BCBSNC Doubles The Number Of Providers Using Electronic Prescribing
More Than 87 Percent Of North Carolina Pharmacies Use Eprescribe
 

Chapel Hill – More North Carolinians will benefit from increased prescription accuracy and safety because of the growing popularity of ePrescribe, a statewide electronic prescribing initiative of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina.

The latest ePrescribe results show the number of doctors using electronic prescriptions in the last quarter has now doubled to more than 2,000. In addition, more than 87 percent of North Carolina pharmacies now use electronic prescribing to meet customers’ prescriptions needs. 

“Our results show steady growth and adoption of electronic prescribing for both North Carolina physicians and pharmacies,” said Dr. Ron Smith, BCBSNC vice president of Employer Health and Corporate Pharmacy. “This is good news for patients. ePrescribe puts patients’ medical and drug histories at physicians’ fingertips, so they can see at-a-glance any possible drug interactions. They also can see the patient’s health plan formulary and can discuss the cost implications of various drug choices while their patient is in the office.”

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Breast cancer is a malignant (cancerous) tumor that starts from cells of the breast. The disease occurs mostly in women, but men can get breast cancer as well. The information referenced in this post only pertains to breast cancer in women.   A woman’s breast is made up of glands that make breast milk (lobules), ducts (small tubes that connect lobules to the nipple), fatty and connective tissue, blood vessels, and lymph (pronounced limf) vessels. Most breast cancers begin in the ducts (ductal carcinoma), some begin in the lobules (lobular carcinoma), and the rest in other tissues. 
 
The American Cancer Society breast cancer screening guidelines are for women at average risk for cancer (unless otherwise specified) and without any specific symptoms.  Mammograms are used to uncover early signs of breast cancer.  A mammogram is a special type of X-ray of the breasts. Mammograms can show tumors long before they are big enough for you or your health care provider to feel. Mammograms are quick and easy. You stand in front of an X-ray machine. The person who takes the X-rays places your breast between two plastic plates. The plates press your breast and make it flat. This may be uncomfortable, but it helps get a clear picture. You will have an X-ray of each breast. A mammogram takes only a few seconds and it can help save your life. 
 
The American Cancer Society’s recommendations are for yearly mammograms starting at age 40 and continuing for as long as a woman is in good health.  Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina’s Blue Advantage Plan covers screening mammograms beginning at age 35 along with the doctor’s interpretation of the results.  More frequent or earlier mammograms will be covered as recommended by a doctor when a female member is considered at risk for breast cancer.  A member is at risk if she has a personal history of breast cancer;  has a personal history of biopsy-proven benign breast disease;  has a mother, sister or daughter who has or has had breast cancer;  has not given birth before the age of 30.  
 
Content of this article from American Cancer Society and Medline Plus
As of the date of this article, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina covers mammograms one of two ways:  They are covered 100% if done for screening/prevention purposes (by themselves with no other service done in conjunction).  However, if done in conjunction with a surgery, they will be subject to your deductible.

For more information on health insurance coverage in North Carolina, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our qualified agents.  Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC).  You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health.  Call us for details.

We are all looking for new ways to save here and there!  Look no further than your weekly trip to the grocery store!  I was recently inspired by a young mom on television telling her story on a popular show about her yearly savings in groceries by following a few easy tips.  It was amazing how much money she was able to save….. 

• Plan your meals at least 1 week ahead.  A planned menu makes for an easier shopping list and avoids over buying!
• Plan your meals using your favorite grocery store sales flyer or fliers!  Base your meats and vegetables around the sales found at your local supermarket and you are sure to save!
• Coupons, coupons, coupons!  In the information age of today, you do not even have to spend hours pouring over Sunday’s newspaper for coupons.  Now just Google, coupons or the items you wish to (more…)

As March rolls in like a lion and out like a lamb, we are all sure to find ourselves spending more time enjoying the April showers bringing May flowers.  Keep in mind these helpful sun protection and safety tips!  The following recommendations are brought to us by the Center for Diease Control and Prevention (CDC)http://www.cdc.gov/Cancer/skin/basic_info/howto

“Summer is a great time to have fun outdoors. It’s also a time to take precautions to avoid sunburns, which can increase your risk of skin cancer.

Most forms of skin cancer can be cured. However, the best way to avoid skin cancer is to protect your skin from the sun.

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The following article is from The North Carolina Medical Society and was posted on their website http://www.ncmsfoundation.org/.

NCMS Foundation Receives Mult-Million Dollar Grant to Improve Access to Care!

Hundreds of thousands of residents in rural and economically distressed areas of North Carolina would get access to primary medical care, and the uninsured in those areas are expected to receive $50 million worth of medical care, under a joint effort by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation (BCBSNC Foundation) and the North Carolina Medical Society Foundation (NCMS Foundation).The BCBSNC Foundation today announced a five-year grant to the Community Practitioner Program (CPP) of the NCMS Foundation.

CPP pays up to half the medical education debt of physicians, physician assistants and nurse practitioners who agree to serve at least five years in a community designated as rural, economically distressed or having a shortage of health care professionals.

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A traditional PPO, BCBSNC’s Blue Advantage offers great coverage, a range of premium and deductible options to meet your budget.  You can provide coverage for your child/children or for your entire family.  Often times, if covered under a group sponsored plan, an employee will move their children to a private plan to save in premium.

•   Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina has a broad range of premium and deductible options for you to pick from.  With predictable co-payments and the largest provider network in the State of North Carolina, this local company has been serving the State of North Carolina for more than 70 years offering North Carolinians the most popular individual health insurance plan in the state. (more…)

There is a new look to oranges at your local produce department!  Cutie is a delectable, hybrid child of a sweet orange crossed with a Chinese Mandarin.  They are the perfect child-friendly size, seedless and easy to peel!  No poking and picking before popping it in your mouth.  Moms and Dads are always searching for a nutritional, wholesome and healthy snack!  Cuties might just be your child’s new favorite on-the-go snack.

Good nutritional habits begin early and by example.  Reward yourself and your child by leading that example and exposing them to healthy choices.  These choices could pay off for your entire family’s health and wallet.  Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina rewards good health as well through their Blue Points reward program and their 15% healthy discount.

For more information on health insurance coverage in North Carolina, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our qualified agents.  Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC).  You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health.  Call us for details.

Approximately 50 percent of people who suffer from chronic health conditions do not take their medications as directed. 1 Studies show that failure to take medications as prescribed results in the loss of approximately 125,000 lives a year from cardiovascular disease alone. 2
Medication DedicationSM, a new program from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC), is designed to help members with specific chronic conditions avoid the risks involved with not taking their medications as prescribed by removing cost barriers often associated with prescription medications.

Q: What is Medication Dedication?
It’s a new medication adherence program from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) designed to help members with specific chronic conditions take their medications as prescribed by their health care provider. Since cost can be a significant barrier to taking medications as directed, BCBSNC is waiving the copayment for generic medications that treat the following conditions: congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes. BCBSNC is also moving certain brand-name drugs that treat those same conditions to a lower drug level tier to make them more affordable.
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Health insurance companies use historical data and analysis to predict the medical expenses for any given group of individuals (usually a company’s employees). The premiums they charge are based on the amount of claims they’ve paid in the past and what they expect future claims to cost. When insurers pay out more in claims than they receive in premiums and when future services are predicted to cost more, premiums go up.

As consumers, we are demanding more medical services than ever before. And the cost of these services is going up. These increased costs are passed on to employers in the form of increased premiums. Insurance companies work with employers to adjust services offered, as well as co-payments and deductibles, to minimize the impact of rising costs.

Take time to understand your health plan — it can help save healthcare dollars for you and for all Americans. For example, many health plans offer a reduced co-pay if you choose FDA-approved generic prescription drugs, so you pay less. Because the average total cost of a generic drug is three times less than the brand name, it helps keep costs down in your health plan.

Understanding the basics of how health insurance works and how to make the most of your own health plan can help keep healthcare affordable for everyone.

The content of this post is from BlueCross BlueShield Association’s article “Coverage Basics: How Health Insurance Works”

For more information on health insurance coverage in North Carolina, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our qualified agents.  Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC).  You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health.  Call us for details.

Adults (19-64 years)

Adults ages 19 to 64 should visit their doctor for a routine check-up every one to three years.

Routine screening and testing

Height and weight (body mass index-screening for healthy weight)
Blood pressure
Vision
Chlamydia for women (up to age 24)
Cholesterol every 5 years, if normal
Colon cancer (1) starting at age 50
Mammogram every year for women ages 40 and over
Pap smear every year for women (testing less often may be recommended by your physician)
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With Health Line Blue , the answers to questions about your health are just a phone call or click away. It’s like having your own personal nurse.
BCBSNC’s trained nurses can assist you over the phone. Call toll free 1-877-477-2424.

It’s health information at your fingertips.  Health Line Blue also provides you with access to the Dialog Center, an online resource that can help you get current information on health conditions, diseases and more.

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Often, healthcare consumers don’t have a clear understanding of just how much medical services cost. For many years, health plans insulated members from the true cost of these services by making payments directly to doctors or hospitals.

Did you know:

The national average cost of an MRI is nearly $2,000
Heart bypass surgery costs about $57,000
The average cost of a 30-day prescription of one name brand drug is $71 compared to $22 for the generic equivalent
National healthcare expenditures are expected to nearly double over the next 10 years 
Knowing what you’re spending and keeping an eye on healthcare costs are important parts of keeping healthcare affordable for all of us. Here are some things we can all do to make a difference:

Ask for FDA-approved generic drugs instead of more expensive name brands
Make sure you’re getting the right treatment, and always ask your doctor any questions you may have
Review all explanation of benefits for accuracy, and ask about any costs that you don’t recognize or understand.

The content of this post is from “Coverage Basics: How Much Things Actually Cost” – BlueCross Blueshield Association.

For more information on health insurance coverage in North Carolina, please visit our website at www.nchealthplans.com or call our toll free number 888-765-5400 and speak with one of our qualified agents.  Our agency provides coverage for health insurance in North Carolina through Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC).  You may qualify for a 15% healthy lifestyle discount if you are in excellent health.  Call us for details.