December 17, 2009
Media Contact: Elizabeth Hammond, 803-264-4626
Columbia, S.C. – BlueChoice HealthPlan of South Carolina has added two new disease management programs aimed at reducing obesity and diabetes, conditions that impact a substantial number of South Carolinians. Both programs will launch in January. The first new Great Expectations® for health program is called “Pre-diabetes.” All members of the company’s plans identified as having pre-diabetes conditions will be enrolled automatically. They will receive educational materials about diet, exercise and risk-factor modification to manage pre-diabetes and prevent or delay Type 2 diabetes. Members will have access to free education at nationally recognized diabetes education centers and may receive free glucose monitors. BlueChoice HealthPlan health specialists will provide telephonic outreach to high risk members. Additional Web resources also are available. The second new Great Expectations for health program is called “WalkingWorksSM for South Carolina Schools.” This program promotes physical activity to target childhood obesity, a major risk factor for diabetes. BlueChoice HealthPlan will collaborate with schools in South Carolina to implement a walking program within the school setting at no charge. Individual classes or schools can participate. BlueChoice HealthPlan will provide initial training and telephonic support for teachers and administrators. Children also will receive educational materials about healthy food choices and have access to free interactive tools. “Ten percent of South Carolina’s residents had diabetes in 2007, and direct and indirect health care costs totaled approximately $2.6 billion for those patients,” said Rolanda Aiken, BlueChoice HealthPlan’s vice president of health services. “With nearly 55 percent of South Carolina children inactive after school, our state leads the nation in the percentage who do not participate in extracurricular sports or lessons,” said Aiken. “South Carolina ranks sixth nationally in the highest proportion of overweight children, seventh in the highest proportion of children who are obese, and 10th in the highest proportion of children who fail to meet physical activity recommendations.” Schools interested in adopting the WalkingWorks in South Carolina Schools program can call 803-382-5068. BlueChoice HealthPlan has other Great Expectations programs in asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, maternity, diabetes, back care, children’s health, depression, heart disease, heart failure, men’s health, women’s health, migraine, weight loss, smoking cessation, alcohol management, care calls, case management and childhood obesity. These programs are overseen by medical professionals at BlueChoice HealthPlan and serve as support for care plans developed by BlueChoice HealthPlan members’ doctors. More than 185,000 people in South Carolina are enrolled. Headquartered in Columbia, S.C., BlueChoice HealthPlan of South Carolina is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BlueChoice HealthPlan has an A+ rating from A.M. Best and an Excellent accreditation status, the highest level awarded, from the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). BlueChoice HealthPlan offers four categories of group health plans, as well as individual plans for children and young adults, and a South Carolina Medicaid product.
