Blue & You - Summer 2015

Summer
2015
A publication for the policyholders of the Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield family of companies
Communities all across
Arkansas are enjoying
new facilities for running,
walking and even
hiking thanks to the
generosity of the
Blue & You Foundation
for a Healthier Arkansas.
Are Vaccines
Safe?
page
5
Mending
Jaxon’s Heart
page
10
Financial Privacy
Information
page
18

3 - Out of the Blue
12 - “Hit the Trail” with the
Blue & You Foundation
4 - Be part of the community immunity
- Get immunized at zero cost
- Get ready for the trails
5
6
7
8
9
10
- Are vaccines safe?
- Do you have a family doctor?
- Welcome to Advantage Primary Care
- Get immediate access to your health
care information through My Blueprint
- GeoBlue – Take Blue with you!
- Another way to buy diabetic supplies
- Living Fearlessly: Mending Jaxon’s heart
Jaxon McGarrah plays with his mother, Ashley McGarrah. Read how
this family has handled his congenital heart defect with the help of
Arkansas Blue Cross on page 10.
14
16
17
18
19
20
- National Walk @ Lunch Day!
- Central Arkansas Heart Walk
- Arkansas needs more nurses
- Arkansas Arts Center’s Children’s Theatre
- Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Financial Information Privacy Notice
- Customer Service Numbers
- Boo with Blue!
Summer
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 Summer 2015
on the
cover
Walkers enjoy one of 15 trails and tracks funded by
the Blue & You Foundation. See more on page 12.

For nearly 70 years, Arkansas Blue Cross and
Blue Shield has been trusted by Arkansans for
affordable and reliable health insurance coverage,
and it’s our privilege to count one in three people
in our state as customers. Included in that number
are thousands of individuals who gained coverage
through the expansion of Medicaid—called the
Private Option—made possible by the Affordable
Care Act (ACA).
This summer, a task force composed of members
of the Arkansas Legislature is working to determine
the future of this program, as well as the way
we manage care for other low-income and more
vulnerable residents of our state, such as people with
disabilities. Because of our long history in Arkansas
and the role we’ve played in implementing the
federal requirements of the ACA, we have a unique
perspective on the challenges and opportunities
faced by the Health Care Reform Task Force as they
work to improve our health care system.
As the task force continues its important work,
I encourage its members to consider several
important points:
1. It is hard to argue that Medicaid expansion
hasn’t been good for the state. It has created
jobs for many Arkansans, including 200 new
positions at Arkansas Blue Cross. It has injected
a billion federal dollars into our local economy
and the impact will be multiplied the way all
such infusions are. It has helped hospitals in
the state get on more solid financial footing
by dramatically decreasing the amount of
uncompensated care they provide, and taken
the pressure off of taxpayers who otherwise
foot the bill for the uninsured who are forced to
get their health care at the emergency room.
Even when the state begins to absorb 10
percent of the cost of the program in 2020 — an
important and central issue in the debate about
its continuation — it’s important to remember
that Arkansas will be getting nine dollars back
in economic benefit for every one dollar we
invest. Not a bad return on investment. Let’s
make sure that all Arkansans continue to
benefit from this kind of economic boon by
supporting some form of coverage expansion.
2. We hope legislators look toward a free
enterprise solution – one that is not overly
controlled by the federal government and one
that allows the market to provide Arkansans
with high-quality, cost-efficient health coverage.
Lawmakers took an enterprising approach
when crafting the private option and many have
since noted opportunities for improvement. An
example would be removing incentives to drive
unnecessary costs. Currently, the Private Option
does not require patients to pay a copayment
for a visit to the emergency room (a very
expensive place to receive care). Yet the Private
Option does require policyholders to pay a
copayment when they visit a family practice
doctor (a very affordable and usually more
appropriate place to receive care). Commonsense
solutions that address issues like these
will go a long way in achieving real cost savings
for the program, while giving people greater
incentives for taking personal responsibility
and making better health care choices. That’s
how private business manages cost and this
program should, too.
At the same time, free markets recognize that
doctors and hospitals will not provide medical
services if they cannot cover their costs and
make a reasonable margin. For too long, our
members, as well as other Arkansans who have
commercial insurance, have paid a “hidden
tax” that is included in their health insurance
premiums. This hidden tax takes the form of
doctors and hospitals charging more than is
required to cover the care of commercially
“OUT OF THE BLUE”
Continued on page 19
Summer 2015 BLUE & YOU

Be part
Community
of the
The recent multi-state outbreak
of measles sparked concern
about when — and if — people
are getting immunizations. In
2000, the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention (CDC)
declared that the measles virus
had been removed from the
United States as it no longer
had a constant presence in
the country. But, communities
of people who refuse to
vaccinate are leaving the
nation vulnerable to the
re-establishment of the
measles and other viruses.
When a critical portion of a
community is immunized
against a contagious disease,
most members of the
community are protected
against that disease because
there is little opportunity for
an outbreak. Even those
who are not eligible for
Immunity
certain vaccines — such as
infants, pregnant women,
or people who have weak
immune systems — get
some protection because the
spread of contagious disease
is contained. This is known as
“community immunity.”
In the illustration to the right,
the top box depicts a community
in which no one is immunized
and an outbreak occurs. In
the middle box, some of the
population is immunized but not
enough to establish community
immunity. In the bottom box, a
critical portion of the population
is immunized, protecting most
community members.
The principle of community
immunity applies to control
of a variety of contagious
diseases, including the flu, measles,
mumps, a stomach virus called
rotavirus and types of pneumonia.
“Unless your child has an
immune deficiency as noted
by his or her physician, a
decision not to immunize your
child is really a decision to
allow your child to get one of
these dreaded and potentially
disabling or deadly diseases,”
said Robert Griffin, senior vice
president and chief medical
officer for Arkansas Blue Cross
and Blue Shield. “Early in my
medical career I took care of
many of these children who
were institutionalized due to the
complications of conditions that
could be prevented today. Sadly,
these illnesses appear to be
returning as parents choose not
to immunize their children.”
Blue Cross and Blue Shield and its family of companies just made life a
little easier. If you, or your dependents, are under age 65, you now can get important
immunizations at your local pharmacy for no cost. Check out our list of vaccines and visit
your local pharmacy for a fast, free vaccination. Here are some perks for going to your
pharmacist for vaccinations:
Prevent serious diseases
Skip the waiting room
Get immunized
No doctor’s appointment necessary Zero cost to you
at
Don’t wait! Talk to your pharmacist today about the immunizations that may benefit you.
get immunized
zero{Arkansas
It’s less expensive to prevent a disease than to treat one.
cost Immunizations protect you from serious diseases and
prevent the spread of others. By offering immunizations
at the pharmacy, Arkansas Blue Cross makes it easier for
you and your family to be immunized.
4 BLUE & YOU Summer 2015
This service is not available to members with Medicare health plans.
If you are covered under a self-funded health plan administered by
BlueAdvantage Administrators of Arkansas, you should check with your
plan administrator to find out if these benefits are available to you.
Members with Medi-Pak
Advantage and Medi-Pak
supplement health plans
have different benefits
for immunizations that
may not include 100
percent coverage. Please
call customer service for
more information.

ARE VACCINES
SAFE?
Absolutely. Rumors linking
vaccines to autism or autism
spectrum disorder (ASD) likely
began because symptoms of
ASD typically appear in the
second year of life, not long after
vaccines are given. While the
environmental causes of ASD
are largely unknown, studies
by the Institute of Medicine
and the American Academy of
Pediatrics, among others, have
specifically shown that there
is no relationship between
vaccines and autism. The
medical community considers
vaccines to be very safe. The
most common side effects are
fever and mild rash.
GET VACCINATED
If you or your children aren’t
vaccinated, you can get the
vaccinations listed below for
free at your local pharmacy.
It’s never too late.
Source: cdc.gov
Visit your local pharmacy
vaccines*
Haemophilus Influenzae Type b (Hib)
Hepatitis A
Hepatitis B
Herpes Zoster / Shingles
Human Papillomavirus (HPV)
Inactivated Poliovirus (polio)
Influenza (flu)
Children
Adults
Measles, Mumps, Rubella (MMR)
Meningococcal
Pneumococcal
Rotavirus
Tetanus
Tetanus, Diphtheria and Pertussis (Tdap)
Varicella (chickenpox)
* Pharmacists in Arkansas can vaccinate children age 7 and older. Those between the ages of 7 and 18
require a prescription from a physician for all immunizations except for the seasonal flu shot.
Summer 2015 BLUE & YOU
5

Do you have a
family
doctor?
At Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, we want you to pick a
family doctor to oversee your health. In fact, studies have shown
that people with a family doctor have lower overall health care
costs and are happier with their care.
Why is this important now?
In the past, you may never have had any problems
finding a doctor. However, after the new health care law
passed, thousands of Arkansans signed up for health
insurance for the very first time. This made an already
crowded health care system even more crowded.
Arkansas Blue Cross wants to make sure you have a family
doctor (or other primary care doctor, like a pediatrician
or internist). If you’ve already chosen a family doctor, we
would like to say thank you. You’ve taken an important step
in staying healthy.
To select a 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.”
• Enter your member ID number or the type of
health plan you have.
• Choose to search by doctor’s name, location,
specialty or hospital affiliation.
When you have selected a family doctor, call and
let us know, and we will update our records.
1.
3 REASONS
to have a family doctor
A family doctor may help improve
your health. Your family doctor
will make sure you and your family
get the care you need, including
checkups to keep you healthy.
2.
A family doctor may help you
lower your out-of-pocket costs.
Getting care from a family doctor
is a smart way to spend your
money on health care.
3.
A family doctor can save you time.
No more waiting in a crowded
emergency room when you’re sick!
6 BLUE & YOU Summer 2015

welcome to
Advantage Primary Care is a new
primary care clinic in Lowell that
provides health care exclusively for
members of Arkansas Blue Cross and
Blue Shield and its family of companies.
Washington Regional Medical Center
staffs and operates the new clinic.
Advantage Primary Care is a patientcentered
medical home (PCMH). That
means the medical team will identify
services needed to improve your health
and treat you as an individual. Patientcentered
medical homes equip patients
with the knowledge and tools they need
to proactively manage their conditions
and limit acute health care problems.
They use evidence-based guidelines to
drive care and track treatment results to
improve patients’ care and experience.
At Advantage Primary Care you get
more one-on-one time with the
physician, you can schedule same-day
appointments when you are sick and
the clinic offers flexible, convenient
early morning and evening hours. If you
currently don’t have a family doctor and
live in the Lowell area, give Advantage
Primary Care a try.
Advantage Primary Care
507 W. Monroe, Suite A
Lowell, AR 72745
479-463-8150
We apologize for the inconvenience, but Arkansas
Blue Cross Medicare members are not able to
schedule visits at the clinic because the Centers
for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) requires
that any provider clinic accepting Medicare
patients must see Medicare patients with any
health insurance carrier. For Advantage Primary
Care to remain exclusive to Arkansas Blue
Cross members, the clinic is unable to accept
appointments with Medicare members.
Summer 2015 BLUE & YOU
7

Get immediate access to your
health care
information
through My Blueprint
My Blueprint, our personalized
member self-service center,
is your fastest way to access
information regarding your
health care coverage —
and now it’s even faster.
When members registered
for My Blueprint before, they
had to wait to gain full access
to their information. Our new
process allows you to have
immediate access to all of the
resources in our self-service
center but still protects
your personal health
care information.
“As we are evaluating our
websites and identifying
pain points for our members,
this was an obvious area we
could improve our members’
experience,” said Trey Hankins,
manager of eMarketing for
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue
Shield. “When someone registers
for a website, their expectation
is to have immediate access
to the information they need.
By removing the activation
process, we’re meeting
those expectations.”
When you register for My Blueprint you now get immediate
access to the following:
• claims history
• benefits and coverage information
• the ability to review your recent doctors’ visits
• your personal health record
• a tool to estimate your treatment costs
• customer service functions
• health resources
All it takes to get complete access is your member ID card and a
few minutes to create the account information. After you register,
you will immediately receive an email confirming your registration.
A letter will be sent to your home a few days later. If you did not
register for My Blueprint and you receive an email or letter saying
you have, please contact Customer Service immediately.
You even can access My Blueprint on your phone and view
your claims, your mobile ID card and who is covered on your
plan. If you haven’t registered for My Blueprint, do it today.
8 BLUE & YOU Summer 2015
This service is not available to members with Medicare health plans.

Take Blue with you!
If you’re traveling abroad this summer, you can take peace of mind with you in the form of
GeoBlue — the newly offered health insurance for international travelers. GeoBlue health
plans cover short- and long-term trips and are perfect for:
Business and leisure travelers
Students
Expatriates
Mariners
Groups
Missionaries
Travelers don’t have to be enrolled in an Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield medical plan to
sign up for GeoBlue. You can get coverage the day before you travel and keep it for however
long or short your trip may be. As a GeoBlue member, you’ll receive lots of perks and have access to:
• English-speaking doctors in 180 countries • Comprehensive coverage
• Concierge support and tools to manage care • Emergency medical evacuation
Pleasantly affordable and with low deductibles, you can take Blue with you wherever you go!
To learn more about GeoBlue, go to arkansasbluecross.com, select “Looking for Insurance” and
choose “Health Plans for Travelers.”
Another way to buy diabetes supplies
Arkansas Blue Cross and its family of
companies have added another way for
members with diabetes to purchase certain
supplies. With a prescription from your
physician, you now can buy diabetes test
supplies at your local pharmacy. The supplies
will be available at a preferred copayment
amount or the cost will count toward
your overall deductible and out-of-pocket
maximum (depending on your coverage).
• Meters (OneTouch brand)
• Test strips (OneTouch brand)
• Syringes • Lancets • Needles
Your local pharmacist is a good resource
for questions about medicine and supplies.
Next time you need to refill your supplies,
remember to visit your local pharmacy and
bring your member ID card.
Happy with how you get supplies?
Other options for diabetes supplies are still available
to you! Nothing changes if you order diabetes supplies
from a durable medical equipment provider, or if you’re a
member of the Diabetes Health Education program. You can
continue to get your strips, lancets and other supplies the
same way. The option to purchase at your local pharmacy
is just another outlet to make buying diabetes testing
supplies more convenient for our members.
For a free One Touch meter,
contact onetouch.orderpoints.com
(Redemption code: BCBSAR708)
or call 1-800-588-4456.
If you are covered under a self-funded health plan administered by
BlueAdvantage Administrators of Arkansas, you should check with your
plan administrator to find out if these benefits are available to you.
OneTouch is owned by Johnson & Johnson, an independent
company that provides diabetes meters to qualifying members
of Arkansas Blue Cross and our family of companies.
Members with Medi-Pak
Advantage and Medi-Pak
supplement health plans have
different benefits for diabetes
supplies. Please call customer
service for more information.
Summer 2015 BLUE & YOU
9

Living Fearlessly:
Jaxon
mending
’ s
heart
Jaxon “Jax” McGarrah’s big grin and twinkling eyes
make it hard to believe this little boy was ever
anything but the picture of health, but the pale pink
scar down his chest is proof of a medical journey he
and his family began long before he was even born.
And, since his birth, Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue
Shield has been helping the McGarrahs, through the
guidance of Crystal Stanfield, a nurse case manager
who specializes in pediatric conditions.
“Having Arkansas Blue Cross has been a blessing
in several ways,” Ashley said. “From people like
Crystal to call with questions, the Personal Health
Statements we get in the mail, to knowing that
most doctors and hospitals take Arkansas Blue
Cross; all this takes stress off of me so I can focus
on Jax and my family.”
Twenty-one weeks into her pregnancy, Ashley went
for a routine ultrasound — a screening most parents
associate with getting to see their baby for the first
time and maybe learning their child’s gender.
During the ultrasound, however, it became clear
that Jax’s heart wasn’t developing properly.
Ashley’s doctor told her she would need to see
doctors in Little Rock throughout her pregnancy
and for the safe delivery of her son.
While learning of Jax’s condition early in the
pregnancy was terrifying for Ashley and Rick, her
husband, it gave them much-needed time to become
more familiar with Jax’s condition. They learned from
a pediatric echocardiogram that Jax had tricuspid
atresia, a problem with the right side of the heart,
which is supposed to push blood to the lungs.
Without the valve working properly, Jax’s blood
wouldn’t be able to pick up oxygen in his lungs once
he was born.
Ashley settled into a routine of visiting once a
month with an obstetrics doctor in Little Rock at the
University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS).
On March 21, 2014, Ashley was given a cesarean
(C-section) and Jax was immediately whisked away
to Arkansas Children’s Hospital. Rick gave her the
news that Jax’s oxygen level was good and he didn’t
need immediate surgery or medications.
That’s when Crystal began following the McGarrah
family. As a pediatric nurse case manager, she
checks the roster at Arkansas Children’s Hospital and
contacts families who may need help.
‘‘
–
Having Arkansas Blue Cross
has been a blessing in several ways.
Ashley McGarrah
Crystal met with the McGarrahs to see if they needed
anything and to answer questions they might have.
An echocardiogram showed that the hole in the right
chamber of the heart had started to close. He would
have to have surgery eventually, but didn’t need it
immediately.
“They said if we could get him to eat we could go
home instead of having surgery,” Ashley said. While
the McGarrahs went back to Rogers with Jax, Ashley
said she stayed in contact with Crystal and had her
number on the refrigerator and in her purse.
“I knew I could always pick up the phone and call
Crystal,” she said.
Jax did terrific at home until July 4, 2014, when he
spiked a fever. After an ambulance ride to Little Rock,
it was determined that he had a virus, but it was also
time for him to have surgery on his heart.
“July 17, 2014, was the hardest day of our lives,”
Ashley wrote on Jax’s Facebook page, “I Heart Jax.”
“We had to let Jax go, not knowing if he would make
it through surgery.”
Jax was born with two superior vena cava, a large
vein that brings blood from the upper part of the
body to the heart. Usually a person only has one.
‘‘
10 BLUE & YOU Summer 2015

The heart of the matter
Congenital heart defects are the most common
birth defect, and the leading cause of birth defectrelated
deaths worldwide.
• One in every 125 babies is born with a CHD
every year in the United States alone.
• CHDs are 60 times more prevalent than
childhood cancer.
• 18 distinct types of congenital heart defects
are recognized.
• In the past 25 years, advances in the treatment
of heart defects have enabled half a million
U.S. children with serious CHDs to survive
into adulthood.
• Many heart defects can be detected by a
routine ultrasound.
Source: American Heart Association, heart.org
What is case management?
When you need it, case management is a powerful
tool that can help you navigate the health care system.
The registered nurses in our case management
programs are required to have at least three years
of clinical practice. Case managers can help you:
• Maximize your health plan benefits.
• Learn about your condition through
health education.
• Better understand and deal with the
complexities of the health care system.
• Identify less costly alternatives to expensive
treatment settings, such as hospitalization.
If you think case management could help you with
a health condition, call the Arkansas Blue Cross
office closest to you (see page 19).
During the surgery the doctors
had to move these veins from
the heart and attach them to the
pulmonary artery, making the
blood go directly to his lungs to
get oxygen. He will need to have
a similar surgery for the vein from
his lower body in the future.
Crystal stayed with the McGarrahs
during the surgery. “She hung out
with us and it was great,” Ashley
said. “It was very relieving and
comforting to have a pediatric
nurse there who could answer
questions we had.”
Jax made it through the
surgery, but the next day he had
complications. “We were at
dinner when we got a call from
the cardiologist,” Ashley said.
They were told that the first
surgery went well, but the
pressure in his head was too
high, which was causing swelling.
The surgeons had to put bands
around his pulmonary artery to
restrict the blood flow and even
out the pressure. Jax’s second
surgery went smoothly and within
a week they were headed back
to Rogers. In August, Jax saw his
pediatrician and cardiologist and
got very good reports from both.
After a few months of healing, Jax
and his family have been doing
what they can to teach more
people about congenital heart
defects (CHD). Jax already has
been to two Heart Walks for the
American Heart Association. Big
sister Kira, 11, made more than
300 hearts out of flour, salt and
water, painted them and handed
them out during events. She also
has attended three Jump Rope for
Heart events, given presentations
and even wrote a song about her
brother. Middle brother, Malaki, 2,
has helped as much as he can.
“The more people we can
make aware of CHD, the better,”
said Ashley.
A faint pink scar is the
only sign that Jax
had surgery for his
congenital heart defect.
The McGarrah family, Rick, sister
Kira, Ashley, brother Malaki and Jax,
visit with Arkansas Blue Cross
nurse case manager Crystal
Stanfield (right, holding Jax).
Summer 2015 BLUE & YOU 11

Students and teachers try out the new track at
Holcomb Elementary School in Fayetteville.
There literally are miles of trails
and tracks across Arkansas
that were not there just a few
short years ago. Some are paved
while others give you a chance
to get your hiking boots dirty.
Many are equipped with outdoor
exercise stations, benches and
picnic tables — 15 of them
are the result of grants from
the Blue & You Foundation for
a Healthier Arkansas.
Since 2003, the Blue & You
Foundation has awarded $1,273,551
to 15 communities across Arkansas
to help them construct hiking trails
and walking/running tracks for the
benefit of their citizens.
“Many towns in Arkansas don’t
have a safe, attractive and
convenient place for people to
walk or run and enjoy some time
exercising,” said Patrick O’Sullivan,
executive director of the Blue &
You Foundation. “By helping to
fund the construction of walking
trails and exercise stations
along the trails, we hope to give
Arkansans a pleasant location to
regularly enjoy some exercise,
fresh air and family fun.”
12 BLUE & YOU Summer 2015
The Return
on Investment
Does the return on this
investment justify the cost?
It’s a fair question. Let’s look at
one community’s experience.
According to Holly Johnson,
director of development for
Fayetteville Public Schools, the
repairs to and construction of
running/walking/biking tracks at
four schools have encouraged
exercise and outdoor activities
for students and their families.
“Many students either walk
to school or ride their bikes
to school each day,” she said.
“Having a track at the local school
encourages this physical activity
and provides students with a place
to practice their bicycle safety.”
In fact, more than 2,000 students
will use the tracks, because they
are used in physical education
classes. And, the tracks continue
to see use even when school
is out. “We often see families
Students gather to celebrate
the ribbon cutting for the new
walking track at Happy Hollow
Elementary School in Fayetteville.
using these tracks for exercise
before and after school and on
the weekends, too,” said Holly.
“Just in the past five years there
has been an explosion of interest
in walking, hiking and biking on
the trail systems being developed
across Arkansas. We can see that
increased interest in physical
fitness and outdoor activity on a
smaller scale right here in our own
school community through the use
of the elementary school tracks.”
Holly is quick to credit the
Blue & You Foundation
for making it possible.

1.
11.
9.
4.
13.
12.
2.
5.
15.
3.
14.
School staff at Crossett Elementary
School supervise the unwrapping
and installation of one of 15
exercise stations along the trail.
Exercise stations are visible in the
background of the walking trail at
Sutton Elementary in Fort Smith,
which is open to the community.
“We are grateful for the investment
the Blue & You Foundation has made,”
she said. “It will pay dividends in our
community for years to come.”
That is why the Blue & You
Foundation plans to fund similar
projects — so healthy dividends will
be reaped all across Arkansas.
“The beauty of these trails, in
addition to their natural beauty, is
that they will last many years and
add more years to the lives of our
fellow citizens,” said Patrick. “We
consider it a healthy investment in
the people of Arkansas.”
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
10.
Communities Receiving Grants
8.
7. 6.
City of Cave Springs
Built a new trail to comply with Americans
with Disabilities Act.
City of Fairfield Bay
Built an outdoor walking trail with nine exercise stations.
City of Gosnell
Extended an existing walking trail.
City of Greenland
Built a walking trail with exercise stations.
City of Jonesboro
12 exercise stations were added to an existing trail.
City of Lake Village
Expanded walking trails, added exercise stations and
improved a farmers market and free fitness center.
City of Portland
Built a new walking trail.
Crossett Elementary School
Built a walking trail with exercise stations.
Fayetteville School District
Built or improved walking trails at four local schools.
Magnolia Hospital Foundation
Renovated a hospital wellness park.
Piggott Parks and Recreation
Built a new hiking trail.
Searcy County
Upgraded an existing walking trail.
Sutton Elementary School in Fort Smith
Provided increased exercise opportunities to local
fitness program.
Woodlawn School District in Rison
Built a fitness trail with exercise stations.
Wynne Public Schools
Added exercise stations to existing walking trails.
Summer 2015 BLUE & YOU
13

Get ready
for
the
14 BLUE & YOU Summer 2015
T
here are a few things to think about before
you hit the trails. You need to prepare! Research
trails’ difficulty levels and pick ones suited to
your abilities. You can look up trail ratings and
descriptions online or contact the appropriate
parks and recreation department.
Once you’ve found one, check the weather and
dress accordingly (but remember weathermen
aren’t perfect). It’s best to dress in layers and to
bring some kind of rain cover. Avoid cotton — it
does a terrible job of wicking away moisture,
which can lead to chafing, overheating or cooling
or worse. Instead, wear synthetic fabrics, fleece
or wool. Your shoe choice should depend on your
terrain and what you’re carrying—more difficult
trails and heavier loads require sturdier footwear.
If your trail doesn’t have a lot of tree coverage,
try to schedule your hike in the morning, when
UV rays are weakest. Sunscreen, sunglasses
and a hat are must-haves regardless of when
you go or how much shade you’ll have.

Even short hikes require gear, so be sure to
bring a comfortable backpack or daypack
where you can carry the following:
• Map and compass (smartphone doesn’t count)
• Plenty of water and a way to purify any you find
• Food (trail mix is great because it will help
replace the salts you sweat out)
• A fire starter, light, knife or multipurpose tool,
and whistle for emergencies
• First aid kit, including an antihistamine
for allergens
• Water shoes
• Extra socks
• Insect repellent
S
taying hydrated is important, especially
in the hot summer when you’re already
sweating, so drink lots of water in the
hours before you go. You’ll want to
drink about a quart of water per hour
during your hike. If children are with you,
make sure they’re drinking their water,
too! Early signs of dehydration include
headache, lack of appetite from nausea,
dizziness and dark urine. If you suspect
you’re dehydrated, rest in the shade
and drink more water.
Before you start the hike, let people know
where you’re hiking and when you expect
to be back so they can keep an eye out for
your safe return. Once you’re on the trail,
remember a few key things:
• Stay on the trail to preserve the area’s
beauty and habitat
• Observe wildlife from a distance and
don’t feed the animals
• Be wary of poison ivy and the like;
“Leaves of three, let it be”
• Look for spiders, insects and snakes before
you reach into or step on or over things
• Pack out what you pack in—that means
everything!
And finally, make sure you allow yourself
enough time to truly enjoy the fresh air,
peace and simplicity of nature. It’s good
for the heart and soul!
Summer 2015 BLUE & YOU
15

NEWS
National Walk @ Lunch Day
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield employees,
clad in their blues and comfy shoes, took to the
streets on April 29 to celebrate National Walk
@ Lunch Day (NW@LD). They were joined by
employees of other local businesses in the
walk around downtown Little Rock to the
State Capitol building.
NW@LD is an event designed to encourage
employees to spend part of their lunch
walking in an effort to promote fitness
and encourage regular worksite wellness
activities. NW@LD is part of the Blue Cross
and Blue Shield Association’s Walking
Works program.
Central Arkansas Heart Walk
18 16 BLUE & YOU Summer 2015
More than 130 Arkansas Blue Cross and
Blue Shield employees and their families
participated in the Central Arkansas Heart
Walk on April 25. Arkansas Blue Cross’
employee team, Team Fearless, joined other
central Arkansans at Burns Park to help the
fight against heart disease and stroke.
As a special fundraiser, a flash mob of
executives and employees (with the help
of a talented choreographer) performed
at the walk, and, although their dance
technique didn’t exceed expectations, the
fundraising certainly did. Arkansas Blue
Cross employees raised $16,490 this year for
the American Heart Association.

Arkansas needs more nurses
Two grants help train nurses in Arkansas
This spring, Arkansas Blue Cross and
Blue Shield awarded grants of
$250,000 each to the Baptist Health
Foundation to fund an endowed
nursing scholarship and to the
Arkansas State University College
of Nursing and Health Professions
to fund an endowed nursing
professorship in rural health.
Baptist Health Foundation’s Arkansas
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Endowed
Nursing Scholarship will fund
four scholarships a year through
interest generated from the grant for
Arkansans who intend to work as
nurses in Arkansas.
Arkansas State University’s Arkansas
Blue Cross and Blue Shield Endowed
Nursing Professorship in Rural Health
allows A-State to provide increased
focus on the particular issues related
to serving rural communities,
and to expand the number of
opportunities for students to
enter into the program.
“At Arkansas Blue Cross, we have
about 300 nurses on staff and we
regularly hear from our members
how vital our nurses are in
helping them navigate the
health care system,” said
Mark White, president
and chief executive
officer at Arkansas Blue
Cross. “We value the
role nurses play at
Arkansas Blue Cross
and in health care.”
Arkansas Arts Center’s Children’s Theatre
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
hosted a special showing of “The Cat
in the Hat” at the Arkansas Arts Center’s
Children’s Theatre on March 15. Free
tickets were given away at most of
our ArkansasBlue locations (Little Rock,
Hot Springs and Pine Bluff). More than
100 families from throughout
Arkansas stopped by their
local ArkansasBlue store to
pick up tickets. Parents and
children alike enjoyed the
play. BlueAnn Ewe and the
Cat, himself, arrived early
to the play for a special
photo op with the children.
Arkansas Blue Cross is proud
to sponsor the arts in Arkansas
and provide a family friendly
outing for its members.
Summer 2015 BLUE & YOU 17

Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Financial Information Privacy Notice
At Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield and
its affiliates (including HMO Partners, Inc. doing
business as Health Advantage), we understand
how important it is to keep your private
information just that — private. Because of the
nature of our business, we must collect some
personal information from our members, but we
also are committed to maintaining, securing and
protecting that information.
Customer Information
Arkansas Blue Cross and its affiliates only
compile information necessary for us to provide
the services that you, our member, request from
us and to administer your business. We collect
non-public personal financial information (defined
as any information that can be tied back to a
specific person and is gathered by any source that
is not publicly available) about our members from:
• Applications for insurance coverage. The
application includes information such as name,
address, personal identifiers such as Social
Security number, and medical information that
you authorize us to collect.
• Payment history and related financial
transactions from the purchase and use
of our products.
• Information related to the fact that you
have been or currently are a member.
Arkansas Blue Cross
1-800-238-8379
Health Advantage
1-800-843-1329
Self-funded group members
should call Customer Service
using the toll-free telephone
number on their ID card.
Sharing of Information
Arkansas Blue Cross and its affiliates do not
disclose, and do not wish to reserve the right
to disclose, non-public personal information
about you to other parties except as permitted
or required by law. Examples of instances in
which Arkansas Blue Cross and its affiliates will
provide information to one another or other
third parties are:
• To service or process products that
you have requested.
• To provide information as permitted and
required by law to accrediting agencies.
• To provide information to comply
with federal, state or local laws in
an administrative or judicial process.
How We Protect Your Information
Arkansas Blue Cross and its affiliates use
various security mechanisms to protect your
personal data including electronic and physical
measures as well as company policies that
limit employee access to non-public personal
financial information. Improper access and use
of confidential information by an employee can
result in disciplinary action up to and including
termination of employment.
Disclosure of Privacy Notice
Arkansas Blue Cross and its affiliates recognize
and respect the privacy concerns of potential,
current and former customers. Arkansas
Blue Cross and its affiliates are committed to
safeguarding this information. This Financial
Information Privacy Notice is provided to our
members as required by state regulation to
explain how we handle their non-public financial
information. It is also available on our website
at arkansasbluecross.com or from our Customer
Service call centers. Our Customer Service areas
are open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Central time,
Monday through Friday.
18 BLUE & YOU Summer 2015

“OUT OF THE BLUE”
Continued FROM page 3
insured patients in order to cover the costs of
those who cannot pay, and government programs
that pay too little to cover costs. A free market
solution will ensure that doctors and hospitals can
cover their costs and that those with commercial
insurance no longer pay a “hidden tax.”
3. It’s also important that we approach this in
a way that is best for Arkansas. Our state
has been a laboratory of sorts for innovation
designed to improve both the cost and the
quality of health care. Working in partnership
with state government, doctors and hospitals,
Arkansas Blue Cross has been working to lay
the foundation for a better health care system.
Together, we are protecting access to primary
care by creating new, team-based approaches
that give patients the additional support they
need to be healthy. We are making care more
affordable by changing the way we pay for
the high cost of specialty care, by “bundling”
payments to specialists, hospitals and other
medical service providers through a program
called the Arkansas Payment Improvement
Initiative. These efforts are beginning to show
promise toward meeting the objectives of
improved cost and quality, and they are the
foundation on which a more effective health
care system must be built. In considering how
health care should be provided to Arkansans
going forward, it is important that we build on
the innovations already in place. It is important
that we do it Arkansas’ way.
We have the opportunity to create a better health
system by and for Arkansans. At Arkansas Blue
Cross, we welcome the opportunity to work with
the Health Care Reform Task Force in building a
new health care system built on existing Arkansas
innovation, free enterprise, personal responsibility
and common sense.
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.
Summer 2015 BLUE & YOU
19

BOO
W I T H
BLUE!
Friday, October 2
6-9 p.m.
Our second annual “Boo with Blue”
will be held at the Museum of Discovery
in Little Rock, Friday, October 2,
from 6-9 p.m. “Boo with Blue”
is free to Arkansas Blue Cross
and Blue Shield members.
Just show your health insurance ID card
for admission. Non-members
are invited to stop by any
local ArkansasBlue store
to pick up free tickets to the
event starting in September.
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