Blue & You - Autumn 2009
Beating the Odds; Medicare Enrollment Information
Beating the Odds;
Medicare Enrollment Information
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<strong>Autumn</strong> 09<br />
• Read our CEO’s editorial about health care reform, Page 3<br />
• Enroll now in one of our Medicare plans, Page 5<br />
• Dr. David offers healthy eating tips, Page 16<br />
Dan Peterson of Little<br />
Rock, Ark., is a survivor of<br />
pancreatic cancer. See his<br />
story on Page 6.<br />
A publication for the policyholders of the Arkansas<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> Cross and <strong>Blue</strong> Shield family of companies
on Page 12<br />
5 Medicare enrollment information<br />
12 SilverSneakers<br />
adds to active lifestyle<br />
19 Yarnell’s & Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong> Cross<br />
INSIDE<br />
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Out of the <strong>Blue</strong><br />
Great options for members 65 and over<br />
Beating the odds: Dan Peterson’s journey<br />
with pancreatic cancer<br />
Can Zicam damage your sense of smell?<br />
Caffeine may reduce Alzheimer’s memory loss<br />
Beware: Tanning beds cause cancer<br />
Prepare for two flus this fall<br />
SilverSneakers adds to active lifestyle<br />
Prediabetes? Take the warning seriously!<br />
Lose weight The Healthy Weigh!<br />
Taking calcium supplements for weight loss?<br />
What not to feed Junior<br />
Senior Moments with Dr. David<br />
Where does your health-care dollar go?<br />
A sweet relationship:<br />
Yarnell’s and Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong> Cross<br />
From the Pharmacist —<br />
Are you an unintentional drug dealer?<br />
Curves offers discount to members<br />
What is a formulary?<br />
The Doctor’s Corner<br />
Three benefits added to group Dental<strong>Blue</strong> plans<br />
Mental Health Parity: What it means for you<br />
Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> Fitness Challengers win with<br />
better health<br />
Customer Service telephone numbers<br />
Good for you<br />
<strong>Autumn</strong> 09<br />
is published four times a year by<br />
Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong> Cross and <strong>Blue</strong> Shield for<br />
the company’s members, health-care<br />
professionals and other persons<br />
interested in health care and wellness.<br />
Vice President, Communications and Product Development: Karen Raley<br />
Editor: Kelly Whitehorn — BN<strong>You</strong>-Ed@arkbluecross.com<br />
Designer: Gio Bruno Photographer: Chip Bayer<br />
Contributors: Chip Bayer, Matthew Creasman, Damona Fisher, Kristy Fleming,<br />
Jennifer Gordon, Trey Hankins, Heather Iacobacci-Miller, Ryan Kravitz, Kathy<br />
Luzietti and Mark Morehead<br />
A special thank you to Stacy Harter, a University of Arkansas at Little Rock graduate student, who contributed the article on chiropractic medicine in the Summer 09<br />
edition of <strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong>.
Out of the<br />
<strong>Blue</strong><br />
A message from our<br />
CEO and President,<br />
Mark White<br />
Our stance on health care reform<br />
In the ever-changing environment around health care<br />
reform, there are a few constants. At Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong><br />
Cross and <strong>Blue</strong> Shield, our position on health care reform<br />
has not changed.<br />
• We support health care reform. We believe changing<br />
our current system is important to Americans<br />
individually and collectively. The rate of growth in<br />
health-care costs today is not sustainable for the<br />
long term. The impact of these costs on our nation’s<br />
ability to compete in a global economy and<br />
on hard-working Americans will be unbearable. We<br />
believe so strongly in the need for change that we<br />
will support responsible changes even if they require<br />
that we as a health insurance company significantly<br />
change the way we do business.<br />
• We believe that every American should have access<br />
to high-quality, affordable health care, and<br />
that any reform enacted should address the problem<br />
of the uninsured by providing financial assistance to<br />
those who cannot afford coverage on their own.<br />
• We believe that the most significant issue we<br />
face in health care today is cost. To be successful,<br />
any reform enacted must address cost as the<br />
primary issue. It is cost that has created a situation<br />
in which many Americans lack health coverage. It is<br />
the cost of health care that makes our current system<br />
unsustainable. We must first address the cost in<br />
order to reform health care without bankrupting the<br />
country in the process.<br />
As an industry, we must be — and are — prepared to<br />
make radical changes in the way we do business. One<br />
much-maligned insurance company practice is denying<br />
coverage or payment for those with pre-existing medical<br />
conditions. Early in the health-care discussions, our<br />
industry pledged to support guaranteeing coverage for<br />
everyone despite any pre-existing health condition<br />
they might have. But to make this proposal affordable,<br />
we must have laws that require everyone who can<br />
afford it to purchase insurance and stiff penalties for<br />
those who fail to do so. Without these laws, people<br />
would not buy insurance until they got sick. And we all<br />
know you don’t wait until after you’ve burned dinner to<br />
turn off the oven.<br />
But other changes are needed to make health care<br />
3<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
4<br />
available and affordable for all Americans. Remember<br />
that the problem is the cost of health-care services,<br />
which directly impacts your health insurance costs.<br />
Health-care costs drive health insurance costs — not<br />
the other way around. There are a number of reform initiatives<br />
that hold promise for addressing our cost problem.<br />
The most important has not been part of the public<br />
debate. Payment reform is an important first step if we<br />
are serious about controlling the cost of health care.<br />
We must change how we pay health-care providers,<br />
not necessarily how much we pay them. Today, doctors,<br />
hospitals and other health-service<br />
providers are paid for each service<br />
they provide, even if that service isn’t<br />
helpful or already has been done. This<br />
method of payment is called “fee-forservice.”<br />
In this environment, patients<br />
often see specialists and undergo<br />
many tests and procedures with no<br />
one coordinating the care they receive<br />
from one doctor to the next. We need<br />
a system in which doctors and hospitals<br />
are paid to treat a patient’s “medical<br />
episode” rather than each medical<br />
service provided. An episode might be a hysterectomy<br />
or a heart attack or any other condition for which a<br />
patient might seek medical care. When we pay doctors<br />
and hospitals to treat a patient’s medical episode, they<br />
are incented to coordinate the care the patient receives,<br />
avoid duplicate and unnecessary testing and provide<br />
care that has been proven effective and necessary.<br />
Another important initiative that will contribute to a<br />
more efficient system is the expansion of health information<br />
technology (IT) in the health-care delivery system.<br />
This initiative already is included in many reform<br />
proposals and is part of the American Recovery and<br />
Reinvestment Act (ARRA) of <strong>2009</strong>. We need a system<br />
that links the health plan, the doctor, the hospital and<br />
We need a system<br />
in which doctors<br />
and hospitals are<br />
paid to treat a<br />
patient’s<br />
“medical<br />
episode”<br />
rather than each<br />
medical service<br />
provided.<br />
the patient together so that everyone has access to the<br />
information they need to best treat each patient and get<br />
their claims paid. This means when you see your doctor<br />
or visit the emergency room, the physician or nurse<br />
should be able to enter your name and other identifiable<br />
information in a computer and review your medical<br />
records. This will help avoid delays in care and unnecessary<br />
tests, as well as give the health-care providers a<br />
clear understanding of your medical history.<br />
Let me give an example: your 80-year-old mother<br />
goes to the emergency room and the doctor doesn’t<br />
have any experience treating her. He<br />
has no access to her medical records.<br />
He may have to order more tests, prescribe<br />
more medicines and take more<br />
time trying to diagnosis the problem.<br />
Some of these procedures are probably<br />
not necessary and may actually be<br />
harmful. The doctor won’t know if the<br />
same tests or procedures were conducted<br />
just a few months before. He<br />
could save time and money if he had<br />
access to her medical history, and he<br />
would be more effective in treating her<br />
with the appropriate information at his fingertips. That is<br />
the promise of improved health IT.<br />
As you listen to all the discussion surrounding the<br />
current health-care debate, I encourage you to keep<br />
one question in mind. How will this particular proposal<br />
or plan help control cost? Responsible health care<br />
reform will build on our current employer-based system<br />
in ways that make it more affordable. Will huge, new<br />
government bureaucracies control costs? How about increasing<br />
taxes or placing new demands on employers?<br />
I hope that each of you will take the time to consider all<br />
the proposals out there and make an educated decision<br />
about what is best for you and those you love. That’s<br />
the American way.<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
GREAT OPTIONS<br />
for members 65 and over<br />
If you are eligible for Medicare, November 15 is an coverage) in 27 counties and affordable premiums<br />
important date to remember. From November 15 until in all Arkansas counties. Medi-Pak Advantage MA-<br />
December 31, you can purchase a Part D prescription PD (PFFS) plans are Medicare PFFS plans, which<br />
drug plan or Medicare Advantage plan. <strong>You</strong> also can combine all the benefits of original Medicare (Part A<br />
change the plan you have. The federal government’s hospital and Part B medical) with valuable extras.<br />
Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS)<br />
Beginning Jan. 1, 2010, our Medi-Pak Advantage<br />
(PFFS) customers have a great new benefit!<br />
calls this time period the Annual Election Period (AEP).<br />
If you join a plan during the AEP, or make changes to Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong> Cross has contracted with more than<br />
an existing plan, your new benefits will be effective 6,000 doctors and hospitals all over the state that<br />
Jan. 1, 2010.<br />
have agreed to accept our Medi-Pak Advantage<br />
Medi-Pak Choice plans offer peace of mind<br />
members as valued patients. No more searching for<br />
Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong> Cross and <strong>Blue</strong> Shield’s Medi-Pak<br />
a doctor who will accept your health plan. <strong>You</strong> will<br />
Choice plans provide the same affordability, convenience<br />
and peace of mind you’ve come to expect<br />
know in advance the doctors and hospitals that will<br />
accept your plan. And when you use these doctors<br />
from us.<br />
and hospitals, you’ll have lower out-of-pocket costs.<br />
For 2010, Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong> Cross will offer:<br />
Plus, our Medi-Pak Advantage members will continue<br />
to receive a membership in the SilverSneakers ®<br />
• Three Medi-Pak Rx Prescription Drug Plans (PDP)<br />
with competitively priced monthly premiums – Basic<br />
Fitness Program at no additional cost.<br />
at $25.90, Classic at $57.20 and Premier at $86.50.<br />
• $0 premiums for Medi-Pak Advantage MA (PFFS)<br />
Our Medi-Pak Rx (PDP) plans cover all Medicareapproved<br />
generic drugs plus an extensive list of<br />
(does not include drug coverage) in 52 counties. These<br />
plans offer all the health benefits of our Medi-Pak<br />
brand-name prescription drugs. In addition, more<br />
Advantage MA-PD plans, but do not include drug coverage.<br />
Members have access to a network of 6,000<br />
than 95 percent of the pharmacies in Arkansas are in<br />
our network.<br />
doctors and hospitals that have agreed to accept their<br />
• $0 premiums for Medi-Pak Advantage MA-PD<br />
plan and receive a SilverSneakers membership.<br />
Private Fee-for-Service (PFFS) plans (includes drug<br />
Great options, continued on Page 18<br />
5<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
Beating the odds:<br />
6<br />
Miracles can happen. Dan<br />
Peterson is living proof.<br />
In late 2002, Dan began having<br />
severe pain in his upper abdomen.<br />
After a few days with no relief, he<br />
and his wife, Donna, went to the<br />
emergency room at a local hospital.<br />
Dan and Donna Peterson<br />
enjoy the view from their<br />
front porch.<br />
Dan endured several tests, including<br />
a CAT scan, and was diagnosed<br />
with pancreatitis — inflammation of<br />
the pancreas. One of the medical<br />
professionals noted that there was<br />
“something” on the CAT scan results<br />
but did not suggest any follow<br />
up, and Dan was sent home.<br />
Two days later Dan returned<br />
to the hospital, still in pain, and<br />
was admitted. After a few more<br />
tests, Dan’s doctor walked into<br />
the room and told his family he had<br />
bad news.<br />
“It was like the air was sucked<br />
out of the room,” Donna said, still<br />
fighting back tears from that painful<br />
memory. “He said that Dan had<br />
stage-four pancreatic cancer and he<br />
needed to go home and settle his<br />
affairs because he only had a few<br />
months to live.”<br />
Dan’s pancreas had an adenocarcinoma,<br />
a cancer originating in<br />
glandular tissue, and it had spread<br />
to two locations in his liver. There<br />
was no talk of oncologists, surgery<br />
or other treatments. The doctor suggested<br />
that Dan and his family start<br />
saying goodbye.<br />
Donna said that the only thing<br />
keeping her together at that point<br />
was that she had to be strong for<br />
their five children. “I couldn’t eat;<br />
I couldn’t take a deep breath; I<br />
couldn’t imagine life without him.”<br />
Dan went back to his job as a<br />
human resources director for the<br />
Central Arkansas Veterans Healthcare<br />
System and contacted his<br />
friend, Nick Lang, M.D., a surgical<br />
oncologist who was chief of staff for<br />
the Department of Veteran’s Affairs<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
Dan Peterson’s journey with pancreatic cancer<br />
(DVA) hospital at the time and who<br />
now is chief medical officer for the<br />
University of Arkansas for Medical<br />
Sciences (UAMS). Lang contacted<br />
Laura Hutchins, M.D., director of<br />
the UAMS division of Hematology/<br />
Oncology and director of clinical<br />
research for the UAMS Winthrop P.<br />
Rockefeller Cancer Institute.<br />
The Cancer Institute has a tightknit<br />
group of physicians and researchers<br />
who focus on specific<br />
types of cancer, one of the reasons<br />
it’s been named a <strong>Blue</strong> Distinction<br />
Center of Excellence for Rare<br />
Cancers by the <strong>Blue</strong> Cross and <strong>Blue</strong><br />
Shield Association. Dr. Hutchins<br />
quickly paired Dan up with Issam<br />
Makhoul, M.D., associate professor<br />
of medicine in the division of Hematology/Oncology.<br />
The first person to talk with Dan<br />
and Donna at Dr. Makhoul’s office<br />
was Michelle Welch, R.N., Dr. Makhoul’s<br />
nurse. Donna remembers her<br />
shock when Michelle said, “It’s not<br />
over — we have lots of things we’re<br />
going to throw at you.” Michelle<br />
confirmed that it is true that the<br />
prognosis for pancreatic cancer<br />
is not good for anyone, but given<br />
Dan’s relatively young age of 57, and<br />
his excellent health otherwise (at<br />
the time he also was a warrant officer<br />
in the Arkansas National Guard),<br />
she felt he had a better chance than<br />
many people.<br />
“I will always be grateful to her<br />
for that,” Donna said. “She gave me<br />
my world back.”<br />
Dan and Donna before he<br />
was diagnosed with cancer.<br />
That glimmer of hope shone<br />
even brighter as they visited with<br />
Dr. Makhoul himself. His warm<br />
demeanor and positive attitude<br />
allowed them to think toward the<br />
future for the first time in weeks.<br />
He told Dan that he believed he had<br />
at least a year to live, if not longer,<br />
and that his team would try several<br />
of the latest therapies to shrink<br />
the tumor and look into ongoing<br />
research to see if new treatments<br />
were available.<br />
“We had considered going out of<br />
state for Dan’s treatment,” Donna<br />
said, “but after that first visit we<br />
realized how blessed we were to<br />
live in Little Rock, so close to such a<br />
renowned medical center.” She said<br />
she and Dan visited with people<br />
from throughout the country in the<br />
waiting rooms of the Cancer Institute<br />
who had come for the excellent,<br />
state-of-the-art treatment.<br />
Part of the reason UAMS is recognized<br />
nationally for its treatment<br />
of rare cancers is that its missions<br />
of teaching, healing, searching and<br />
serving are interwoven into the<br />
daily activities of its employees. Dr.<br />
Makhoul said he originally planned<br />
to only stay a short time at UAMS,<br />
but found he enjoyed the balance<br />
of treating patients, heading the<br />
fellowship program, interacting with<br />
the residents and working on his<br />
own research.<br />
As a <strong>Blue</strong> Distinction Center of<br />
Excellence for Rare Cancers, the<br />
Cancer Institute must meet high<br />
quality standards established by an<br />
expert panel of physicians, surgeons<br />
and other health-care professionals.<br />
When a hospital has been designated<br />
a <strong>Blue</strong> Distinction Center, you<br />
know they have expertise in that<br />
specialty, that they focus on quality,<br />
and that they have a history of patients<br />
with Issam Makhoul, M.D.<br />
positive<br />
outcomes.<br />
Hospitals<br />
provide<br />
care differently,<br />
and<br />
the <strong>Blue</strong><br />
Cross and<br />
7<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
member and health-care<br />
team to maximize the<br />
benefits available and help<br />
them return to self-managing<br />
their care.”<br />
“I had no idea in the beginning<br />
that there would<br />
be that kind of help, but<br />
any time I had a question I<br />
knew I could call Brenda,”<br />
Donna said. Part of Dan’s<br />
treatment still includes a<br />
nightly infusion of IV fluids,<br />
and the port must be<br />
changed weekly. For sev-<br />
8<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> Shield Association has created<br />
a process where hospitals can demonstrate<br />
their expertise.<br />
If you are looking for a hospital<br />
with a <strong>Blue</strong> Distinction designation,<br />
go to our Web sites and visit our<br />
“Members” section. We do the work<br />
for you, so you can be assured you<br />
are receiving the best care possible.<br />
The Petersons also were grateful<br />
to have Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong> Cross and<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> Shield as their health insurance<br />
provider. “Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong> Cross<br />
has just been fantastic,” Dan said,<br />
remembering the ease of getting<br />
his expensive treatments covered.<br />
When Dan retired from the National<br />
Guard he qualified for Tricare, a<br />
program for retired military members.<br />
Still, he insisted on keeping<br />
Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong> Cross as his secondary<br />
insurance because he knew the<br />
importance of having good healthcare<br />
coverage.<br />
A few days after Dan’s diagnosis,<br />
Donna listened to a voicemail from<br />
Brenda Strange, R.N., C.C.M., case<br />
If you are looking for<br />
a hospital with a <strong>Blue</strong><br />
Distinction designation, go<br />
to our Web sites and visit<br />
our “Members” section.<br />
We do the work for you, so<br />
you can be assured you are<br />
receiving the best<br />
care possible.<br />
management coordinator for Arkansas<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> Cross. Donna dismissed<br />
the first call, but Brenda was insistent<br />
and, through one of the visiting<br />
nurses, got Donna to call her back.<br />
Brenda explained that case managers<br />
don’t direct member’s care, as<br />
some often think. “As a case manager,<br />
I help coordinate the plan of<br />
care already in place, work with the<br />
eral months, nurses came<br />
out to change the port, but then the<br />
Petersons received a notice that the<br />
number of visits was running out.<br />
Donna immediately called Brenda<br />
for help.<br />
“We were able to offer an alternative<br />
benefit plan that would allow for<br />
an extension of Dan’s skilled nursing<br />
visits to support Donna,” Brenda<br />
remembered. “This allowed Dan to<br />
receive some of his treatments at<br />
home, which would have otherwise<br />
caused him to return to the hospital<br />
during acute episodes of his illness.”<br />
For more about case managers<br />
at Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong> Cross, visit<br />
our Web site at arkansasbluecross.<br />
com and select “Case Management<br />
Services” under the “Members”<br />
section.<br />
Dan’s treatment included visits<br />
to the Central Arkansas Radiation<br />
Therapy Institute (CARTI) along with<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
powerful doses of chemotherapy<br />
that thinned his hair but not his spirit.<br />
At one point Dan asked Brenda,<br />
“Why do you think I’m still here?”<br />
and her answer was, “Because you<br />
make everyone better.”<br />
By September 2003, Dan’s tumor<br />
had shrunk enough that the doctors<br />
decided to try to remove it.<br />
With the waiting room packed with<br />
family members, Ralph Broadwater,<br />
M.D., chief of Surgical Oncology for<br />
UAMS, started the operation, only<br />
to stop three hours later in frustration.<br />
The tumor was too close to a<br />
main artery. He was, however, able<br />
to remove one of the tumors on<br />
the liver; the other had disappeared<br />
from the treatments.<br />
While the operation wasn’t successful,<br />
Dan continued to keep a<br />
positive outlook and to “live in the<br />
moment.” During a long wait to<br />
see Dr. Makhoul, Dan and Donna<br />
decided to have some fun. Using a<br />
marker,<br />
they<br />
drew a<br />
face on<br />
Dan’s<br />
belly,<br />
using the scar from the operation as<br />
a frown. They tried to keep straight<br />
faces as Dr. Makhoul lifted Dan’s<br />
shirt, but it was no use and they<br />
burst out laughing. As time went<br />
by Dr. Makhoul and his staff found<br />
quirky notes on the door of the examination<br />
room, silver nail polish on<br />
Dan’s toes when they became discolored<br />
from the medication — anything<br />
to make light of the situation.<br />
“We relied a lot on humor and just<br />
staying in the moment,” Dan said.<br />
By 2005, the chemotherapy had<br />
taken a toll on Dan’s bone marrow.<br />
Dr. Makhoul found information<br />
regarding a medication not yet approved<br />
for pancreatic cancer, but<br />
one that sounded promising. Arkan-<br />
Go to <strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> Online on our Arkansas<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> Cross and Health Advantage Web sites<br />
for more on Dan’s journey.<br />
sas <strong>Blue</strong> Cross approved the “designer”<br />
drug for Dan, which is now<br />
an accepted medication for certain<br />
types of pancreatic cancer.<br />
One of the misunderstandings<br />
people have about cancer is that<br />
they consider it all to be the same<br />
thing. Dr. Makhoul said he often<br />
hears people ask, “Why can’t you<br />
cure cancer?” but in reality there<br />
are many subsets of cancers, some<br />
much more easily treatable than<br />
others.<br />
Research began about 25 years<br />
ago into the link between genetics<br />
and certain forms of cancer. “We<br />
now are harvesting the fruits of this<br />
work,” Dr. Makhoul said, through<br />
medications focused on specific human<br />
genes that may contribute to a<br />
person’s predisposition for a type of<br />
cancer. In Dan’s case, even though<br />
pancreatic cancer in general is difficult<br />
to treat, his specific cancer<br />
responded extremely well to the<br />
medications, and his excellent overall<br />
physical health allowed him to<br />
endure treatments that many other<br />
patients couldn’t have tolerated.<br />
“There is no question in my mind<br />
that he is cured at this point,” Dr.<br />
Makhoul said of Dan.<br />
Almost seven years after his jour-<br />
9<br />
Peterson, continued on Page 21<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
10<br />
Can Zicam<br />
damage<br />
your sense of smell?<br />
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has received<br />
more than 130 reports of loss of sense of smell<br />
associated with the following Zicam ® products:<br />
1. Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Gel<br />
2. Zicam Cold Remedy Nasal Swabs<br />
3. Zicam Cold Remedy Swabs, Kid’s Size (a discontinued<br />
product)<br />
The FDA advises consumers to stop using these<br />
over-the-counter cold remedy products due to the risk<br />
of loss of sense of smell, which may be long lasting or<br />
permanent. If you have used any of these products and<br />
experienced a loss of sense of smell, you are encouraged<br />
to contact your health-care professional.<br />
Caffeine may reduce<br />
Alzheimer’s<br />
memory<br />
loss<br />
In a recent study published<br />
in the Journal of<br />
Alzheimer’s Disease, researchers<br />
found that caffeine<br />
may reverse memory<br />
loss associated with the illness.<br />
The study was conducted using mice bred to develop<br />
symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease. They were given 500<br />
milligrams of caffeine in their water daily upon developing<br />
memory problems. Mice that drank the caffeinated<br />
water performed better on memory tests and thinking<br />
skills over the mice given plain water. They also experienced<br />
a nearly 50 percent reduction in the level of<br />
beta-amyloid — a protein found in the brains of people<br />
with Alzheimer’s disease.<br />
Human studies are planned based on these positive<br />
findings.<br />
Source: FDA<br />
Beware:<br />
Source: WebMD<br />
Tanning beds<br />
cause cancer<br />
Tanning beds and other sources of ultraviolet radiation<br />
are in the top cancer risk category — as deadly as<br />
arsenic and mustard gas — according to a study from<br />
the International Agency for Research on Cancer.<br />
The research showed that skin cancer risk increases<br />
by 75 percent when tanning beds are used before the<br />
age of 30.<br />
Researchers also found evidence that UV-emitting<br />
tanning devices are associated with ocular melanoma.<br />
Ocular melanoma is a cancer of the eye that can be<br />
lethal, especially if it spreads to the liver, a common<br />
complication.<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
Prepare for<br />
two flus this fall<br />
Every flu season has the potential to cause a lot<br />
of illness, doctor’s visits, hospitalizations and deaths,<br />
but this year the Centers for Disease Control and<br />
Prevention (CDC) is concerned that the novel H1N1<br />
(swine) influenza virus could result in a particularly<br />
severe flu season.<br />
Vaccines are the best tool we have to prevent the<br />
flu, so this year, plan to vaccinate twice — once for the<br />
seasonal flu and once for the H1N1 flu. Vaccinations<br />
for the seasonal flu already may be available in some<br />
areas, and the H1N1 vaccine is expected to be ready<br />
sometime this fall. The H1N1 vaccine is not intended to<br />
replace the seasonal flu vaccine — it is intended to be<br />
used alongside the seasonal flu vaccine.<br />
The CDC’s Advisory Committee on Immunization<br />
Practices recommends that the following groups receive<br />
the novel H1N1 (swine) influenza vaccine when it<br />
becomes available:<br />
• Pregnant women*<br />
• People who live with or care for children younger<br />
than 6 months of age<br />
• Health-care and emergency services personnel<br />
• Persons between the ages of 6 months through 24<br />
years of age<br />
• People from ages 25 through 64 years who are at<br />
higher risk for novel H1N1 because of chronic health<br />
disorders or compromised immune<br />
systems.<br />
Once the demand for vaccine for the<br />
prioritized groups has been met at the<br />
local level, vaccinations will be available for everyone<br />
from the ages of 25 through 64 years. Current studies<br />
indicate that the risk for infection among persons age<br />
65 or older is less than the risk for younger age groups.<br />
However, once vaccine demand among high-risk groups<br />
has been met, vaccinations will be offered to people<br />
65 or older. People 65 and older should continue to get<br />
the seasonal flu shot as soon as it becomes available in<br />
their area.<br />
My <strong>Blue</strong>print, our self-service online member portal,<br />
can help you access information on your health-care coverage<br />
24/7, which could be helpful during a flu outbreak.<br />
* Pregnant women are more at risk from<br />
swine flu<br />
Pregnant women may be at higher risk for severe<br />
complications from the H1N1 swine flu virus. Therefore,<br />
the CDC recommends that pregnant women should receive<br />
the same treatment and prevention regimens as<br />
recommended for seasonal flu — oseltamivir (Tamiflu ® )<br />
and zanamivir (Relenza ® ) or a vaccine when available.<br />
If you are pregnant and suspect you may have been<br />
exposed to the H1N1 virus, or are experiencing flu-like<br />
symptoms, contact your physician right away.<br />
Source: CDC<br />
Go to <strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> Online on our Arkansas<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> Cross and Health Advantage Web sites<br />
for more on the H1N1 flu.<br />
11<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
SilverSneakers<br />
adds to active<br />
lifestyle<br />
Pat Hagemeier of<br />
Russellville, Ark., and<br />
her husband, Dean,<br />
make exercise a part<br />
of their life together.<br />
12<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
Pat Hagemeier of Russellville<br />
started life as a self-proclaimed<br />
klutz, but her love of exercise has<br />
helped her overcome numerous<br />
obstacles.<br />
When her children were small,<br />
she enrolled in an exercise class<br />
at the YWCA and was immediately<br />
hooked. “I bought a Good Housekeeping<br />
78 rpm exercise record to<br />
use when I couldn’t find a class to<br />
take and faithfully worked out to<br />
it. I also got a 45 rpm record called<br />
“Chicken Fat,” and my children<br />
would join me in marching, doing<br />
jumping jacks and touching toes<br />
during cooped-up winter days.”<br />
Later, as a school counselor, she<br />
and other teachers would exercise<br />
to a video in the library at the end of<br />
the day and then walk the track. She<br />
said her children would often join<br />
her on the walk to share their day.<br />
“It was a wonderful time to talk and<br />
to transition.”<br />
About 17 years ago, St. Mary’s<br />
Wellness Fitness Center opened in<br />
Russellville, and Pat and her husband,<br />
Dean, began taking advantage<br />
of all the classes and facilities. “I<br />
did weight lifting, cardio and stretch<br />
classes and loved the way I felt.”<br />
Two years ago, the center added<br />
the SilverSneakers ® Program, and<br />
Pat said that with those added<br />
classes she is at the facility four or<br />
five times a week.<br />
“They’re fantastic,” Pat said of the<br />
staff at St. Mary’s Wellness Fitness<br />
Center, adding that the SilverSneakers<br />
classes are so popular, “there’s mutual trip when they finished. “It<br />
dollar per mile as a travel kitty for a<br />
always a room full” of 40 or more took us varying amounts of time to<br />
people. And the classes aren’t easy, complete the goal because life has<br />
even for a seasoned exerciser like a way of constantly interfering with<br />
Pat. “They push you a bit and challenge<br />
you to increase your endur-<br />
the goal and we’re off to Greece<br />
plans, but eventually we all reached<br />
ance. <strong>You</strong> leave feeling really good.” this fall!”<br />
Pat and Dean have made the Part of life’s “interference” for Pat<br />
fitness center a part of their daily included two surgeries for cancer.<br />
routine, even though they often “The day my staples came out I<br />
don’t go at the same times. Pat said asked the doctor if I could begin<br />
she likes to go early in the day for walking again, and she said to just<br />
the classes, while Dean often goes not overdo it. I decided that I would<br />
later in the day to use the whirlpool try to walk around our block that day<br />
and other facilities. She said the and then double the distance each<br />
fitness center has brought them day. It was no time before I was<br />
even closer together, because they back up to four to six miles a day,<br />
both see their friends and can share and I felt great.” Recovery after the<br />
the latest news when they get back second surgery was a bit slower,<br />
together for meals.<br />
Pat said, but she still credits her<br />
Dean, 76, is an avid bicycle rider quick recovery with the fact that she<br />
who has participated three times in was in excellent physical shape.<br />
the Des Moines Register’s Annual This year, at age 71, Pat reached<br />
Great Bicycle Ride Across Iowa, a another fitness goal. She participated<br />
in walking the half marathon<br />
seven-day bicycle ride. According to<br />
the Des Moines Register, the ride at the Little Rock Marathon in early<br />
is the<br />
longest, Go to <strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> Online on our Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong><br />
largest Cross and Health Advantage Web sites for more on<br />
and<br />
SilverSneakers and upcoming speaker events.<br />
oldest<br />
touring<br />
bicycle ride in the world.<br />
March. “It was a great experience!<br />
Walking is a big part of Pat’s exercise<br />
regime, and for several years, walking buddies, seeing the mass<br />
Training for it with my dedicated<br />
she and two of her friends have of racers committed to a single goal,<br />
been virtually walking across the hearing words of encouragement<br />
United States. They each put in one Hagemeier, continued on Page 27<br />
13<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
Prediabetes?<br />
Take the warning seriously!<br />
Lose<br />
weight<br />
The Healthy<br />
Weigh!<br />
The Healthy Weigh! Education<br />
Program is free for members of Arkansas<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> Cross and <strong>Blue</strong> Shield,<br />
Health Advantage, <strong>Blue</strong> Cross and<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> Shield Service Benefit Plan<br />
(Federal Employee Program), and<br />
14<br />
Prediabetes is a warning signal<br />
that you are at risk for diabetes —<br />
your blood sugar is higher than it<br />
is getting your blood sugar levels<br />
back to a normal range. <strong>You</strong> can<br />
do this by making some lifestyle<br />
eligible members of <strong>Blue</strong>Advantage<br />
Administrators of Arkansas.<br />
To enroll, complete the attached<br />
should be. Most people who get<br />
changes.<br />
enrollment form and return it in the<br />
type 2 diabetes have prediabetes<br />
• Make healthy food choices.<br />
self-addressed, postage-paid enve-<br />
first, but the good news is that<br />
Limit how much fat you eat and<br />
lope included in this magazine. The<br />
lifestyle changes may help you get<br />
try to eat foods high in fiber. Try<br />
program starts when you enroll.<br />
your blood sugar back to normal<br />
to eat about the same amount<br />
After enrollment, you will begin<br />
and avoid or delay diabetes.<br />
of carbohydrates at each meal.<br />
to receive information through the<br />
Often, prediabetes has no signs<br />
This helps keep your blood<br />
mail, which you can read in the<br />
or symptoms. But it’s important to<br />
sugar steady.<br />
privacy of your own home and at<br />
watch for the classic red flags of<br />
• Watch your weight. If you are<br />
your own pace. The program is<br />
type 2 diabetes, including:<br />
overweight, losing just a small<br />
completely voluntary, and you may<br />
• Increased thirst<br />
amount of weight may help.<br />
leave the program at any time. If<br />
• Frequent urination<br />
• Be active. Exercise at least<br />
you have further questions about<br />
• Extreme hunger<br />
30 minutes each day. <strong>You</strong> may<br />
the program, call the Health Educa-<br />
• Unexplained weight loss<br />
want to swim, bike or walk.<br />
tion Program’s toll-free number at<br />
• Fatigue<br />
Remember, staying at a healthy<br />
1-800-686-2609.<br />
• Blurred vision<br />
How is it treated?<br />
The key to treating prediabetes<br />
and preventing type 2 diabetes<br />
weight, eating healthy foods, and<br />
getting regular exercise can help<br />
prevent prediabetes.<br />
Simply complete, sign and return<br />
the attached enrollment form in<br />
the self-addressed, postage-paid<br />
envelope.<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
Taking calcium<br />
supplements<br />
for weight loss?<br />
According to a new study published in the<br />
Annals of Internal Medicine, taking calcium<br />
supplements may not prevent weight gain. The<br />
two-year study was meant to test claims that<br />
taking calcium supplements might prevent<br />
weight gain in overweight or obese individuals.<br />
The study included 340 overweight and<br />
obese individuals in their mid-30s. Participants<br />
were either given 1500 mg per day of calcium<br />
carbonate or a placebo to take with meals. Researchers<br />
found that there were no statistically<br />
or clinically significant differences in change<br />
in body weight or body fat mass between the<br />
two groups.<br />
While researchers conclude that taking calcium<br />
supplements is not beneficial for weightloss<br />
purposes, the researchers do note that<br />
taking them may help prevent fractures.<br />
Source: Annals of Internal Medicine<br />
What not to feed<br />
Junior<br />
Baby’s first year is full of new discoveries, including new<br />
foods. Several food items, however, should be left off the<br />
menu until a later time.<br />
According to the American Academy of Pediatrics, babies<br />
are fine with breast milk or formula for their first four months,<br />
and then a bit of cereal can be added to the diet. Around six<br />
months, vegetable baby food can be introduced<br />
slowly, giving each new experience a few days<br />
to watch for allergic reactions.<br />
Within a few months of starting solid foods,<br />
your baby’s daily diet should include a variety of<br />
foods each day that may include the following:<br />
• Breast milk and/or formula<br />
• Meats<br />
• Cereal<br />
• Vegetables<br />
• Fruits<br />
• Fish<br />
There are some foods your baby should not<br />
eat within the first year. The following foods are<br />
considered no-nos by pediatricians:<br />
Grapes – while these seem like a perfect size for babies, they<br />
can be a choking hazard. Also avoid apple chunks or any hard<br />
vegetables like carrots.<br />
Honey – this natural sweetener can contain botulism spores,<br />
which doesn’t pose a threat to adults but can poison babies.<br />
Nuts and peanut butter – these can cause allergic reactions<br />
and the nuts can cause babies to choke.<br />
Hot dogs and sausages – these are high in salt and fat and<br />
can be a choking hazard.<br />
Food and drinks with artificial sweeteners<br />
Teas and coffees<br />
Food with added spices, seasoning and salt<br />
Shellfish – could cause allergic reactions.<br />
Potato or corn chips – these are very salty and can be a<br />
choking hazard.<br />
15<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
16<br />
Senior Moments<br />
David A. Lipschitz, M.D., Ph.D.<br />
with Dr. David<br />
formula at the far lower right).<br />
A BMI above 30 is considered obese, between 25<br />
and 30 is defined as overweight and less than 18.5 is<br />
considered too thin. Studies show that those who are<br />
overweight, but not obese, live the longest. However,<br />
they don’t live the healthiest with advancing age, and<br />
they are far more prone to cancer, diabetes, hypertension,<br />
heart disease and osteoarthritis.<br />
Remember, what we eat determines how long we<br />
live and the diseases we may endure late in life. Even<br />
at the ideal weight or below, you might have dietary<br />
habits that predispose you to hypertension, heart disease,<br />
cancer or even Alzheimer’s disease. No matter<br />
what you weigh, you must develop a healthy relationship<br />
with food. Start with these basic steps:<br />
Don’t diet; eat healthy!<br />
<strong>You</strong>r choices can lead to a longer<br />
and better life<br />
There’s no denying it. The statistics prove it. With<br />
each passing decade, Americans are gaining more and<br />
more weight. We define being overweight or obese by<br />
the body mass index (BMI) — calculated by your weight<br />
over your height squared. <strong>You</strong> can find your own BMI<br />
by visiting the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute<br />
at nhlbisupport.com/bmi and entering your height and<br />
weight, or you can calculate it yourself (see calculation<br />
1. Change how you eat<br />
Recognize your motives for eating. Are you even<br />
hungry? How do you hope to feel after your meal? Developing<br />
a healthy relationship with food often means<br />
changing lifelong habits. Second, slow down. A key<br />
element of developing a healthy relationship with food<br />
is actually noticing that you eat! Stop rushing through<br />
meals. Stop eating “on the run.” Enjoy every bite of<br />
food that passes your lips. Pay attention to it! Chew<br />
slowly, and notice how it tastes and feels.<br />
Regulate portion size. In the past 20 years, portion<br />
sizes for the average American meal have grown exponentially.<br />
Clearly, portion size is important. It’s not about<br />
depriving yourself of food; it is about giving your body<br />
the amount of food it needs to feel satisfied.<br />
2. Educate yourself about food<br />
After you change how you eat, you can begin the<br />
process of changing what you eat. Remember — diets<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
Editor’s Note: David A. Lipschitz, M.D, Ph.D., is nationally<br />
recognized as a leader in the field of geriatrics.<br />
Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong> Cross and <strong>Blue</strong> Shield is honored to have<br />
him as a contributor to <strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> magazine.<br />
fail and the best diet by far is the “don’t diet, diet.” This<br />
is easy to follow:<br />
• Eat the right fats. A fat-free diet is unhealthy<br />
and may promote weight gain. The right fats<br />
are monounsaturated olive or canola oils and<br />
omega-3 fatty acids obtained in fatty fish, a<br />
handful of nuts or avocados. In moderation,<br />
these foods are good for you.<br />
• Eat the right protein. The right proteins are<br />
lean meat, fatty fish and legumes.<br />
• Eat as many fruits and vegetables as you<br />
want. Whole fruits are better than juices, and<br />
eat sugar-rich fruits (oranges, grapes) in moderation.<br />
Eat as much healthy salad or as many<br />
vegetables (for example: broccoli, zucchini or<br />
squash) as you want.<br />
• Watch the carbohydrates. Too much sugar and<br />
starch leads to weight gain, diabetes and other<br />
illnesses. Avoid empty calories such as sodas<br />
or candy. With each meal, eat no more than two<br />
servings of starch (bread, pasta, beans, rice or<br />
potatoes). Portion sizes should be no more than<br />
two thirds the size of your fist.<br />
• Don’t overuse supplements. The best way to<br />
get nutrients is from what you eat. Too much<br />
vitamins C, D and E, for example, can cause<br />
more harm than good. <strong>You</strong> can get adequate<br />
calcium and vitamin D either from dairy products<br />
or from a supplement. Those above age 70<br />
should take a multivitamin without iron and a<br />
1000 microgram B12 tablet.<br />
3. Maintain the same weight.<br />
It is better to be overweight (pleasantly plump) than<br />
lose weight on a diet and gain it back with a vengeance.<br />
Find your stable weight and stick with it. Learn to be<br />
happy with what you weigh and the way you look. In<br />
the long term, this will improve self-esteem, confidence<br />
and promote health.<br />
4. Exercise.<br />
Find something you enjoying doing (walking, running,<br />
aerobics, swimming) to keep you feeling younger and<br />
healthier.<br />
Calculate <strong>You</strong>r<br />
Own<br />
BMI<br />
1. Convert your height into inches. (For<br />
example, if you were 5 feet, 4 inches<br />
tall your height would be 64 inches.<br />
2. Square your height (64 X 64)<br />
3. Divide your weight by the squared<br />
height (for example, 140 divided by<br />
4096 = .0342)<br />
4. Multiply by 703 (703 x .0342)<br />
5. BMI = 24 in this example.<br />
… or go to nhlbisupport.com/bmi<br />
and enter your height and weight.<br />
17<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
Where does your health-care dollar go?<br />
Take a look. Nearly 75 percent of the private insurance health-care dollar nationwide goes toward hospitals, physician<br />
services and prescription drugs. While about 14 percent goes to administrative costs nationally, those costs<br />
at Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong> Cross and <strong>Blue</strong> Shield are slightly below the national average.<br />
18<br />
Great options, continued from Page 5<br />
Attention Medi-Pak Advantage and<br />
Medi-Pak Rx plan members<br />
If you have a Medicare Advantage or Medicare Part D<br />
plan, during October, you will receive an Annual Notice<br />
of Change (ANOC), which will<br />
explain any changes to your<br />
current plan that will become<br />
effective in January. If you are<br />
satisfied with your current<br />
plan, you are not required<br />
to change anything. Every<br />
year, the Centers for Medicare<br />
and Medicaid Services (CMS)<br />
requires companies to inform<br />
members of these changes prior<br />
to AEP, so that those who would<br />
like to shop their coverage have<br />
the opportunity to do so. The Annual Notice of Change<br />
includes a dedicated toll-free telephone number to call<br />
on or after November 15 to learn about plan options.<br />
If you are interested in learning more about<br />
Medicare plans<br />
Call your local Medi-Pak<br />
Choice certified agent or 1-800-<br />
392-2583 to learn more, or visit<br />
our Web site, arkansasbluecross.<br />
com. We love to hear from you!<br />
Also, if you have a friend or family<br />
member who doesn’t have<br />
our Part D prescription drug plan,<br />
we hope you’ll recommend that<br />
they enroll in Medi-Pak Rx (PDP)<br />
during the AEP.<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
A sweet relationship:<br />
Yarnell’s Ice Cream Co. and<br />
Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong> Cross<br />
The taste of cold Yarnell’s ice cream<br />
on a hot summer’s day is an Arkansas<br />
family tradition that dates back to 1932,<br />
and for 26 of those years, Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong><br />
Cross and <strong>Blue</strong> Shield has been a part of<br />
keeping that tradition healthy.<br />
The Searcy-based ice cream company’s<br />
240 employees keep the mid-South supplied<br />
with dairy-based treats and work<br />
hand-in-hand with other manufacturers<br />
across the nation. The factory has been<br />
modernized throughout the years to facilitate<br />
production of premium ice creams,<br />
sherbets, frozen yogurts, low-fat and<br />
low-sugar treats as well as a variety of ice<br />
cream sandwiches, ice cream bars and<br />
other novelty items.<br />
“We compete in the marketplace with<br />
national brands,” said Floyd Washburn,<br />
vice president of Human Resources and<br />
Quality Assurance for Yarnell’s Ice Cream<br />
Co. Likewise, Yarnell’s maintains high<br />
standards when it comes to the health of<br />
its employees.<br />
Washburn said Yarnell’s was one of the first companies<br />
in the state to hold a company-wide health fair for<br />
its employees, and offer incentives to those who attend.<br />
Additional incentives are given to employees who<br />
don’t smoke.<br />
After reviewing different health insurance companies,<br />
Washburn said Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong> Cross consistently has<br />
risen to the top like cream. “The service level is exceptional,”<br />
he said, adding that the human resources staff<br />
knows they can rely on the Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong> Cross Central<br />
Regional Office to handle any issues that may come up.<br />
“Yarnell’s and Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong> Cross have a true partnership,”<br />
Washburn said. So, whether your passion is<br />
Homemade Vanilla or Woo Pig Chewy, the next time<br />
you dip into a creamy scoop of Yarnell’s, you’ll know<br />
that the ice cream company you love trusts the health<br />
insurance company that is good for you!<br />
Albert Yarnell, chairman<br />
emeritus of Yarnell’s,<br />
and his granddaughter,<br />
Christina, chief operating<br />
officer of the family<br />
business, taste the various<br />
brands of ice cream as a<br />
final check to ensure the<br />
quality of their product.<br />
19<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
Are you an unintentional drug dealer?<br />
20<br />
<strong>You</strong> wouldn’t knowingly give your<br />
teenagers alcohol, cigarettes or<br />
illegal drugs, but if you are keeping<br />
prescription medications in easy<br />
reach, you may be contributing to<br />
a problem that is reaching alarming<br />
proportions across the United<br />
States.<br />
During the past decade, there<br />
has been an increase in prescription<br />
drug misuse by adolescents.<br />
The “Monitoring the Future Survey,”<br />
an annual survey of about 50,000<br />
high school students assessing their<br />
beliefs and extent of drug misuse,<br />
has reported trends on substance<br />
misuse since 1975. The most recent<br />
survey reports that:<br />
• Roughly 14 percent of eighth<br />
graders, 27 percent of 10 th graders,<br />
and 37 percent of 12 th graders<br />
reported illicit drug misuse<br />
within the previous year.<br />
• Roughly 3 percent, 7 percent,<br />
and 10 percent of eighth, 10 th ,<br />
and 12 th graders, respectively,<br />
reported using Vicodin (an opioid<br />
combination of hydrocodone and<br />
acetaminophen) for a non-medical<br />
use within the previous year.<br />
• Roughly 15 percent of 12 th graders<br />
reported using a prescription<br />
drug (including amphetamines,<br />
sedatives/barbiturates, tranquilizers,<br />
and opiates) for a non-medical<br />
use within the previous year.<br />
Let me interpret that last bullet.<br />
For every 20 friends your 12 th grader<br />
has, three of those friends (or possibly<br />
your child) may have misused<br />
a prescription drug within the last<br />
year. That is a sobering statistic.<br />
So, how difficult is it for those<br />
three friends to find their next supply<br />
of prescription drugs? A recent<br />
article published in the August edition<br />
of the Journal of the American<br />
Academy of Child and Adolescent<br />
Psychiatry revealed that the most<br />
common source of free misused<br />
prescription drugs is friends and<br />
family. The second most common<br />
source of prescription drugs, except<br />
painkillers, involved purchasing<br />
the prescription medications from<br />
friends and family.<br />
Adolescents know where to look<br />
for your medications, and with a little<br />
online research, they might even<br />
know which of your medications<br />
would give them the best high.<br />
Here are a few tips to make your<br />
medications more secure:<br />
1. Know your medications. Are<br />
you taking any high-risk medications<br />
such as painkillers, anti-anxiety<br />
pills, sleeping pills, attentiondeficit<br />
pills, weight-loss pills or<br />
steroids? If so, be careful where<br />
you leave them.<br />
2. Know where your medications<br />
are. Are your medications in a<br />
medicine cabinet, on a bathroom<br />
counter, in a bedside drawer, in<br />
a purse, in the refrigerator, in a<br />
kitchen cabinet or on a kitchen<br />
counter? Are your high-risk medications<br />
locked up?<br />
3. Know how much medication<br />
you have. Are you running out of<br />
pills? Are you getting early refills?<br />
Have you lost a bottle of pills? Is<br />
this a recurring event? Recurrent<br />
events could signal a problem.<br />
From the<br />
Pharmacist<br />
by Brandon Griffin, Pharm D.,<br />
Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong> Cross and <strong>Blue</strong> Shield<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
4. Make sure that any family<br />
member or friend your adolescent<br />
sees on a regular basis<br />
knows this information. Let<br />
them know that you will be keeping<br />
a close eye on your household<br />
medications and that you<br />
would appreciate it if they would<br />
do the same.<br />
5. Monitor your adolescent’s<br />
Internet use. There are many<br />
Web sites that provide information<br />
on what drugs to misuse,<br />
how to misuse them and how to<br />
find a source for them.<br />
6. Visit the Web site: theantidrug.<br />
com. This excellent Web site<br />
for parents and other family<br />
members has numerous articles<br />
concerning misuse from psychological,<br />
medical and prevention<br />
perspectives. It also has testimonials<br />
from parents and family<br />
members, along with information<br />
regarding adolescent perspectives<br />
on drug misuse.<br />
While these steps may not prevent<br />
every case from happening,<br />
by adhering to them and educating<br />
yourself, the likelihood that your<br />
adolescent will grow up drug free<br />
will increase. We do our best to<br />
protect our infants and toddlers<br />
from the chemicals under our sinks,<br />
so let’s do our best to protect our<br />
adolescents from prescription<br />
drug misuse.<br />
Peterson, continued from Page 9<br />
ney with pancreatic cancer began, Dan’s pancreas<br />
shows no signs of cancer, but his body has<br />
suffered. Due to toxins building up in his body,<br />
Dan went into a coma for a week before doctors<br />
were able to devise a way to flush his system effectively. Today he still<br />
suffers from some equilibrium problems and can get a bit fuzzyheaded if<br />
his toxins get too high, but he is able to live a relatively normal life.<br />
The Petersons say they don’t know if it was Dr. Makhoul’s innovative<br />
approach to medicine, the excellent care from a <strong>Blue</strong> Distinction Center<br />
of Excellence, Dan’s positive attitude or divine intervention that helped<br />
him through one of the most aggressive cancers known, but they cherish<br />
each moment together and hope their story will inspire others to never<br />
give up and keep searching for treatments — even if it is the smallest of<br />
glimmers, there is still hope.<br />
For more information about pancreatic cancer and the latest research<br />
and treatments, the Petersons recommend the Pancreatic Cancer Action<br />
Network, pancan.org.<br />
Curves offers<br />
discounts to members<br />
There are 14 Curves locations in Arkansas offering discounts to our<br />
members — just by showing your insurance ID card.<br />
Participating Curves are: Benton, Bryant, Conway, Fayetteville, Jacksonville,<br />
Little Rock (four locations — Capitol Avenue, Shackleford, Kavanaugh<br />
and Chenonceau Boulevard), Maumelle, Morrilton, North Little Rock,<br />
Sherwood and Springdale.<br />
The discount is a $59 service fee (regularly $199) when purchasing a<br />
12-month membership with a bank draft.<br />
The Curves program is dedicated to women’s fitness and allows participants<br />
to get an aerobic and strength training workout in just 30 minutes.<br />
Curves also offers a weight management program.<br />
Go to <strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> Online on our Arkansas<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> Cross and Health Advantage Web sites<br />
for more on Curves and wellness discounts.<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2009</strong><br />
21
What is a formulary?<br />
22<br />
<strong>You</strong> may have heard someone from your health plan<br />
refer to a “formulary.” It sounds more complicated than<br />
it really is ... a formulary is simply insurance jargon for<br />
“prescription drug list.”<br />
A prescription drug list is the list of drugs covered by<br />
your health plan. It usually includes both generic and<br />
brand-name prescription drugs.<br />
A generic drug is a drug that has been approved by<br />
the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is<br />
equal to its brand-name counterpart. For FDA approval,<br />
the generic drug must contain the same amounts of<br />
the same active ingredients as the brand-name drug.<br />
It usually is less expensive and is sold under a generic<br />
name for that drug (usually its chemical name).<br />
There are generic versions of many brand-name<br />
drugs that can save you money. (For example, the antidepressant<br />
Zoloft has a generic sold under the name<br />
sertraline, and the cholesterol-lowering drug Zocor<br />
has a generic called simvastatin.) Choosing lower-cost<br />
generic drugs is like using store-brand products at your<br />
grocery store — you can get the same product at a lower<br />
price. In some cases, the generic version is made by<br />
the same company that makes the brand-name version.<br />
The generic version just comes in a different bottle.<br />
What is the difference in cost between a generic and<br />
a brand-name? Using the previous examples, you can<br />
see the cost comparison in the chart below.<br />
Usually, there are several prescription drug list copayment<br />
options (we call these options “Tiers” in the<br />
health insurance world). First Tier drugs have the lowest<br />
copayments and Third Tier drugs have the highest<br />
copayment.<br />
• Lowest copayment/First Tier — The majority of<br />
the prescription drugs on the first level are the less<br />
expensive generic drugs.<br />
• Mid-range copayment/Second Tier — This is your<br />
mid-range copayment choice and includes covered<br />
brand-name drugs that have been selected because<br />
of their overall value. Consider this copayment option<br />
if you and your doctor decide that no First Tier<br />
medication is right for you.<br />
• Highest copayment/Third Tier — Usually the most<br />
expensive prescription drugs and the highest copayment.<br />
It includes many brand-name medications.<br />
Be sure to ask your doctor and/or pharmacist for<br />
generic prescription drugs. It will save you out-of-pocket<br />
expenses immediately and could keep your health plan<br />
costs down in the long run.<br />
Brand name Cost per pill Generic Cost per pill Cost difference<br />
Zoloft $3.43 sertraline $0.92 $2.51 per pill<br />
Zocor $4.98 simvastatin $0.86 $4.12 per pill<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
The<br />
Doctor’s<br />
Corner<br />
Want to lose weight? Count<br />
calories!<br />
Here’s the bottom line — the way<br />
you lose weight is to burn more<br />
calories than you consume. This is<br />
what determines weight loss, not the<br />
amount of carbs or fat in your diet.<br />
So, eat healthy foods and exercise.<br />
Although there are a million books<br />
out there advocating one diet approach<br />
or another, the New England<br />
Journal of Medicine recently published<br />
research that shows that for<br />
weight loss, the type of diet doesn’t<br />
really matter. People lost similar<br />
amounts of weight if they consumed<br />
similar amounts of calories regardless<br />
of the percentages of protein, fat<br />
and carbohydrates in their diet. Now,<br />
that doesn’t mean eat 1,500 calories<br />
worth of Twinkies each day and you’ll<br />
be healthy — it means eat a balanced<br />
diet, watch your calories and exercise<br />
regularly.<br />
Sleep is good for you<br />
Mom always told us that we<br />
should get plenty of rest to keep<br />
from getting sick. Turns out she was<br />
right. Researchers recently have<br />
discovered that people who get less<br />
than seven hours of sleep each night<br />
are more likely to develop a cold<br />
after exposure to a cold virus when<br />
compared to people who get more<br />
than seven hours of sleep. Additionally,<br />
research found that less than<br />
seven hours of sleep is associated<br />
with heart disease, obesity and premature<br />
death. These studies show<br />
that seven to eight hours of sleep per<br />
night is ideal for adults.<br />
Second-hand smoke: risky<br />
for seniors<br />
Older non-smokers exposed to<br />
tobacco smoke in the home are as<br />
much as 44 percent more likely to<br />
suffer from dementia (a decline in<br />
memory, reasoning and thinking),<br />
according to a recent study. It’s long<br />
been known that people who smoke<br />
are at an increased risk for dementia.<br />
by Ray Bredfeldt, M.D.,<br />
Regional Medical Director<br />
Northwest Region, Fayetteville<br />
With cancer — it matters<br />
what we eat<br />
Research clearly shows a link<br />
between obesity and an increased<br />
risk for developing cancer. Now, a<br />
new study suggests that what we<br />
eat may determine how fast a cancer<br />
spreads to other parts of the body.<br />
The study found that a diet high in fat<br />
might cause cancer cells to spread<br />
faster throughout the body than a<br />
diet low in fat.<br />
Stomach drug may interfere<br />
with heart drug<br />
Plavix, a prescription medication<br />
frequently prescribed for patients<br />
with heart disease or for prevention<br />
of stroke, may be less beneficial if<br />
a patient also is taking a medication<br />
for stomach ailments. The type of<br />
drug that may interfere with heart<br />
medication is called a proton pump<br />
inhibitor (PPI). Common PPIs are<br />
Achipex, Nexium, Prilosec, Protonix<br />
and Omeprazole. If you take one of<br />
these drugs plus Plavix, contact your<br />
doctor to see if there is an alternative<br />
medication you can take.<br />
23<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
24<br />
Three benefits added to<br />
group Dental<strong>Blue</strong> plans<br />
New standard dental benefits will be added to group<br />
Dental<strong>Blue</strong> dental insurance plans for new and renewing<br />
small and large groups effective Oct. 1, <strong>2009</strong>.<br />
Members with group dental plans through Arkansas<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> Cross and <strong>Blue</strong> Shield should have received a letter<br />
and Benefit Certificate in September with complete<br />
details about the changes, but the following is a general<br />
overview of the new benefits:<br />
Maximum rollover benefit – allows members to roll<br />
over a portion of their unused maximum to the next<br />
calendar year. A member is eligible for the rollover<br />
benefit if:<br />
• They have at least one paid dental claim in the current<br />
calendar year.<br />
• A member’s total paid claims for the year did not<br />
exceed the threshold amount.<br />
• The member is enrolled in the group dental plan on<br />
the last day of the calendar year.<br />
• The member has not reached the accumulated<br />
rollover maximum.<br />
Implants – Implants will be a major benefit in all group<br />
dental insurance plans. A dental implant is an artificial<br />
tooth root that a dentist places into the jaw to hold a replacement<br />
tooth or bridge. Dental implants are an ideal<br />
option for people in good general oral health who have<br />
lost a tooth, or teeth, due to periodontal disease, an<br />
injury or some other reason. Implants will be covered at<br />
50 percent, up to the maximum benefit.<br />
Family deductible (three times the individual deductible)<br />
– if a member has family coverage, once three<br />
family members have met the deductible, no further deductible<br />
will be required for the balance of the calendar<br />
year, regardless of whom in the family incurs a claim.<br />
Mental Health Parity: What it mean<br />
changes to their benefits upon the renewal of their employer’s<br />
group health plan as a result of the act. If you<br />
receive a new ID card with a mental health assistance<br />
telephone number, your plan will include changes under<br />
Mental Health Parity.<br />
Members with individual health plans for those under<br />
age 65 and those over age 65 will not see changes to<br />
The new Mental Health Parity Act, which takes effect<br />
their existing plans. However, beginning October 15,<br />
later this year, requires that mental health benefits be<br />
Comprehensive <strong>Blue</strong> PPO (an individual plan for those<br />
equal to physical health benefits.<br />
under 65) will offer a mental health rider for an additional<br />
fee to new policies only. This rider must go through<br />
Members under some employer group health plans<br />
with Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong> Cross and <strong>Blue</strong> Shield and Health<br />
underwriting to be approved.<br />
Advantage, and a number of plans administered by<br />
The act:<br />
<strong>Blue</strong>Advantage Administrators of Arkansas will see<br />
• Removes limits on the number of days for inpatient<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act<br />
The Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of<br />
1998 introduced changes in insurance coverage for<br />
mastectomy.<br />
In accordance with the law, all group and individual<br />
health plans that provide medical and surgical benefits<br />
for mastectomy will cover reconstructive breast surgery,<br />
including:<br />
• Reconstructive surgery on the breast on which the<br />
mastectomy was performed.<br />
• Reconstructive surgery on the unaffected breast<br />
needed to “produce a symmetrical appearance.”<br />
• Prostheses and treatment of complications of any<br />
stage of a mastectomy, including lymphedema (postsurgical<br />
fluid buildup).<br />
The provisions of the Women’s Health and Cancer<br />
Rights Act of 1998 apply to all group health insurance<br />
coverage effective on the first day of the plan year<br />
(which in most cases is the anniversary date of the<br />
group contract) after Oct. 21, 1998. The law went into<br />
effect on all individual insurance policies issued, renewed<br />
or in effect on or after Oct. 21, 1998.<br />
s for you<br />
hospital stays and outpatient visits per calendar year.<br />
• Requires that copayments, coinsurance must be<br />
the same as for physical health benefits, and out-ofnetwork<br />
mental health benefits must be provided if<br />
provided for physical health.<br />
The following benefits will be required for members<br />
whose health plans were revised in response to the act:<br />
Inpatient:<br />
• Prior authorization of inpatient admissions for mental<br />
health and substance abuse. Please call the telephone<br />
number for mental health services on your<br />
ID card.<br />
• Concurrent stay review and discharge planning.<br />
These provisions apply to all policies issued by Arkansas<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> Cross and <strong>Blue</strong> Shield, Health Advantage and<br />
<strong>Blue</strong>Advantage Administrators of Arkansas and are subject<br />
to the applicable copayments, coinsurance, benefit<br />
limitations, exclusions and benefit maximums.<br />
If you have questions about your insurance coverage,<br />
contact your group benefits administrator or a customer<br />
service representative at your local Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong><br />
Cross office.<br />
Outpatient:<br />
• Prior authorization of outpatient counseling services.<br />
Please call the telephone number for mental health<br />
services on your ID card.<br />
• 24/7 access to mental health professionals who will<br />
assist in locating and referring you to professional<br />
resources.<br />
To find out if your health plan includes modifications<br />
for the Mental Health Parity Act, you can contact your<br />
human resources administrator, check our Web sites<br />
and review your benefits information on My <strong>Blue</strong>print,<br />
or call the customer service number on your health plan<br />
ID card. We love to hear from you!<br />
25<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> Fitness Challengers<br />
win with better health<br />
26<br />
Groups from 41 states, including almost 12,000 participants,<br />
scored better health through the <strong>2009</strong> <strong>Blue</strong> &<br />
<strong>You</strong> Fitness Challenge.<br />
For six years, the <strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> Fitness Challenge<br />
(formerly the Arkansas Fitness Challenge) has helped<br />
participants improve their<br />
fitness levels. The annual<br />
exercise contest, held March<br />
1 through May 31, encourages<br />
individuals toward the public<br />
health recommendation of 30<br />
minutes of physical activity<br />
each day, most days of the week. The contest promotes<br />
wellness in the community and at the worksite by organizing<br />
groups that compete against like-size groups.<br />
Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong> Cross and <strong>Blue</strong> Shield, the Arkansas<br />
Department of Health (ADH) and the Arkansas Department<br />
of Human Services (DHS) serve as Challenge<br />
hosts each year. This year, representatives from other<br />
companies, organizations and state agencies statewide<br />
— and outside of Arkansas — joined in the competition<br />
and were recognized at the awards ceremonies (a<br />
complete list of participants can be found at arkansasbluecross.com)<br />
to “Invest in Fitness.”<br />
“Exercise requires only a small investment of time<br />
and movement, and promises a great rate of return<br />
on your health,” said Richard Cooper, vice president of<br />
Human Resources for Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong> Cross and team<br />
champion for the Challenge. “A<br />
total of 167 groups representing<br />
large and small companies,<br />
banks, schools and universities,<br />
physician offices, churches, hospitals<br />
and state agencies made a<br />
commitment to spend some time exercising and reap<br />
the rewards of better fitness.<br />
“The 11,791 participants logged 262,681.5 hours of<br />
exercise during the Challenge, up from 221,465.5 hours<br />
of exercise in 2008,” Cooper said.<br />
“The Challenge continues<br />
to yield great results,” said<br />
John Selig, director of DHS.<br />
“Our online survey was completed<br />
by 2,628 contest participants.<br />
Almost 84 percent<br />
of respondents said they<br />
reached their personal goals through the Challenge.”<br />
Respondents also indicated they had lowered their<br />
blood pressure (73 respondents), cholesterol levels (41<br />
respondents), weight (327 respondents), and blood<br />
sugar (26 respondents). Ninety-six percent said they<br />
would participate in future programs like the <strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong><br />
Fitness Challenge.<br />
Charles McGrew, ADH deputy director and chief operating<br />
officer, said, “The costs in treating diseases that<br />
result from preventable diseases is skyrocketing. And<br />
yet, 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise five or<br />
more days a week can reduce so many of these risks.<br />
Programs like the <strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> Fitness Challenge make<br />
positive steps toward turning the trend.”<br />
Now is the time to start planning for the 2010<br />
Challenge.<br />
Go to <strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> Online on our Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong><br />
Cross and Health Advantage Web sites for a list of<br />
the <strong>2009</strong> <strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> Fitness Challenge winners.<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
Hagemeier, continued from Page 13<br />
shouted from the sidelines,<br />
crossing the finish line and<br />
having my 10-year-old granddaughter<br />
run up to me and say,<br />
‘<strong>You</strong> did it, Grammy!’ made<br />
race day one to be remembered.”<br />
To enroll in SilverSneakers, Medi-Pak and Medi-Pak<br />
Advantage members can go to a participating fitness<br />
center near them and show their ID card. Fitness center<br />
staff will assist with enrollment and provide tours<br />
of the locations.<br />
Because new fitness centers are being added to<br />
the program regularly, members can go online to<br />
silversneakers.com to find all participating locations in<br />
Arkansas.<br />
SilverSneakers Speaker Events<br />
Experts on aging are coming to a SilverSneakers<br />
location near you in October for fun talks on a variety<br />
of topics.<br />
Topics for the speaker events include: Nutrition for a<br />
Healthy Heart, What is Normal Aging and Breast Cancer<br />
Education and Awareness.<br />
Date City<br />
October 1 Jacksonville<br />
October 6 Arkadelphia<br />
October 8 Little Rock<br />
October 9 Little Rock<br />
October 13 Rogers<br />
October 14 Bella Vista, Russellville<br />
October 15 El Dorado, Fayetteville, Morrilton<br />
October 19 Nashville<br />
October 21 Clarksville<br />
October 22 Conway, Searcy<br />
October 23 Lonoke<br />
October 30 Cabot, Magnolia<br />
Go to <strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> Online on our Arkansas<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> Cross and Health Advantage Web sites<br />
for more on SilverSneakers speaker events.<br />
We love to hear from you!<br />
May we help? For customer service, please call:<br />
Little Rock<br />
Number (501)<br />
Toll-free<br />
Number<br />
Medi-Pak members 378-3062 1-800-338-2312<br />
Medi-Pak Advantage or Medi-Pak Rx 1-866-390-3369<br />
Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong> Cross members 378-2010 1-800-238-8379<br />
Pharmacy questions 1-800-863-5561<br />
Specialty Rx Pharmacy questions 1-866-295-2779<br />
Health Advantage members 378-2363 1-800-843-1329<br />
Pharmacy questions 1-800-863-5567<br />
<strong>Blue</strong>Advantage members 378-3600 1-888-872-2531<br />
Pharmacy questions 1-888-293-3748<br />
State and Public School members 378-2364 1-800-482-8416<br />
Federal Employee members 378-2531 1-800-482-6655<br />
Looking for health or dental insurance? We can help!<br />
For individuals, families<br />
and those age 65 or older 378-2937 1-800-392-2583<br />
For employer groups 378-3070 1-800-421-1112<br />
(Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong> Cross Group Services, which includes<br />
Health Advantage and <strong>Blue</strong>Advantage Administrators<br />
of Arkansas)<br />
Prefer to speak with someone close to home? Regional Office<br />
telephone numbers:<br />
Pine Bluff/Southeast Region 1-800-236-0369<br />
1800 West 73rd St.<br />
Jonesboro/Northeast Region 1-800-299-4124<br />
707 East Matthews Ave.<br />
Hot Springs/South Central Region 1-800-588-5733<br />
100 Greenwood Ave., Suite C<br />
Texarkana/Southwest Region 1-800-470-9621<br />
1710 Arkansas Boulevard<br />
Fayetteville/Northwest Region 1-800-817-7726<br />
516 East Milsap Rd., Suite 103<br />
Fort Smith/West Central Region 1-866-254-9117<br />
3501 Old Greenwood Rd., Suite 5<br />
Little Rock/Central Region 1-800-421-1112<br />
320 West Capitol Ave., Suite 900<br />
Web sites:<br />
arkansasbluecross.com<br />
healthadvantage-hmo.com<br />
blueadvantagearkansas.com<br />
blueandyoufoundationarkansas.org<br />
blueannewe-ark.com<br />
27<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2009</strong>
28<br />
At Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong> Cross<br />
and <strong>Blue</strong> Shield, we are<br />
always looking for new<br />
ways to be "Good for <strong>You</strong>."<br />
Here are some of our<br />
latest accomplishments.<br />
We have so much information that is good for you that<br />
we have to share some of it online! <strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> Online<br />
contains longer versions of our featured stories, links<br />
for more information on hot topics, and fun photos<br />
we couldn’t squeeze into our print version. Go to our<br />
Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong> Cross and Health Advantage Web sites<br />
(arkansasbluecross.com and healthadvantage-hmo.<br />
com) to find the <strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> Online link and enjoy even<br />
more information!<br />
Easy online access to information<br />
On the home page of any of our Web sites (see complete<br />
list on Page 27), you can register for an online<br />
account that allows you to order an ID card, check the<br />
status of a claim for you or your dependent, find out<br />
more information about your coverage and your benefits,<br />
manage your Personal Health Record, access<br />
health information and much more. It’s an easy way to<br />
get your personalized information. Go online and register<br />
today for My <strong>Blue</strong>print!<br />
Is your child in college out of state?<br />
Well, we’re going to give you one less thing to worry<br />
about — your college student’s health-care benefits<br />
travel with him or her. With <strong>Blue</strong>Card ® , he or she<br />
doesn’t have to worry about filing complicated claims<br />
forms or dealing with billing hassles. He or she simply<br />
needs to present their Arkansas <strong>Blue</strong> Cross and <strong>Blue</strong><br />
Shield ID card before receiving care from a participating<br />
provider. He or she can call 1-800-810-BLUE (2583)<br />
or visit arkansasbluecross.com (under<br />
“Need a Provider?” select the “<strong>Blue</strong>-<br />
Card ® Doctor and Hospital Finder”)<br />
to find a participating provider.<br />
In an emergency situation, he<br />
or she can go to the nearest<br />
hospital’s emergency<br />
room. He or she can use any<br />
<strong>Blue</strong>Card provider in the state<br />
where they are living just as<br />
they would if they were home<br />
with you.<br />
<strong>Blue</strong> & <strong>You</strong> <strong>Autumn</strong> <strong>2009</strong>