Press Release
Independence Blue Cross Beefs Up Programs To Help Members And The Region Slim Down
Philadelphia, PA - June 25, 2007 - By offering its members a more comprehensive weight management program than ever before, Independence Blue Cross (IBC) is taking a leadership role in helping its members choose healthy lifestyles and avoid the serious risks of obesity.
Beginning July 1, 2007, IBC will offer most of its members coverage for up to six nutrition counseling visits per year. This new benefit complements IBC’s many other programs focused on encouraging healthy lifestyles, including cash reimbursements for consistency with fitness and weight loss programs, education programs through schools, employers and the internet and community outreach.
As the second leading cause of death in the United States behind tobacco use, obesity is one of the fastest-growing public health challenges. On a national basis, over 60 percent of adults are overweight and about 30 percent of children age 6 to 11 are overweight, according to the American Obesity Association.
“We are dedicated to helping our members lead healthier lives,” said Joseph A. Frick, IBC president and chief executive officer. “Since obesity is both preventable and treatable, we at IBC want to proactively educate the community about its risks. We’re happy to now provide members greater access to weight management education through nutrition counseling.”
“Being overweight increases the risk of many chronic diseases,” said Dr. I. Steven Udvarhelyi, IBC senior vice president and chief medical officer, “including hypertension, high cholesterol, type 2 diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, stroke, gallbladder disease, osteoarthritis, sleep apnea, and some cancers. If members receive education and apply it to their lives, they can prevent some of these diseases from occurring, just by maintaining a healthy weight.”
Aside from lessening the risk of serious disease, losing weight often results in positive changes in everyday life, such as increased energy levels, reduced aches and pains, improved mobility, increased self-esteem, improved breathing, and more restful sleep.
Nutrition Counseling Visits to Provide Weight Management Guidance
Beginning July 1, adults and children covered through Personal Choice and Keystone Health Plan East HMO and POS products will have access to six nutrition counseling visits per year with their physician or a registered dietitian. There are no out-of-pocket costs to members when the services are provided by in-network providers. However, a referral for nutrition counseling is required for HMO members. Deductible and coinsurance cost sharing will apply for visits to an out-of-network PPO/POS provider and for self-referred visits by POS members.
By taking advantage of the opportunity for nutrition counseling visits, members may benefit from:
- Talking with a professional about their eating habits and weight concerns;
- Using risk assessment tools such as the Body Mass Index (BMI);
- Determining the best weight management approach for them;
- Setting realistic goals for weight change with ongoing support to maintain it; and
- Developing an appropriate exercise program to complement the weight loss plan.
The new nutrition counseling visits will complement many other weight management programs that IBC members already enjoy:
- Incentives for Lifestyle Changes reward members for healthy behavior. Adult members can receive cash reimbursements for exercising at the gym 120 times a year and for participating in approved weight loss programs. Members can also be reimbursed for children’s weight-loss programs at the YMCA, like the HIP kids program.
- ConnectionsSM Health Management Programs Obesity increases risks for certain chronic conditions. Covering 22 chronic diseases, IBC’s Connections programs provide information and support for people living with chronic diseases, including diabetes, coronary artery disease and congestive heart failure. Obesity increases risks for some of the above chronic conditions. Members receive coaching and information to help them address health concerns or make decisions about treatment options.
- Personal Health Profile offers members the opportunity to complete a lifestyle questionnaire and receive information about their potential health risks. For example, members whose body mass index exceeds the recommended range receive information about weight management programs and how to seek additional support.
- Healthwise® Knowledgebase offers members access to an easy-to-use online encyclopedia of health information, including information on specific illnesses associated with obesity and diet options.
- Gen Y Health Club provides kids and parents web-based fun, and interactive information about healthy choices in diet, nutrition and exercise.
IBC supports employers who want to help their employees become healthier and avoid obesity and related conditions.
- Wellness Partners® brings tailored wellness programs into the workplace through voluntary screenings for weight, blood pressure and cholesterol, and wellness workshops that address nutrition, exercise, and stress management. One popular program, Maintain, Don’t Gain, is a weight maintenance program that employers can implement at work sites. Employees weigh in and encourage each other to maintain current weight during a designated timeframe. The program is very popular over the holidays.
- Turn-Key Employer Tool Kits are available to IBC’s customer companies to offer their employees educational programs on healthy lifestyle topics such as weight management or starting a walking program.
- The Healthy Lifestylessm Promotion Guide is a web-based program that helps employers deliver effective health education and wellness programs to their workplaces.
IBC educates the community about weight management through several outreach programs:
- A Su Salud – Spanish for To Your Health – uses TV, print publications, and free health screenings through Hispanic TV channels, newspapers, and community events. IBC sponsors this bilingual, multi-media health education campaign focusing on obesity in Latinos, a population considered at high risk for obesity.
- Health E-Tools for Schools offers a customized, secure portal to Pennsylvania school districts to help teachers and administrators create and implement effective nutrition and fitness policies and programs for school students.
- Healthy Kids Fest is an annual event held for the past decade at the Blue Cross RiverRink to promote active lifestyles for children. The event features free activities, interactive games designed to increase coordination and promote good sportsmanship, fitness demonstrations, information and education.
- Alliance for a Healthier Generation, in coordination with the American Heart Association, is a 10-year initiative to combat childhood obesity by educating and motivating parents, community members, legislators and schools to make healthier decisions that will save children's lives.
For more information about the new nutrition counseling benefit, members are encouraged to talk to their primary care physicians or log on to www.ibxpress.com.
About Independence Blue Cross
Independence Blue Cross is a leading health insurer in Southeastern Pennsylvania. IBC and its affiliates provide coverage to nearly 3.4 million people. For nearly 70 years, Independence Blue Cross has offered high-quality health care coverage tailored to meet the changing needs of members, employers, and health care professionals.
In 2006, IBC was nationally recognized by the Disease Management Association of America for Connections, its outstanding disease management program that improves the health and wellbeing of people with chronic illnesses. IBC’s HMO and PPO health care plans have consistently received the highest ratings from the National Committee for Quality Assurance.
Independence Blue Cross is an independent licensees of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.
Press Releases