consulting
Central
City of Fairfield Bay
Exercise trail
Faulkner County Council on Aging, Inc. – Conway
Senior health and exercise
Project HOPE Food Bank – Hot Springs
Emergency food boxes
Northwest
Baxter Regional Medical Center – Mountain Home
Community Paramedics Pilot Program
City of Cave Spring
Exercise trail
City of Greenland
Exercise trail
The Blue & You Foundation awards grants to
nonprofit or governmental organizations and
programs that positively affect the health of
Arkansans. The foundation offers major grants
and mini-grants of $1,000 each. In its 13 years
of operation, the Blue & You Foundation has
awarded nearly $22 million to 584 health
improvement programs in Arkansas.
Northwest (cont.)
Jasper Elementary School – Jasper
Elementary/community playground
Northwest Arkansas Children’s Shelter – Bentonville
Behavioral management training
Northwest Arkansas Free Health Center – Fayetteville
Dental care
Prairie Grove Schools – Prairie Grove
Physical education curriculum
City of Marshall
Exercise trail
Washington Regional Medical Foundation – Fayetteville
Palliative care program
Yellville Summit School District – Yellville
School vegetable garden
Northeast
Augusta First United Methodist Church – Augusta
Community food pantry
City of Gosnell
Exercise trail
City of Jonesboro
Exercise trail
Food Bank of Northeast Arkansas, Inc. – Jonesboro
Backpack with snacks for school children
Ozarka College – Melbourne
Cardio wellness, fitness challenge and safety program
22 BLUE & YOU Spring 2015

Northeast (cont.)
Piggott Community Hospital – Piggott
Telemedicine equipment
Piggott Parks and Recreation – Piggott
Exercise trail
White River Health System, Inc. – Batesville
Birthing simulator and instructor training
Southwest
Healthy Connections, Inc. – Mena
Emergency dental care and dental education
Our Lady of Good Hope Catholic Church – Hope
Food pantry
Southern Arkansas University – Magnolia
Medical simulation and training equipment
Texarkana Arkansas Police Department
Health and safety
Southeast
City of Lake Village
Exercise trail
City of Portland
Exercise trail
Greater Delta Alliance for Health, Inc. – DeWitt
Birthing simulator
Vera Lloyd Presbyterian Family Services – Monticello
Fitness and nutrition supplies for foster children
Woodlawn School District – Rison
Exercise trail
The application deadline for major grants for 2016 is July 15.
The Blue & You Foundation also offers $1,000 mini-grants to
support health improvement projects in Arkansas. Applications
for mini-grants are accepted through the end of March. For
more information about both grant application processes, visit
the foundation website 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.
CUSTOMER SERVICE NUMBERS
May we help?
For customer service, please call:
TOLL FREE Number
Medi-Pak ® members 1-800-338-2312
Medi-Pak ® Advantage members 1-877-233-7022
Medi-Pak ® Rx members 1-866-390-3369
Arkansas Blue Cross members 1-800-238-8379
• Pharmacy questions 1-800-863-5561
• Specialty Rx pharmacy questions 1-866-295-2779
Arkansas Blue Cross Metallic members
(Gold, Silver, Bronze, Catastrophic) 1-800-800-4298
• Pharmacy questions 1-800-969-3983
Health Advantage members 1-800-843-1329
• Pharmacy questions 1-800-863-5567
BlueAdvantage members 1-888-872-2531
• Pharmacy questions 1-888-293-3748
Federal Employee members 1-800-482-6655
Looking for health or dental insurance? We can help!
For individuals, families 1-800-392-2583
For employer groups* 1-800-421-1112
*Arkansas Blue Cross, Health Advantage and BlueAdvantage Administrators of Arkansas
PAY YOUR *
B I L L
To pay by phone*, please call 1-800-354-9904
Prefer to speak with someone close to home?
Call or visit one of our offices near you:
• ArkansasBlue — Little Rock
2612 S. Shackleford Rd., Suite J 1-501-378-2222
• Fayetteville
516 East Millsap Rd., Suite 103 1-800-817-7726
• Fort Smith
3501 Old Greenwood Rd., Suite 5 1-866-254-9117
• ArkansasBlue — Hot Springs
1635 Higdon Ferry Rd. – Suite J 1-800-588-5733
• Jonesboro
707 East Matthews Ave. 1-800-299-4124
• Little Rock
601 S. Gaines Street 1-800-421-1112
• ArkansasBlue — Lowell
507 W. Monroe Ave. – Suite B 1-888-872-2539
• ArkansasBlue — Pine Bluff
509 Mallard Loop Drive 1-800-236-0369
• Texarkana
1710 Arkansas Boulevard 1-800-470-9621
Visit our websites for more information:
arkansasbluecross.com • healthadvantage-hmo.com
blueadvantagearkansas.com
blueandyoufoundationarkansas.org
Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug plan product members must call
Customer Service to discuss available payment options. Health Advantage
conversion plans are not eligible for online, mobile or pay-by-phone payment option.
Spring 2015 BLUE & YOU
23

Find us on
!
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield has
repeatedly been voted by its employees as one
of the best places to work in Arkansas, so it only
makes sense that we would be on LinkedIn.
LinkedIn, the world’s largest professional network,
allows people to network online. Are you
interested in learning more about Arkansas Blue
Cross and Blue Shield? Would you like to connect
with our employees? Would you like to find a list
of our current jobs? You can learn a lot about us,
and our employees, on LinkedIn!
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