Blue & You - Summer 2011

Summer 11
A publication for the policyholders of
the Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
family of companies
• Why our doctors are
good for you, Page 6
• Program helps children
with asthma, Page 16
BlueCares team
reaches out to storm
victims, Page 22

Sachiko Halter of
Conway gracefully
performs tai chi,
one of several
exercise classes
she enjoys through
the SilverSneakers
program.
on Page 10
On the Cover:
BlueCares — Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
employees serve food to victims and workers after the
storms that hit Vilonia, Ark., in recent weeks. See the
story on Page 22.
INSIDE
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Out of the Blue
Personal Health Statements coming to
Health Advantage members
Individual plan prescription drug benefits change
Why our doctors are good for you
NSAIDs shouldn’t be taken after heart attack
Store dabigatran in original container
SilverSneakers blends cultures, creates friendships
Lifelong Health with Dr. David
Are teens fretting about Facebook?
Lose weight The Healthy Weigh!
Baby on Board: Use rear-facing car safety seats
at least until age 2
New education program helps children with asthma
breathe easier
Individual/family policies can make changes
in October
$1,000 health-improvement grants go fast
From the Pharmacist — FDA decision removes
unapproved drugs from market
Alternatives to treating colic
The Doctor’s Corner
Employees rally to serve after storms
Blue News
Financial Information Privacy Notice
Customer Service telephone numbers
Good for you
Summer 11
is published four times a year by
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield for
the company’s members, health care
professionals and other persons
interested in health care and wellness.
Editor: Kelly Whitehorn — bnyou-ed@arkbluecross.com
Assistant Editor: Jennifer Gordon
Designer: Gio Bruno Photographer: Chip Bayer
Contributors: Chip Bayer, Matthew Creasman, Damona Fisher, Kristy Fleming,
Trey Hankins, Heather Iacobacci-Miller, Ryan Kravitz, Kathy Luzietti and
Mark Morehead
Vice President, Communications and Product Development: Karen Raley

Out of the
Blue
A message from our
CEO and President,
Mark White
Corporate social responsibility in
difficult times
The devastation from numerous tornadoes, ongoing
storms and massive flooding throughout Arkansas this
spring was horrific, but the actions of so many in the
following days and weeks reaffirmed to me one of the
great things about Arkansans … we support each other
and work together in times of need.
At Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield, compassion
is part of our culture; our employees not only take care
of each other in difficult times, but they seek out opportunities
to help causes around the globe. And, when
it is our own communities that are in need, our employees
embrace that mission with even more passion.
Corporate social responsibility means that what
is good for a community is good for business. It’s a
“shared value.” Businesses have a vested interest in
doing what’s best for their communities, whether it be
through financial support, volunteer work or just being
there in times of need. And, when the needs of the
community and business objectives align … it’s good
for everyone.
During this last natural disaster in our state, some
of our own employees suffered damage or lost their
homes. As our employees reached out to them, we
reached out to our members as well.
Arkansas Blue Cross helped those hurt by the storms
by waiving prescription costs for our members who
were storm victims and whose pharmacy benefit plan
is managed by Arkansas Blue Cross. A number of our
employees served lunch to volunteers helping Vilonia
citizens recovering from the tornadoes. And, our
employees reached deep into their own wallets and
donated to a relief fund for the Arkansas Chapter of the
American Red Cross.
Being a good corporate citizen also means finding
ways to improve our communities on a daily basis,
promoting health and wellness activities among our
citizens, and encouraging positive behaviors through
programs that support our members in their healthy
lifestyles. We are proud of projects like The Medical
Mile in Little Rock’s Riverfront Park and our ongoing
Blue & You Fitness Challenge, which engages thousands
of participants each year.
Just because we say we are a company that values
social responsibility doesn’t make it so … we must continually
monitor our engagement to be certain that our
actions reflect our values. We share our commitment to
our local communities through grants from the Blue &
You Foundation for a Healthier Arkansas, by investing in
Responsibility, continued on Page 4
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Blue & You Summer 2011

Responsibility, continued from Page 3
our health care system through supporting the education
of future physicians at the University of Arkansas have a need you think the BlueCares team can help
ing a hand in communities throughout Arkansas. If you
for Medical Sciences, and through our Enterprise with, feel free to contact us.
Employees’ Committee (an internal group consisting of Here’s hoping we are blessed the rest of this year
our own employees), which finds opportunities for our with blue skies and gentle rain showers. However, if
employees to serve the community through fundraisers,
food drives and special events.
is some other emergency, I know the folks at Arkansas
the storms make their way back to our state, or there
In the next few months, you may hear about a group Blue Cross will be ready and willing to do what we can
of employees from Arkansas Blue Cross called the to help our neighbors and our communities. Because at
BlueCares team. These highly motivated individuals are Arkansas Blue Cross, that’s what we do. And it’s good
dedicated to helping whenever and wherever they are for all of us.
needed. They will be at fund-raising events and lend-
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Personal Health Statements
coming to Health Advantage members
Health Advantage members will see a different
communication on their health care benefits beginning
this summer with the upgrade to the new Personal
Health Statement (PHS).
The PHS replaces the Explanation of Benefits (EOB),
which was generated every time we received a claim
from your doctor or hospital. The PHS is more comprehensive
than the EOB and designed to make claims
processing easier to understand.
The PHS includes:
• A better description of the discounts you receive on
your health care services.
• Information on how to get in touch with us.
• A quick understanding of how much you owe
and to whom.
• A section that shows you your personal health benefits
and tracks where you are in meeting deductibles
and out-of-pocket maximums.
Pharmacy information has been added, including
generic medications recommendations. Other features
on the new PHS are personal health messages and
reminders to get health screenings.
The new PHS will be issued two times a month
instead of every time a claim is filed. If you only have
pharmacy claims during a month, the PHS will be
issued quarterly.
Members still have the option to confidentially view
their PHS electronically. To sign up for a notification
e-mail when a new PHS is generated, you can go online
and sign up through the My Blueprint member selfservice
center.
Blue & You Summer 2011

Prescription drug benefits change
on individual health plan
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Customer feedback has led
to an exciting change in prescription
drug benefits for some of our
policyholders. Arkansas Blue Cross
and Blue Shield modified the prescription
drug benefit on its Comprehensive
Blue PPO III health plan,
effective May 1, 2011.
A popular feature for members,
the $10 copayment for generic
medications on the plan’s drug list
or “formulary,” remains the same.
However, members began paying
a flat copayment amount for
other prescription medications on
the drug list rather than paying the
previously required deductible and
coinsurance:
• $35 copayment for preferred
brand-name prescription drugs.
• $70 copayment for non-preferred
brand-name drugs.
The prescription drug list remains
the same, as do monthly premiums.
Members will continue to use their
current member ID card and have
their prescriptions filled the
same way.
“We are pleased to offer this benefit
enhancement for individuals and
families,” said Ron DeBerry, senior
vice president of Statewide Business.
“This health plan has been
available since Jan. 1, 2011. And,
because it is a new plan, Arkansas
Blue Cross reviewed all of our
members’ prescription claims —
back to January 1, or their original
effective date — to ensure they had
not paid out more with the old drug
benefit than they would have with
the new drug benefit structure. For
those who had paid out more, we
issued a refund.”
Members who have questions
about the prescription drug benefit
change, may call Customer Service
at 1-800-863-5561.
For more information about health
plans for individuals and families,
visit arkansasbluecross.com or call
1-800-392-2583.
Blue & You Summer 2011

Why our doctors are
good for you
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The Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield Medical
Management Division recently reorganized to intensify
our focus on quality. Why? Because quality health care
Our Medical
Management
Division is led by 13
physicians. For a breakdown
of their titles, locations and
specialties, see the legend on the
following page.
improves our members’ quality of life.
What is quality health care? It is care that helps you
protect your health by promoting a healthy lifestyle and
provides you with treatments that are proven to be effective
through the course of your lifetime. Quality care
is efficient care that does
more than sustain life — it
makes life
better
for you
and your
loved
ones.
Focusing
on
Quality
“The goal
of every
doctor and
hospital is to
provide quality
health care,
which can be
defined as the
right evaluation and
treatment at the right
time done the right
way in the right setting,”
said Robert Griffin,
M.D., senior vice president
and chief medical officer
for Arkansas Blue Cross. “The
goal for Arkansas Blue Cross is
Blue & You Summer 2011

to provide doctors and hospitals with the support they
need to attain those goals, by analyzing the barriers that
may keep patients from getting the care they need, and
then proposing and assisting with strategies to overcome
the barriers.”
An example where health plans may be able to
help, Dr. Griffin said, is cardiac rehabilitation programs,
Quality health
care helps you
protect your health
by promoting a
healthy lifestyle
and provides you
with treatments
that are proven to
be effective over
the course of your
which provide education
and support to improve fitness,
diet, cholesterol and
stress management after a
cardiac event. According to
the Centers for Medicare &
Medicaid Services (CMS),
nationally fewer than 20 percent
of patients who qualify
for cardiac rehab actually do
it. Women participate at an
even lower rate.
“What we know is, if you do cardiac rehab, you are
less likely to have another cardiac event within the next
few years,” Dr. Griffin said. In fact, he added, a Kaiser
Family Foundation report showed that in a 10-year, allcost
survival study, people who did cardiac rehab had a
much better chance of survival for more than 10 years
than those who didn’t. By looking at possible barriers
keeping people from participating in cardiac rehab, Dr.
Griffin said, Arkansas Blue Cross may be able to find
ways to improve participation, especially among women.
“We would be improving quality of care and quality
of life while reducing overall costs at the same time,”
he said.
lifetime.
Examining the Data
The Medical Management Division at Arkansas Blue
Cross also helps you and your doctors by providing the
latest health and medical data available. Arkansas Blue
Cross accesses national data through the Blue Cross
and Blue Shield Association’s Technology Evaluation
Center (TEC), Blue Health Intelligence (BHI), and shares
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Our medical team, including their titles, locations and specialties:
1. James Adamson, M.D., medical officer for National Accounts, Little
Rock (pulmonary disease); 2. Robert Griffin, M.D., chief medical officer,
Little Rock (general surgery); 3. Kimberly Davis, M.D., medical director,
Pine Bluff (family medicine); 4. Sidney P. Hayes, M.D., Medicare medical
director, North Little Rock (pulmonary disease); 5. Connie Meeks,
M.D., corporate medical director for Internal Affairs, Little Rock (family
medicine); 6. Mike Martin, M.D., medical director, Texarkana and Hot
Springs (internal medicine); 7. Cygnet Schroeder, D.O., medical director,
Fort Smith (physical medicine); 8. Al Thomas, M.D., medical director,
Little Rock (ophthalmology); 9. Vic Snyder, M.D., corporate medical
director for External Affairs, Little Rock (family medicine); 10. Clement
Fox, M.D., medical director for Health Advantage and central Arkansas,
Little Rock (pulmonary disease); 11. Bert Price, M.D., medical director,
Jonesboro (psychiatry); 12. Raymond Bredfeldt, M.D., medical director,
Fayetteville (family medicine); 13. Roberta Monson, M.D., medical
director, Little Rock (internal medicine/infectious disease).
information on the Blue Distinction Centers for
Specialty Care ® .
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TEC is one of only 14 centers selected by the federal
Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)
to assess the effectiveness and safety of medical
procedures, devices or drugs based on evidence.
TEC provides objective information based on clinical
and scientific evidence. The assessments answer the
important question of whether a technology’s benefits
exceed its harms. Knowing which treatments work best
helps ensure you receive the safest, most effective
care available.
BHI is the nation’s largest health care claims database,
developed by participating Blue Cross and Blue
Shield companies. BHI provides insight into health care
trends and best practices but removes all personal
information from the data. Through BHI, an employer
could learn that his employees are collectively at a
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Blue & You Summer 2011
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high risk for back injuries, and could use that information
to put better safety measures in place. In the
future, doctors could use the information to determine
best practices for specific health issues and individuals
could learn which health concerns are highest in their
geographical area.
Blue Distinction ® is a designation awarded to medical
facilities that have demonstrated expertise in delivering
quality health care. Its goal is to help members find
quality specialty care while encouraging health care
professionals to improve the overall quality and delivery
of care nationwide. The six specialty areas of care are:
• Bariatric surgery
• Cardiac care
• Complex and rare cancers
• Knee and hip replacement
• Spine surgery
• Transplants
Playing to Strengths
Part of Medical Management’s realignment involves
playing to the strengths already available within the
staff, Dr. Griffin said. “We have tremendous talent with
our regional medical directors,” Dr. Griffin said, explaining
that each one has a specialty, and while they have
oversight of the medical activities within their geographic
region and have established relationships with
physicians and facilities locally, they periodically share
their expertise with providers and facilities in counties
outside their region. (The medical directors, and their
specialties, are listed in the photo on the previous page.)
Enhancing Case Management
If you are healthy, you may not be aware of the case
managers who work at Arkansas Blue Cross, but if you
develop a severe illness or have a catastrophic health
issue, you can be sure one of them will be there if you
need assistance. Arkansas Blue Cross case managers
are there to help you as you move from a hospital to a
rehabilitation facility or back home. They help you to better
understand your condition and what you can do to
improve your health status. They can help you set shortterm
and long-term goals and to track your progress
toward those goals. They will work with your physician
and your caregiver to help support your individual care
plan and they will help you plan to get the most out of
your office visit by developing specific questions for
your physician before your visit. However, they cannot
provide specific medical advice or treatment.
Case managers are located in each regional office
and at the main office in Little Rock. If you feel you
need assistance through case management and we
have not contacted you, you can reach a case manager
through your regional office. Originally, case managers
focused only on a geographical area, but under the new
realignment of medical management, some specialized
case managers will be available to share their expertise
across regions for members with a specific medical
condition. “We may have a case manager in one region
who is superb in dealing with neurological disorders,
and we want to share that talent across the state,
rather than having one region stronger in that area,” Dr.
Griffin said.
“A lot of people don’t know
who we are or what we do,”
said Rochelle Nix, a case manager
in the Pine Bluff office.
Rochelle’s recent work with
a member who has multiple
myeloma, a cancer of the blood,
is a good example of how our case managers can help.
“Jason” was overwhelmed by his diagnosis and the
amount of medical terminology thrown at him, but Rochelle
was able to explain the medical information and
provide additional information on his medical coverage.
Because Jason needed a stem cell transplant, Rochelle
worked closely with the corporate transplant coordinator,
who provided her with the details of the transplant.
Rochelle then was able to explain it to Jason. Later,
Rochelle
Nix
Blue & You Summer 2011

after Jason told Rochelle he was confused by all the
bills he was receiving, Rochelle asked him to drop them
off at the regional office, and the office staff created
a spread sheet for him that showed which bills were
under the transplant global reimbursement and which
were not.
The biggest change in Jason came when he started
calling Rochelle to let her know that he already had handled
a situation. She said he still needed the encouragement,
but was confident enough, and understood the
medical terminology enough, to handle it on his own.
When he called to say he was in remission, the entire
office cheered. Jason stops by the Pine Bluff office on
occasion to visit his friends, which is who Rochelle and
the others have become.
Existing Programs
Keeping you healthy isn’t anything new for Arkansas
Blue Cross. Our health education programs offer
expecting mothers guidance on getting ready for their
newborns, and help adults and kids with chronic illnesses
like diabetes and asthma. If you’re one of many who
have low back pain, we can help there, too. And, if you
haven’t already, check out our Web sites for discounts
to fitness centers and weight-loss programs throughout
the state. Arkansas Blue Cross is good for you no matter
if you are healthy and want to stay that way, or need
some help getting back into more healthy habits.
Keeping You Well
So, is wellness really an important part of Arkansas
Blue Cross’ business? “A major portion of our national
health care needs would not exist if people had a better
diet, exercised appropriately, didn’t smoke or use tobacco
products of any kind and only consumed alcohol
in reasonable quantities,” said Dr. Griffin. “And, wellness
improves the health status of our members. So, along
with outstanding customer service and operations, we
promote wellness. And that is another way we continue
to be good for you.”
Using nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs
(NSAIDs) — even for brief periods — after a heart attack
increases your risk for another heart attack and death,
according to a study in the American Heart Association
journal, Circulation.
Researchers in Denmark identified more than 80,000
patients who’d been treated for a first heart attack and
then studied the prescriptions they received afterward.
More than 40 percent of patients received at least one
prescription for an NSAID after their heart attacks.
Risks of another heart attack or death were significantly
higher during treatment with all NSAIDs, but
Diclofenac (sold under the brand name Voltaren) had
the greatest risk. Naproxen had the lowest risk.
The authors say their results indicate, “there is no apparent
safe therapeutic window” for NSAIDs in patients
with a prior heart attack.
NSAIDs
shouldn’t be
taken after
heart
attack
Store dabigatran in
original container
If you take the medication dabigatran, also known
by the brand name Pradaxa, you only should store it in
its original container, according to the U.S. Food and
Drug Administration (FDA). Dabigatran is an anticoagulant,
which means it prevents blood clots.
Dabigatran comes in bottles and in blister packets
that seal out moisture. After the pills have been exposed
to air, they must be used within 60 days. If you
move the medication to a pill organizer or pill box, or
take the pills out of the blister packet, the humidity in
the air may cause it to lose its potency.
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Blue & You Summer 2011

SilverSneakers blends
cultures, creates friendships
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Sachiko Halter
(foreground) and Alicia
Kow (background)
move through tai chi
poses during a class at
the Conway Regional
Health and Fitness
Center.
As she gracefully moves
from one tai chi position to the
next, Sachiko Halter glows with
confidence and quiet strength.
It’s hard to imagine that a few
years ago she was shy around
people outside her family, but
that was before a letter arrived
in the mail from Arkansas Blue
Cross and Blue Shield.
Sachiko is originally from
Kitakyushu, Kokura, Japan, on
the southern island of Kyushu.
She came to the United States
as a young woman and eventually
settled in Conway, Ark. She
and her husband, Victor Halter,
have six children between them
and nine grandchildren.
While Sachiko was very busy
with family, she was lonely. “I
have a wonderful husband,” she
said, “but I missed ‘girl talk.’
Some days I think the only time
I talked to someone besides my
husband was when I went to the
grocery store,” she said, “and
that was to say if I wanted paper
or plastic!”
When Sachiko turned 65,
Arkansas Blue Cross sent her a
Blue & You Summer 2011

letter inviting her to learn more about the SilverSneakers
® Fitness Program. She said
she was a little nervous at the thought
of exercising in a group, which she
had never done, but she wanted to
learn more.
“When I heard that Arkansas
Blue Cross offers SilverSneakers
for free, I just jumped right in!”
she said. SilverSneakers is the
nation’s leading exercise program
designed exclusively for older adults,
offering an innovative blend of physical
activity, healthy lifestyles and socially
oriented programming. SilverSneakers
is available to Arkansas Blue Cross Medi-Pak ®
and Medi-Pak Advantage (PFFS) members at no
additional cost at wellness centers, YMCAs and Curves ®
locations in all 50 states, Puerto Rico and Washington.
Sachiko started taking SilverSneakers classes at the
Conway Regional Health and Fitness Center four years
ago. Now, at age 69, Sachiko says she attends classes
five days a week. With several SilverSneakers classes
to choose from, including the Silver Splash class,
Sachiko stays busy. But her favorite class is tai chi.
Tai chi chuan, or simply tai chi, was developed more
than 2,000 years ago in China. It is a graceful form of
exercise used for stress reduction and other health
conditions, like joint pain. A study by the University of
California Los Angeles showed significant benefits of
tai chi in the management of late-life depression. The
American Geriatrics Society also recently encouraged
exercise, like tai chi, for balance, gait and strength
training.
Sachiko enjoys tai chi so much that for a while she
took additional classes at the University of Central
Arkansas and became a certified instructor herself. But
when Alicia “Siaw-Khian” Kow, became the instructor
at the Conway Regional Health and Fitness Center,
she said she realized that she didn’t need to
go outside of the fitness center. Alicia,
who is originally from Malaysia, often
travels back to her home country
and to China to attend tai chi and
qigong training sessions with
masters of these arts. Sachiko
can lead the class if Alicia is away,
but said she enjoys learning from
such a skilled teacher.
A big part of that enjoyment
comes from her classmates. The
class gathers in a circle as soft music
fills the air and they breathe and
move as one, shifting their weight slowly
from one foot to the other, hands cupped
as if holding a ball of energy. The hushed
instructions from Alicia quickly give way to giggles and
smiles from the class as they take a break. The women
have a special bond and once a week members of the
tai chi and Silver Splash classes go out to lunch, something
that Sachiko truly enjoys.
Alicia said she has seen amazing changes in each
of the women since they joined the class. For some,
it is subtle, as stiff muscles learn to relax; for others
it is drastic, like a 30-point drop in blood pressure. For
Sachiko, it is personal, enjoying the company of women
so much like her, but who grew up in a culture so different
than her own.
“SilverSneakers is one of the best things to happen
to me,” she said.
For more information on SilverSneakers, call 1-888-
423-4632 or visit silversneakers.com.
SilverSneakers ® is a registered mark of Healthways, Inc.
The SilverSneakers Fitness Program is provided by
Healthways, Inc., an independent company that operates
separately from Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
Source: americantaichi.net
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Blue & You Summer 2011

Lifelong Health
with Dr. David
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A simple diet plan containing
proven super foods promotes
a longer and better life
Want to live as long and as healthy as possible? Including
super foods in your diet can make you healthier
by adding fiber, vitamins, minerals, omega 3 fatty acids
and unique compounds that have significant health
benefits.
David A. Lipschitz,
M.D., Ph.D.
Although it is possible to obtain pills, powders and
shakes containing these substances, the message is
clear — the best way to get these healthy nutrients is
to eat the natural foods containing them. Consider this
diet plan, which contains the most valuable super foods
offering the chance of promoting health, preventing disease
and reducing the risks of obesity. Ideally eat three
meals daily and at least three appropriate snacks. This
balanced approach will minimize overeating and prevent
weight gain.
Breakfast
• Eat plenty of fiber. The best breakfast is either a
high-fiber cereal or oatmeal that contains soluble
and insoluble fiber to promote intestinal function,
reduce the risk of cancer and lower cholesterol.
Soluble fiber found in oatmeal dramatically can lower
cholesterol and promote heart health. Insoluble fiber
adds bulk to the diet, promotes normal bowel function,
decreases constipation and lowers the risk of
irritable bowel syndrome.
• Add half a cup of blueberries to breakfast. Compared
to any other fruit, blueberries contain the
highest concentration of antioxidants that promote
cellular health and prevent cancer and heart disease.
Research conducted by the National Institute on Aging
shows that blueberries prolong life expectancy,
reduce cholesterol levels and produce anthocyanin,
which improves vision. Pterostilbene found in blueberries
promotes brain function. Add fat-free or lowfat
milk to complete the meal. Consider 2 percent
organic milk that contains the ideal omega 3 fatty
acids rather than the unhealthy omega 6 fatty acids
found in milk from corn-fed animals.
Blue & You Summer 2011

Editor’s Note: David A. Lipschitz, M.D., Ph.D., is nationally
recognized as a leader in the field of geriatrics.
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield is honored to have
him as a contributor to Blue & You magazine.
Lunch and Dinner
• Have a salad for one meal. Consider a large salad
consisting of mixed greens, as many colored vegetables
as possible and a low-fat protein source
(chicken or fish). Use a delicious low-fat dressing in
moderation. The more color in the salad, the greater
the concentration of antioxidants. A salad like this
provides ideal concentrations of vitamins such as C,
folic acid, beta carotene and lycopene, which prevents
vision loss. Salads also provide fiber, the best
fats and if eaten slowly, prevent hunger and promote
weight loss.
• Make sure you include the right foods in your
meal. A healthy lunch or dinner includes protein
(tofu, lean meat or fatty fish), two servings of a
starch (no more than two-thirds the size of your fist)
and plenty of fruits and vegetables.
• The benefits of red wine. If you can, have one or
two glasses of red wine with your evening meal. In
addition to containing rich amounts of antioxidants,
red wine contains resveratrol, a unique molecule
that may promote life expectancy and reduce
heart attacks.
Snacks
• An ounce of walnuts. Consider
walnuts as an afternoon snack, or
add an ounce to a salad. Walnuts
are the nuts with the highest concentration
of antioxidants, providing
more than an average person obtains
from all the fruits and vegetables consumed
daily. Nuts are rich in fiber and omega 3 fatty acids,
which reduce cholesterol, heart-disease risk, cancer
and perhaps Alzheimer’s Disease.
• Apples. Try and eat at least two apples daily. A study
conducted by researchers at Florida State University
has shown that two, rather than one apple a day,
significantly lowers cholesterol, reduces inflammation,
decreases the risk of heart attack and stroke
and, without dieting, promotes an average loss of
three pounds annually. Apples are rich in pectin, a
soluble fiber that lowers cholesterol. Always eat the
peel, which contains the highest concentrations of
antioxidants.
• Cocoa. Last, but not least, have a glass of warm cocoa
about an hour before bedtime. Recent research
has shown that cocoa reduces blood pressure,
lowers cholesterol and appears to lower the risk of
diabetes by making the body more sensitive to insulin.
Furthermore, a light snack before bed promotes
better sleep.
Splurging
The message is clear
— the best way to
get these healthy
nutrients is to eat
the natural foods
containing them.
We all splurge, but do not do this every night. It is
OK to have a rich dessert or high-calorie food on occasion,
but do not do it every day. And, most
importantly, watch portion size. A small
baked potato with a low-calorie dressing
is much better that a large one with all
the trimmings.
So there you have it. Whatever you
do, avoid the temptation of substituting
a pill for the real thing. Until proven
otherwise, assume that the pills may cause
more harm than good. Follow this approach to
eating, splurge no more than twice a week and you
have set the course for a long, disease-free life.
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Blue & You Summer 2011

14
Your teen probably isn’t the only person in your household that
stays connected to family and friends through the social networking
site, Facebook. However, using Facebook is not without risks for teens,
according to the American Academy of Pediatrics.
Why are doctors worried?
With the friends of teens constantly adding new friends, updating
their “status” with recent fun outings or activities, and adding photo
upon photo of good times, it’s a tough landscape for teens who are
already dealing with self-esteem or depression issues.
Parents are encouraged to talk to their teens about online use and
be aware of the risks including depression, self-esteem issues or even
“cyberbullying” (when teens may post judgmental comments or inappropriate
remarks about others).
Remember, Facebook also can help kids feel more socially connected.
As with all things involving parenting, it’s just important to stay
connected to your child — in person.
Are teens
fretting
about
Facebook?
Lose
weight
The Healthy
Weigh!
The Healthy Weigh! Education
Program is free for members of
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield,
Health Advantage (except ARHealth
members*), Blue Cross and Blue
Shield Service Benefit Plan (Federal
Employee Program), Medi-Pak ® Advantage
(PFFS), Medi-Pak Advantage PPO
and eligible members of BlueAdvantage
Administrators of Arkansas.
To enroll, complete the attached
enrollment form and return it in the
self-addressed, postage-paid envelope
included in this magazine. The program
starts when you enroll.
After enrollment, you will begin to
receive information through the mail,
which you can read in the privacy of
your own home and at your own pace.
The program is completely voluntary,
and you may leave the program at any
time. If you have further questions
about the program, call the Health
Education Program’s toll-free number
at 1-800-686-2609.
* Arkansas state and public school
employees and retirees can access the
“Nourish” program through LifeSynch.
Simply complete, sign and return the
attached enrollment form in the selfaddressed,
postage-paid envelope to join
The Healthy Weigh!
Blue & You Summer 2011

Baby on Board:
Use rear-facing car
safety seats at least
until age 2
How can you protect your
“precious cargo?” Put them in
the back seat, turn them around
and buckle them down.
The American Academy of
Pediatrics (AAP), recently recommended
that all infants ride
in the back seat of all vehicles,
in rear-facing car safety seats,
starting with their first ride
home from the hospital and continuing
until they are 2 years of
age or until they reach the highest
weight or height allowed by
the car safety seat’s manufacturer.
Sadly, according to AAP,
motor vehicle crashes are the
leading cause of death for children
4 years old and older.
Types of rear-facing
car safety seats
There are three types of rearfacing
car safety seats: infantonly
seats, convertible seats and
Age Group Seat Type Guidelines
Infants/toddlers
Toddlers/
preschoolers
School-aged
children
Older children
Infant seats
and rear-facing
convertible seats
Convertible seats
and forward-facing
seats with harnesses
Booster seats
Seat belts
three-in-one seats. When children reach the highest weight or length allowed
by the manufacturer of their infant-only seat, they should continue to face the
back of the vehicle in a convertible seat or three-in-one seat.
Source: American Academy of Pediatrics
All infants and toddlers should ride in
a rear-facing car safety seat until they
are 2 years of age or until they reach the
highest weight or height allowed by their
car safety seat’s manufacturer.
All children 2 years or older, or those
younger than 2 years who have
outgrown the rear-facing weight or
height limit for their car safety seat,
should use a forward-facing car safety
seat with a harness for as long as
possible, up to the highest weight or
height allowed by their car safety seat’s
manufacturer.
All children whose weight or height
is above the forward-facing limit for
their car safety seat should use a beltpositioning
booster seat until the vehicle
seat belt fits properly, typically when
they have reached 4 feet 9 inches in
height and are between 8 and 12 years
of age.
When children are old enough and
large enough to use the vehicle seat
belt alone, they should always use lap
and shoulder seat belts for optimal
protection.
All children younger than 13 years
should be restrained in the rear seats of
vehicles for optimal protection.
15
Blue & You Summer 2011

New education program helps
children with asthma breathe easier
16
For skateboarders and skiers, “catching air” is a
radical move; for children with asthma, it can be the difference
between life and death.
The new CatchAir Youth Asthma Program teaches
parents and children about asthma through fun information
that also is easy to understand. The program is free
and voluntary for Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield,
Health Advantage and eligible BlueAdvantage Administrators
of Arkansas members.
CatchAir targets four age-
specific groups — 0-3, 4-6,
7-11 and 12-17.
After enrollment, program
participants receive monthly age-appropriate information
through the mail. Parents read, use and share the
information with the younger children. Older program
participants can read and learn more on their own,
although there always is a parent component.
“Learning that your child has asthma may be alarming,”
said Robert Griffin, M.D., senior vice president and
chief medical officer for Arkansas Blue Cross. “Most
people want information and support. Our goal is to
make a positive difference in the lives of parents and
their children who have asthma, by helping them learn
more about asthma care. That way, they are better prepared
in an emergency, and can live a more peaceful,
healthy day-to-day life by managing the condition.”
Margaret Fizer, R.N., B.S.N., a health improvement
nurse specialist for Arkansas Blue Cross, developed the
CatchAir program. “We want our youngest members to
feel the freedom and power over asthma that a snowboarder
might feel when they ‘catch air,’” Fizer said.
As many as 71,000 children in Arkansas have asthma;
nationally one in 10 students
have asthma. “Asthma is a lifelong
disease that children don’t
outgrow,” she said. “Symptoms
may decrease as a child gets
older, but the asthma is still present.”
Educational materials range from the basics of
asthma to tracking asthma symptoms and medications,
emergency planning, healthy eating and fitness tips,
and everyday health. Telephone and Web resources are
provided as well as follow-ups with a registered nurse
case manager for those members who need case management
services.
For more information on the CatchAir Youth Asthma
Program, contact Arkansas Blue Cross’ Health
Education Division at 1-800-686-2609.
Blue & You Summer 2011

Individual/family policies can make changes in October
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s
Open Enrollment Period (OEP) for individual
and family health plans will be held Oct. 1-31,
2011. During this OEP, members may:
1. Request policy changes, such as
• Adding or deleting dependents.
• Increasing or decreasing their
deductible.
• Adding or deleting maternity.
• Requesting removal of surcharges
or exclusions.
2. Apply for child-only policies for individuals age 18
or younger. During the rest of the year, individuals
age 18 or younger only can be considered for coverage
as a dependent.
Change forms for existing policies and applications
for new policies must be received (not just postmarked)
no later than Oct. 31, 2011. Forms are printable from
arkansasbluecross.com or you can call Customer
Service at 1-800-238-8379 to receive one.
Changes to existing policies will be effective
Jan. 1 or 15, 2012, depending on the
policy billing cycle. All
new child-only individual policies will be
effective Jan. 1, 2012.
Qualifying Life Events
Existing policyholders may make
changes throughout the year only if there
is a “qualifying life event” — such as a
marriage, divorce, death, birth of a child or loss of other
health insurance coverage. Child-only policy applications
may be submitted throughout the year only as a result
of involuntary loss of employer-sponsored health insurance
coverage, and must be submitted within 30 days
of the loss of coverage.
Watch for more information online and in the next
issue of Blue & You.
17
$1,000 health-improvement grants go fast
A
new grant program from the Blue & You Founda-
and awarded all 50 grants,” O’Sullivan said. “As this was
tion for a Healthier Arkansas recently provided $1,000
minigrants to 50 Arkansas organizations to implement
health-improvement projects in their communities. The
grant program was administered through the Arkansas
Community Foundation (ARCF).
“In addition to its annual, large-grants program, the
Blue & You Foundation wanted to offer
a new minigrants program that would
help more Arkansas communities
through a simpler application process
and a quicker funding decision,” said
Patrick O’Sullivan, executive director of the Blue & You
Foundation.
The new minigrants program proved to be extremely
popular. “In the first 28 days, we had 74 applications
considered a pilot, we are now evaluating the effectiveness
of the program and will likely offer a new round of
minigrants in early 2012.”
Any 501(c)(3) public charity, public school, government
agency or nonprofit hospital in Arkansas is eligible
to apply, but grants are not made to individuals. Funding
can be used to support an existing
health-improvement program or to support
a new start-up project.
The Blue & You Foundation is also
accepting applications through July 15
for its regular grants program (grants from $5,000
to $150,000). More information about these grant
opportunities can be found at blueandyoufoundationarkansas.org.
Blue & You Summer 2011

FDA decision removes
unapproved drugs from market
18
In March 2011, the U.S. Food
and Drug Administration (FDA) announced
that it will remove certain
unapproved prescription medicines
intended to relieve cough, cold and
allergy symptoms from the U.S.
market.
These products have
not been evaluated by
FDA to assure that they
are safe, effective and
of good quality. These
products may therefore
pose unnecessary risks
to consumers, especially
when there are
other products available
for the treatment of
cough, cold and allergy
symptoms, including
FDA-approved prescription drugs or
over-the-counter drugs that follow
appropriate FDA standards.
Some of the prescription medicines
being removed have been
Throughout
the past
century,
the laws
outlining the
requirements
for drug
approval
have
changed.
From the
marketed for many years. Throughout
the past century, the laws
outlining the requirements for drug
approval have changed. First, drug
regulation focused on adulteration
and misbranding but did not
require that new drug products be
approved prior to being marketed.
Then, laws on drug
regulation changed to
include drug safety
as a requirement for
approval. Currently, the
law requires that new
drugs be shown to be
safe, effective, of good
manufacturing quality
and not misbranded
prior to being approved
by the FDA. As a result
of these changes in
law, many of the products that
are the focus of this action have
been marketed without being
approved under the current legal
requirements.
The FDA says most manufacturers
affected by this action in March
2011 must stop making the product
within 90 days and stop shipping
them within 180 days. The FDA says
taking them off the market should
not create problems for consumers
because there are many other
products — both prescription and
over-the-counter — available for
the treatment of cough, cold and
allergy symptoms that meet FDA
standards.
If you are taking a prescription
medicine for cough, cold or allergy
symptoms and you want to know
if it is an approved drug, there are
a few resources available on the
FDA’s Web site, fda.gov. If you find
that you are taking one of the unapproved
prescription medications
that are affected by the FDA action,
please discuss alternatives with
your doctor or pharmacist.
Source: fda.gov, fda.gov/consumer
Pharmacist
by Trey Gardner, Pharm D.,
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Blue & You Summer 2011

Alternatives
to treating
colic
All babies cry for a reason,
mostly when they are hungry, tired
or need a fresh diaper. But, if you’ve
ever been around a baby with colic,
you know it is altogether a different
situation.
Colic is an attack of crying due to
what appears to be abdominal pain
in early infancy. It is common — occurring
in approximately 20 percent
of all babies during their first few
months of life — and it is extremely
frustrating.
Colic normally appears just a few
weeks after birth and can last for
three or four months. Babies with
colic usually exhibit some or all of
the following symptoms:
• Crying intensely and furiously,
even when normal needs are
met.
• Fists may be clenched, abdominal
muscles may be tensed and
knees may be drawn up.
• Sleep may be irregular and interrupted
with episodes of crying.
• Feeding also may be interrupted
and irregular with episodes of
intense crying. However, the
amount the baby eats will not be
less.
There are few treatment options
for colic, but in a recent study,
several nutritional supplements and
other complementary and alternative
treatments were examined.
The use of fennel extract, herbal tea
(especially those with chamomile,
licorice, fennel and balm mint) and
sugar solutions were somewhat
effective in relieving the symptoms
of colicky babies but the results,
overall, were inconclusive. It was
determined that additional research
is necessary.
In the meantime, if you are dealing
with a colicky baby, you can
resort to a few “tried and true”
methods until he or she outgrows it.
These methods include:
• Swaddling a baby during a crying
episode.
• Sit the baby upright when feeding
to reduce the amount of air
swallowed.
• Use more frequent, but smaller,
feedings.
• If breastfeeding, avoid tea, coffee,
spicy foods and alcohol.
• Use a pacifier.
• Go for a walk with a stroller.
• Give the baby a warm bath or
gentle massage.
Perhaps the best tip is this one:
Have someone else help you with
the baby so you can have some private
time away. This may help calm
your anxieties and provide for a
more peaceful atmosphere overall.
19
Blue & You Summer 2011

20
The
Doctor’s
Corner
Have a “hawk eye” in the hospital
Customer Service. You also can
learn more about your doctor and
hospital by searching online.
• Arrange for someone to be at
the hospital with you. Make sure
they understand why you are
going to the hospital and are
aware of any other health concerns
you may have. This person
or persons will be your “hawk”
eyes and ears if you are sedated
or recovering.
• Make a list of all your medications,
or bring them with you.
Include any over-the-counter
medications, like aspirin; these
medications can be as important
to your doctor as your prescription
medications.
If you travel anywhere in Arkansas,
you can’t help but see the
hawks sitting silently above the
fields, watching calmly and listening
intently. And if you’ve ever gotten
too close to a hawk’s nest, you
know how fast they can move and
how loud they can be in order to
protect their young. The next time
you or a loved one has to enter the
hospital, think back on those hawks;
that same quiet attention to detail
and fast action can make you a powerful
patient advocate and a strong
member of the care team.
Before Going to the Hospital
Some hospitalizations occur
suddenly while others are planned
well in advance. If the situation
allows you to plan ahead, consider
the following:
• If you smoke, try to quit at least
two weeks before the hospitalization.
If you can’t quit, let the
hospital staff know. They may
be able to provide you with
support to help with withdrawal
symptoms.
• Do some research. Make sure
your doctor is in our network by
going to our Web site or calling
At the Hospital
As a patient, or as the advocate
for your loved one, you are part of
the care team. If you see something
that doesn’t look right, or you hear
information that may not be correct,
ask questions. If you still are not
satisfied, don’t hesitate to alert the
doctor, a nurse or a hospital administrator.
By being polite and quiet
when things are going well, you
will be taken seriously when you do
speak out regarding an issue.
As a Patient:
• Be sure your doctor is aware
of any allergies to medications,
food, latex or tape adhesive.
• Be honest if you have an addiction
to alcohol or drugs. Your doc-
Blue & You Summer 2011

tor may be able to help you with
withdrawal, and not letting the
doctor or hospital know could
create a serious health situation
for you.
• Ask if the hospital has adopted
a surgical checklist. If not, ask
what your surgeon and anesthesiologist
will do to be sure the
requirements are met.
• Ask if you need antibiotics prior
to the operation. Also, if you typically
require antibiotics before
dental work, tell your doctor.
• Ask for the surgical site to be
marked before you are sedated
so you know it is the correct location.
Make sure your advocate
knows the location as well.
• Do not shave the surgical site
yourself. The hospital staff should
use clippers, not razor blades, to
prepare the site.
As a Patient Advocate:
• Be sure you wash your hands
frequently and be sure others
(family, nurses, doctors) wash
theirs every time they come in
the room. If someone doesn’t,
say something. Be sure the
doctors and nurses wear gloves
when doing wound care, dressing
changes, IV site changes etc.
• Politely tell any sick visitors that
they should wait to visit when
they — and the patient — are
better.
• Keep a record of all activities and
conversations and include times
and names of all people involved.
What medicine was given? Was
there a change? Which doctor
rounded? What tests or procedures
were done? Did the results
get back to the doctor?
• Ask what medications are being
given. If something is new, ask
what it does and find out if there
could be side effects.
It is important
for the patient
and advocate
to listen, ask
questions and take
notes.
• If the stay in the hospital is
lengthy, be sure the staff keeps
your loved one from developing
bedsores by frequently turning
him or her.
• Ask whether a medicine is
needed to prevent blood clots.
• Report any broken or malfunctioning
equipment, including
call lights, wheelchairs, bedside
tables, hand-sanitizer dispensers
or bathroom handrails. If it is not
working, it may cause problems.
• Talk to each nurse at shift change
about fall prevention. Falls are
frequent in hospitals because
of sickness, age, incontinence,
medication effects and being in
a strange environment. Combine
your common sense and knowledge
of your loved one with the
by Vic Snyder, M.D.,
Corporate Medical Director
for External Affairs
nurse’s professional experience.
What changes have occurred in
your loved one that may increase
the risk of falling?
° Is the room cluttered or
too dark?
° Are wheels locked on
wheelchairs and other
equipment?
° Are the toilet seat and
the bed at the appropriate
height?
° Would a regular bathroom
schedule be safer than
waiting for an urgent call of
nature?
° Is the call-light working and
reachable?
° As your loved one improves,
is the activity level expanded
so that muscle strength
and conditioning improves?
• If there is a central venous line,
watch for signs of infection. Pay
strict attention to hand washing
and gloves. Talk to the doctor
daily regarding how long the
central line needs to stay in.
Hospital, continued on Page 27
21
Blue & You Summer 2011

22
BlueCares team rallies to se
In the aftermath of a tornado
that devastated their community on
Arkansas Blue Cross
employees serve lunch
to storm victims and
volunteers in Vilonia.
April 25, 2011, the members of Vilonia
United Methodist Church looked
for ways to help their neighbors.
The members of their community
were so consumed with digging out
of the rubble left in the wake of the
storm, they had little time to even
consider from where their next
meal was coming.
That’s when the members of the
church took action. According to
their pastor, Belinda Price, Vilonia
United Methodist Church coordinated
with various restaurants to
provide meals. As a result, they
served approximately 400 people
in a single day. But so much more
needed to be done.
“We were having a meeting at
our church discussing how to do
this again because the need was so
great,” said Price.
They began calling other restaurants
for help, one of which was
Whole Hog Café in Little Rock.
“We asked if they could help out
and they said they were already
fixing enough barbecue to feed
1,000 people in Vilonia the following
Saturday,” said Price.
Which raised some questions…
Where would they distribute
the food?
Did they need a place?
Blue & You Summer 2011

ve community after storms
Who was organizing this effort in the first place?
“We called back and asked,” said Price.
That’s when they found out the effort was being
coordinated by Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield.
The plan was to provide free barbecue lunches to storm
clean up crews and displaced families in Vilonia.
“So we called Arkansas Blue Cross and asked them
if they needed a place to serve the food and they
said, ‘yes.’”
So, 20 volunteers from Arkansas Blue Cross set up
shop at Vilonia United Methodist Church and started
feeding people. It was a mission that hit
very close to home for many of them.
“I have become accustomed to seeing
this type of thing on the news, but to witness it first
hand was humbling,” said Betsy Petty, a supervisor for
BlueCard Host Adjustments and one of the Arkansas
Blue Cross volunteers. “I live within 10 miles of Vilonia.
That night the storm could have easily turned and gone
through my neighborhood — so a lot of emotions went
through me. I’m thankful that I was spared, but I’m also
hurt by the suffering that Vilonia was going through.”
The volunteers fed an estimated 800 to 900 people.
“It was astounding,” said Price. “So many people
were served, both at the church and in the
neighborhoods.”
The damage had blocked so many roads that many
of the clean-up crews could not get to the church. But,
according to Price, crews would send one person to
get through the debris to the church. That person would
then take back a lot of takeout orders.
Elaine Hickman, a lead system analyst/programmer
for Pinnacle Business Solutions, Inc., also was one of
the volunteers.
“I cried all the way to the church,” she said. “After
seeing the disaster, it really brings into focus that this
could have been any one of us, and we should be willing
to do whatever we can to assist those in need. The
need is still so great and this clean up will take a
long time.”
Serving meals was not the only assistance offered by
Arkansas Blue Cross. The company also waived pharmacy
costs for its members who were victims of
the storm.
“Our hearts go out to our fellow Arkansans who lost
so much in these storms,” said Mark White, president
and chief executive officer of Arkansas Blue Cross. “We
know there is a lot to go through following
a natural disaster, and we want our
members to stay healthy as they rebuild.
We want to ease their financial burden by replacing
their needed medications.”
Helping out in times of need is nothing new for
Arkansas Blue Cross. In fact, the company has a rich
history of community involvement. A little more than a
week before storms ravaged Arkansas, employees of
Arkansas Blue Cross turned out en masse to participate
in the 2011 Start! Heart Walk and raised more than
$10,000 for the American Heart Association.
Mike Brown, executive vice president and chief
operating officer for Arkansas Blue Cross, served as the
2011 corporate walk chair for the Little Rock chapter of
the American Heart Association.
This kind of dedication would come as no surprise
to Donna Lewis, a member of Vilonia United Methodist
Church, after seeing employees in action at her church.
“Arkansas Blue Cross employees took care of everything,”
she said. “And when it was over, they even
helped us take everything down and then helped us set
up for our Sunday services. I said, ‘You don’t have to do
that,’ and they said, ‘no, no, we’re here to help you.’”
23
Blue & You Summer 2011

BLUE News
24
Grant funds training for hospital board members
competence needed to make better, more educated de-
A hospital’s quality, safety and fiscal responsibility cisions and to govern more effectively on behalf of the
is determined not only by its doctors but by its board patients and communities they serve. Arkansas Blue
members. For this reason, Arkansas Blue Cross and Cross has provided $50,000 to this mission.
Blue Shield is providing funding to the Arkansas Hospital
Association (AHA) and the Arkansas Association of to health care and emergency care in communities;
Hospitals are not only vital in providing easy access
Hospital Trustees (AAHT) to support their goal of certifying
at least 80 percent of all hospital board members in the AHA, hospitals are the second largest private sec-
they have an important economic impact. According to
Arkansas in the Best on Board educational program. tor source of jobs in the nation. Every dollar spent by
Best on Board specializes in helping hospital trustees a hospital supports more than two dollars of additional
and other health care leaders gain the confidence and business activity in a community.
Gray Dillard named chief financial officer
Gray Dillard, CPA, has
been named chief financial
officer (CFO) and treasurer
for Arkansas Blue Cross
and Blue Shield.
As CFO, Dillard will be
responsible for financial
activities for Arkansas Blue
Cross, HMO Partners, Inc.
and USAble Corporation, which includes accounting,
financial operations, administrative cost management,
enterprise reporting and capital management. He will
serve as treasurer of Arkansas Blue Cross and HMO
Partners, and as secretary/treasurer of USAble Corporation.
Dillard also will continue his responsibilities as vice
president of Financial Services.
Dillard joined Arkansas Blue Cross in March 1994
as senior accountant for Health Advantage and was
promoted to accounting manager of Financial Services
and controller of HMO Partners in 2000. He served as
regional executive in the Hot Springs office from 2005
to 2008. He was promoted to vice president of Financial
Services in 2009.
Dillard received his bachelor’s degree from Harding
University in Searcy. Dillard works closely with the
Maumelle Sports Association and coaches youth baseball,
basketball and softball. He is an active member of
Levy Church of Christ. Dillard was a recent member of
the Hot Springs Fifty for the Future and completed the
Leadership Hot Springs Program where he served as
treasurer.
AskBlue about reform
AskBlue is a new feature available on our Web sites
that helps both individuals and businesses understand
more about health insurance reform — it’s a personal
guide to understanding the basics and includes
changes happening now and in the future.
AskBlue, created by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Association, is available on the Arkansas Blue Cross
and Blue Shield, Health Advantage and BlueAdvantage
Administrators of Arkansas Web sites.
Blue & You Summer 2011

Vic Snyder, M.D., joins medical staff
Arkansas Blue Cross wins awards
Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield’s Enterprise Information
Development Division recently won two Blue
Health Intelligence (BHI) Best of Blue Awards at the
Blue National Summit held in Chicago. The first award
was for plan-to-plan collaboration and the second was
for return on investment.
BHI combines the health care information of more
than 54 million Blue Cross and Blue Shield members
nationwide in a database that is fully protected under
the safeguards established by the Health Insurance
Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA).
Vic Snyder, M.D., former
U.S. representative for Arkansas’
2nd Congressional
District, has been named
the corporate medical
director for external affairs
for Arkansas Blue Cross
and Blue Shield. In his new
position, Snyder will participate
in the development of medical policy, member
benefits and physician and hospital networks.
Snyder served in Vietnam as part of the U.S. 1st
Marine Division during the Vietnam War. He earned his
For the first award, Arkansas Blue Cross worked with
a health care data analytics expert, to collect information
from the BHI data warehouse and identify trends
that increase cost and health care usage for one of the
company’s largest nationwide accounts. As a result,
Arkansas Blue Cross can provide statistical information
to support the national account’s business decisions.
bachelor’s degree in chemistry from Willamette University
in Salem, Ore., and his doctorate in medicine from
the University of Oregon Health Sciences Center (now
Oregon Health and Science University) in Portland, Ore.
Dr. Snyder completed his residency at the University of
Arkansas for Medical Sciences. He served as a family
practice physician in Little Rock for 15 years. He attended
the University of Arkansas at Little Rock School
of Law to obtain his law degree while still maintaining
his medical practice. He served in the Arkansas State
Legislature from 1991 until 1996. Snyder served as a
congressman from 1997 to 2011.
To earn the award for return on investment, the
Enterprise Information Development Division improved
the timeliness in which data is delivered to Arkansas
Blue Cross by implementing service level agreements
that focus on quality, timeliness, change control and
issue resolution. As a result, Arkansas Blue Cross’ data
warehouse has seen a dramatic improvement in its
ability to secure the data needed for various business
purposes.
James Gaston,
manager of
Enterprise
Information
Development, is
presented with
the BHI Best
of Blue award
for plan-to-plan
collaboration.
25
Blue & You Summer 2011

Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield
Financial Information Privacy Notice
At Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue
Shield and its affiliates (including
HMO Partners, Inc. d/b/a Health
Advantage), we understand how
important it is to keep your private
purchase and use of our
products.
• Information related to the fact
that you have been or currently
are a member.
information. Improper access and
use of confidential information by an
employee can result in disciplinary
action up to and including termination
of employment.
26
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
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 one another or to other parties
except as permitted or required by
law. Examples of instances in which
Arkansas Blue Cross and its affiliates
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. As
required by state regulation, we must
notify our members about how we
affiliates only compile information
will provide information to one
handle non-public financial information
necessary for us to provide the
another or other third parties are:
of our members. If you would like
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
• 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
to review the Financial Information
Privacy Notices for all Arkansas Blue
Cross members, you can visit our Web
site at arkansasbluecross.com or call
the appropriate Arkansas Blue Cross
affiliate company to receive the Privacy
Notice. Our customer service areas
are open from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,
Central time, Monday through Friday.
To receive a copy of the Privacy
Notice, members should call:
Arkansas Blue Cross —
1-800-238-8379.
Health Advantage — 1-800-843-1329.
Self-funded group members should
call Customer Service using the tollfree
telephone number on their
ID card.
Blue & You Summer 2011

Hospital, continued from Page 21
• Watch any wound
dressings; if they
come off or need
to be changed, tell
someone.
• Be sure urine
catheter bags are
below your loved one’s center of gravity. Discuss
with the doctor and nurses what can be done to
prevent infections from the urinary catheter and
make sure it happens.
• If your loved one is on a ventilator, ask about bed
elevation and how often his or her mouth should
be cleaned.
• Watch your loved one’s intake at meals. If food
consistently is uneaten, tell the doctor.
Before Leaving the Hospital
Once again, it is important for the patient and
advocate to listen, ask questions and take notes. Too
often, patients do not follow their doctors’ discharge
instructions and end up being re-admitted to the
hospital. You may be able to avoid re-admittance by
asking the following:
• Is special care needed for any catheters, surgical
incision sites or IV sites?
• What medications will be taken? Will any previous
medications be discontinued?
• When is the follow-up appointment?
• Will dressings need to be changed at home?
• Are home health services needed?
Being part of the care team when someone needs
medical attention is a huge responsibility, but by being
like a hawk — quietly watching and listening intently
and speaking up when you have a concern —
you can be sure you or your loved one gets the best
care possible. To see more information on patient
advocacy, go to our Web sites listed to the right.
We love to hear from you!
May we help? For customer service, please call:
Little Rock
Number (501)
Toll-free
Number
Medi-Pak ® members 378-3062 1-800-338-2312
Medi-Pak Advantage members 1-877-233-7022
Medi-Pak Rx members 1-866-390-3369
Arkansas Blue Cross members 378-2010 1-800-238-8379
Pharmacy questions 1-800-863-5561
Specialty Rx Pharmacy questions 1-866-295-2779
Health Advantage members 378-2363 1-800-843-1329
Pharmacy questions 1-800-863-5567
BlueAdvantage members 378-3600 1-888-872-2531
Pharmacy questions 1-888-293-3748
State and Public School members 378-2364 1-800-482-8416
Federal Employee members 378-2531 1-800-482-6655
Looking for health or dental insurance? We can help!
For individuals, families
and those age 65 or older 378-2937 1-800-392-2583
For employer groups 378-3070 1-800-421-1112
(Arkansas Blue Cross Group Services, which includes
Health Advantage and BlueAdvantage Administrators
of Arkansas)
Prefer to speak with someone close to home? Call or visit one
of our regional office locations:
Pine Bluff/Southeast Region 1-800-236-0369
1800 West 73rd St.
Jonesboro/Northeast Region 1-800-299-4124
707 East Matthews Ave.
Hot Springs/South Central Region 1-800-588-5733
100 Greenwood Ave., Suite C
Texarkana/Southwest Region 1-800-470-9621
1710 Arkansas Boulevard
Fayetteville/Northwest Region 1-800-817-7726
516 East Milsap Rd., Suite 103
Fort Smith/West Central Region 1-866-254-9117
3501 Old Greenwood Rd., Suite 5
Little Rock/Central Region 1-800-421-1112
320 West Capitol Ave., Suite 900
Visit our Web sites for more information:
arkansasbluecross.com
healthadvantage-hmo.com
blueadvantagearkansas.com
blueandyoufoundationarkansas.org
27
Blue & You Summer 2011

28
Curves discounts
The Curves Greater Arkansas Area Cooperative
has lowered its joining fee from $59 to $39 for
new members. The discount only applies to Curves
at the locations below. In addition to the regular
Curves Circuit, all locations offer Zumba ® Fitness
and the SilverSneakers ® Fitness Program.
The discounts are available in: Benton, Bentonville,
Bryant, Conway, Fayetteville, Fort Smith, Jacksonville,
the Chenonceau Boulevard, Otter Creek
and Shackleford locations in Little Rock, Maumelle,
Sherwood and Springdale.
At Arkansas Blue Cross
and Blue Shield, we are
always looking for new
ways to be "Good for You."
Here are some of our
latest accomplishments.
Like us on Facebook! Follow us
on Twitter!
Our annual Blue & You Fitness
Challenge contest is finished …
but our Facebook page and Twitter
messages go on. If you want quick health tips, a
way to connect with others who share your devotion
to exercise, or are wondering what “walk” or
fun, sweat-inducing event may be occurring in your
hometown … check us out on Facebook
and Twitter.
Use this QR code to go directly
to your new favorite exercise tips
site. Don’t have a QR code reader
on your smartphone? Just download
a free QR code reader from
your favorite app store. It’s easy!
Blue & You Summer 2011
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