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WELCOME TO NEWS FROM BLUE,SM CREATED TO HELP YOU BETTER MANAGE YOUR HEALTH PLAN BY KEEPING YOU UP-TO-DATE ON THE LATEST INFORMATION FROM WELLMARK BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD. NEWS FROM BLUE WILL BE E-MAILED TO YOU MONTHLY, AND ARCHIVED ON WWW.WELLMARK.COM.
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Consumer-Centric, Physician-Directed Health Management Program UnveiledWellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield announces a cutting-edge direction for its health management program that supports the patient/clinician relationship, provides an integrated suite of programs and services for members that span the entire health spectrum, and supplies information to employers to maximize health outcomes and productivity.“While traditional disease and case management programs run parallel to provider care, we wanted to create a unique program centered on providing information to support the clinician/patient relationship, as the medical home for our members,” says Dr. Dale Andringa, chief medical officer, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield. “Our goals are to provide information to maximize the health status and productivity of our members as they seek to optimize use of their benefit dollars. Traditional programs primarily focus on individuals requiring disease and case management. Our program focuses on preventive care and wellness of healthy individuals, as well. Wellmark is working with Matria HealthCare to provide the following suite of programs:
Wellmark and Matria will establish a local Center of Excellence in Des Moines, Iowa, in conjunction with the existing Catalyst Rx Center of Excellence for pharmacy benefit management services, Pharmacy Insights. More than 60 additional highly skilled health professionals, including a medical director, will be hired to work out of the Des Moines Center of Excellence to support the health management program. |
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With the cost of health care continuing to rise, Consumer-Directed Health Care (CDHC) is a hot topic. At Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield, we know that information is the key to helping your employees take control of their health care spending. A consumer-directed approach to employee health care benefits can help you meet the challenge of keeping costs under control while offering more benefit choices. But how do you make it work ... and what is the right CDHC solution for you and your employees?
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Wellmark now covers the Gardasil vaccine as a routine immunization for girls and women ages 9 to 26 years old, under the guidelines recommended by the Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP). The Gardasil vaccine protects against human papillomavirus (HPV), the leading cause of cervical cancer in women. To be covered, your group must have coverage for vaccinations. |
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Changes to Wellmark Drug ListEffective January 1, 2007, there will be several changes to the Wellmark Drug List that will affect prior authorizations and tier structure for certain prescription drugs. Additional information will be available for employer groups later this month, and Wellmark will communicate directly with any members who are affected by the changes. |
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Medicare Enrollment Seminars Start November 15Are you or someone you know Medicare-eligible? If so, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield is hosting Medicare enrollment meetings November 15 through December 31, 2006. |
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The Treasury Department and IRS have issued new guidance on the maximum contribution levels for Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and out-of-pocket spending limits for high-deductible health plans (HDHPs) that must be used in conjunction with HSAs. These amounts have been indexed for cost-of-living adjustments for 2006.
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Individual Coverage |
Family Coverage |
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Minimum Deductible |
$1,100 |
$2,200 |
Max. Out-of-Pocket |
$5,500 |
$11,000 |
Max. Annual Contribution |
$2,850* |
$5,650* |
In addition, the catch-up amount for people over 55 is fixed by statute and will be $800 per eligible account in 2007.
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