Spring 2010SSpring 2010S

AA quarterly newsletter for members ofA quarterly newsletter for members ofA quarterly newsletter for members of

The Dr. Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Diseasen oro ra fo v rs a ®®

Healthy Lifestyles

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Healthy LifestylesA quarterly newsletter for mem-bers of Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield, Inc.

Visit our website:www.msbcbs.com

Phone: (304) 347-7663 Fax: (304) 347-7684 E-mail: debbie.starks@msbcbs.com

Editor - Debbie Starks

Healthy Lifestyles is published quarterly for Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield members to provide general information. It is not intended to provide personal medical advice, which should be obtained directly from a physician.

It is the policy of Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield to not discriminate against any employee or applicant for employment on the basis of the person’s gender, race, color, age, religion, creed, ethnicity, national origin, disability, veteran status, marital status, sexual orientation, or any other category protected by applicable federal, state, or local law. This policy applies to all terms, conditions, and privileges of employment, including recruitment, hiring, training, orientation, placement and employee development, promotion, transfer, compensation, benefi ts, educational assistance, layoff and recall, social and recreational programs, employee facilities, and termination.

2010 - All rights reserved. Printed in the U.S.A.

One Couple’s Ornish Experience – Truly a Team Effort!For MaLinda Nida of Dunbar, West Virginia, having her husband, Ronnie, participate in the Dr. Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease®, was more than just a “want to” it was a “have to”. After watching her husband’s blood pressure drop to a dangerously low level following his 2nd heart catheterization, MaLinda knew she had to do something drastic in order to keep from losing Ronnie to heart disease. It was at that point that MaLinda started strongly encouraging her husband to enter the Ornish Program, and she wasn’t going to take “no” for an answer.

With a family history of heart disease, Ronnie Nida fi rst sought treatment for his heart problems after experiencing what felt like an “elephant sitting on his chest”. It was at that time doctors discovered that Ronnie had an 80% blockage in one of his arteries and was in need of a stint. According

to Ronnie, when he received his stint in 2004, he was told that this was not a cure, but only a band-aid. He continued to live life as he always had, eating fatty foods and not exercising. At one point, his unhealthy lifestyle resulted in an extreme elevation of his cholesterol levels. His triglycerides reached 1400 points, which should be no higher than 149.

When MaLinda fi nally convinced Ronnie to attend an Open House for the Ornish Program, all Ronnie could concentrate on was not being able to eat meat or, what he thought, would be tasteless food. After two years of listening to MaLinda’s pleading following this Open House, Ronnie

THE NIDA’S BEFORE

THE NIDA’S AFTER

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fi nally agreed to meet with the Ornish staff at Charleston Area Medical Center (CAMC), and in September of 2008, he offi cially became a participant.

According to MaLinda, she knew that becoming a part of the Ornish Program was the only way Ronnie would successfully get help for his heart disease. She was so committed to seeing her husband get well, that she too wanted to become a participant of the Ornish Program to give her husband that added support. Because she had selected risk factors for heart disease and diabetes, but did not meet all the criteria for the 12-week Ornish Program in which Ronnie qualifi ed for, MaLinda was still able to participate through Ornish Advantage.

Ornish Advantage is a 6-week program to help prevent heart disease and improve overall health where participants learn about all the same components of the clinically proven and scientifi cally validated, Dr. Dean Ornish Program for Reversing Heart Disease. These same components include: practicing stress management techniques to relax and improve overall well being, learning a moderate exercise program and how to participate in group support to improve communication. Participants also learn about the whole foods, low fat nutrition plan tailored by the program’s registered dietitian, complete with recipes and cooking demonstrations in addition to eating out tips and nutrition label reading.

After successfully completing both programs, and learning

to live a healthier lifestyle, both Ronnie and MaLinda have experienced great improvements in their health. Not only have each lost approximately 60 pounds and have a higher level of energy, Ronnie’s cholesterol levels are now all within normal range. MaLinda, after having one knee replacement and possibly a second one, now has no knee pain and will not be requiring that second knee replacement as previously thought.

MaLinda, age 52, and Ronnie, age 56, both feel that the staff of the Ornish Program at CAMC made the process easy to follow. Working with them,

along with the cohorts in their programs, made it a pleasant and enjoyable experience, which they greatly contribute to their successes. When going to the grocery store, MaLinda no longer looks at the price of what she buys, but only the ingredients. She and Ronnie do their shopping together to “keep each other in check”, and they have discovered that it doesn’t cost any more to buy healthy foods than it did unhealthy foods. MaLinda and Ronnie are much more conscious of what they eat and how much they exercise. It is through each other’s support that they have committed to never going back to their unhealthy ways of life.

Please call 1-800-879-2217 to register for the Open House.

St. Mary’s Medical Center March 29, 2010 5:30 - 7:30 p.m.

Charleston Area Medical Center March 30, 2010 5:30 p.m.

West Virginia University Hospital April 8, 2010 5:30 - 7:15 p.m.

The Wellness Center @ City Hospital April 12, 2010 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.

A HIGHMARK AFFILIATE

Meet Pam Martin.

Pam developed diabetes five years ago. Her familyhistory of diabetes, coupled with a significant long-term weightgain, has presented a challenge in managing her condition.

Her friends and family don’t seem to understand how hard it canbe to eat right and stay on top of her treatment plan. Becauseof her increasing weight problem, it’s hard for Pamto get motivated to participate in a fitness routine.On top of that, she’s overwhelmed with managing her medications,monitoring her blood sugars and communicating with her doctor.

Despite these obstacles, Pam wants to takebetter care of herself and get a handle ondiabetes. Her daughter just had a baby boy, and she wants to

play an active role in her grandson’s life. She also hopes that bytaking better care of herself, her daughter and new grandsonwon’t have to think about diabetes in their future.

A friend of Pam’s told her about HealthMedia®

Care™ for Diabetes, a convenient, private andeasy-to-use online diabetes management

program. Since she was committed to doing everythingshe could to improve her health, she completed andsubmitted the questionnaire. When she received herPersonal Plan for Caring for Your Diabetes, she couldn’tbelieve how tailored it was to her specific wants and needs.

It addressed issues such as getting the support neededfrom family and friends, sticking with treatment plans,improving adherence to medication and overall

treatment, learning how to better communicate withdoctors to get the quality of care you deserve–the list goes

on and on! It also provided an in-depth education ondiabetes, giving her a greater understanding of her health andmuch-needed information on the disease.

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Healthy Lifestyles

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Pam felt a surge of confidence. She knew she wanted to live the best lifepossible. “With this kind of support, I know I can takecontrol of diabetes and improve my overall health.”

Through the program, Pam realized she needed more open lines ofcommunication with her family and friends. She shared with them her paststruggles and educated them about the information she learned from Carefor Diabetes. Her daughter, in particular, realized how little she knew aboutwhat Pam was going through and promised to better support her. Theyeven joined a gym and attend a fitness class in the evenings. Pam lost20 pounds and isn’t stopping there.

Her newfound understanding also allowed her to see the importance ofidentifying with others in a similar situation. She joined a supportgroup for people with diabetes and formed severalmeaningful friendships. The group has allowed her to listen toothers’ experiences and share in highs and lows–this camaraderie has madeliving with diabetes easier for Pam.

About HealthMedia’s Healthy Lifestyle ProgramsIn addition to the Care for Diabetes program, HealthMedia offers programsfor nutrition, weight management, stress management, smoking cessation,back pain management and prevention and care, depression and insomnia.These programs start by learning about you, and creating a personalizedplan for you that is as unique as your fingerprint. When you decide to takethe step to control your health, HealthMedia’s programs can give you thetools you need to achieve your goals.

GET STARTED ON THE PATH TO SUCCESS:• Go to www.mybenefitshome.com• Complete the login process, entering your user name and password.• If you do not have a user name and password, please follow the directions and

create one as instructed.• Click “Your Health.”• Click “Improve Your Health.”• Choose HealthMedia Care for Diabetes.

Succeed, Nourish, Balance, Relax, Breathe, Care and Overcoming are trademarks of HealthMedia, Inc.

Learn about the

HealthMedia program

that's right for you!

• Manage your weight with Balance.™

• Stop smoking with Breathe.™

• Manage your chronic condition with Care™

for Your Health.• Learn better nutritional

habits with Nourish.™

• Learn to manage your stress with Relax.™

• Take an inventory of your health withSucceed.™

• Manage back pain with Care™ for Your Back.

• Learn to manage your diabetes with Care™

for Diabetes.• Learn to control your

depression withOvercoming™ Depression.

• Sleep better with Overcoming™ Insomnia.

Healthy Lifestyles

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Tobacco Cessation Programs Available through Mountain State

Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield offers Tobacco Cessation program options to all members.

Members can choose to participate in one of two telephonic programs, Telephonic Smokeless® or Guided Self-Help Smokeless®, or HealthMedia® Breathe™ an online program available through www.mybenefi tshome.com.

Guided Self-Help Smokeless® is a self administered tobacco cessation program that helps individuals quit at their own pace. Ninety percent of smokers quit on their own, and the

Guided Self-Help Smokeless® kit effectively leads the smoker through the process. This step-by-step program includes instructions CDs/cassettes tapes, booklets, custom case, quitting aids, and toll-free counseling. It works both for smokers who want to quit and those who want to control their smoking. Users will receive two outbound calls by a professional tobacco cessation specialist and have unlimited inbound toll-free access for one year.

Telephonic Smokeless® is a one-year telephone-based program that includes fi ve scheduled outbound calls by your own professional tobacco cessation specialist. Participants have unlimited inbound toll-free calls to address additional support concerns and receive support. These calls will reinforce the materials in a Self-Help Kit, help the participant set and reach goals and problem solve.

Nicotine Replacement Therapy (NRT) is an available option to any individual who participates in one of the above two programs. NRT is available for a discounted rate of $25.00. Participants will receive an 8 week supply of either Nicotine Gum or the Patch.This offer is available once per calendar year per member.

Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield members also have access to the online HealthMedia® Breathe™ program. The personalized plan takes into consideration smoking history, lifestyle, daily activities, health history, current health conditions and behaviors, as well as motivations and barriers. The program also sends participants helpful newsletters at critical relapse times from their quit dates, to offer additional support.

GET STARTED ON THE PATH TO SUCCESS.

To enroll in the programs or to obtain information about the Nicotine Replacement Therapy options available, call

1-800-345-2476.

• Go to www.mybenefi tshome.com. • Complete the login process, entering your user name and password. • If you do not have a user name and password, create one as instructed. • Click “Your Health” • Click “Improve Your Health”

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If you have an ongoing illness, such as heart disease, diabetes, or asthma, you probably have questions about your condition. You might wonder if a new symptom you’re having requires the doctor’s attention; you might worry that you’re having side effects from one of your medications; or you might not have understood something your doctor said during your last visit.

Your doctor is the best source for this information, but it’s not always convenient to see your doctor. That’s why we at Blues On Call have made Health Coaches available to you anytime, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, at no charge to you.

Health Coaches are specially trained healthcare professionals, such as nurses, dietitians, and respiratory therapists. They have access to the most up-to-date and reliable health information available. Even better, their job is to provide information and lend support to people like you.

Health Coaches can help you understand diffi cult medical concepts or diffi cult-to-follow treatment instructions. If you have diabetes, for example, and your doctor recommends that you change your lifestyle using the “the steps toward change model,” a Health Coach can help you understand what that is and how to do it.

Health Coaches can also lend support when you are making important treatment decisions. Let’s say you have heart disease, for example, and your doctor recommends surgery to bypass some clogged arteries in your heart. If you call a Health Coach, he or she can help you understand how the surgery might affect you, how effective it is, how long it typically takes to recover, and whether there are any alternatives to surgery.

Health Coaches do not take the place of your doctor, but they can support your relationship with your doctor and prepare you to have more productive discussions with him or her. In fact, the examples mentioned above are just a small sampling of the things Health Coaches can do. They can also help you understand how various blood tests work, they can help you develop an exercise routine, and they can mail additional information, including videos, at no charge.

When to call a Health CoachCall a Health Coach when you need:

Caring support from someone who has the time to listen to you and answer your questions. Information about a medical test, procedure, or surgery. When appropriate, Health Coaches can send you

information and educational videos about conditions such as back pain, heart disease, prostate cancer, enlarged prostate, uterine fi broids, breast cancer, and osteoarthritis, to name a few.

Support and information on managing chronic illnesses such as diabetes, asthma, and heart failure.In-depth information on treatment options for complex medical issues.Help in making the most of your healthcare provider visits.

Call a Health Coach

Dealing with an Ongoing

Medical Condition?

To talk to a Health Coach, call 1-888-BLUE-428. You can also get information online at www.mybenefi tshome.com.

Post Offi ce Box 1948Parkersburg WV 26102

PRESORTED STANDARD

U.S. POSTAGEPAID

PERMIT #2784CHARLESTON, WV

If you receive paper Explanations of Benefi ts (EOBs), you may soon notice a change in how many you receive.

In the coming months, for most members, Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield (MSBCBS) will no longer mail paper EOBs, if your services are covered in full or if all you owe is a copayment. For some claims, you’ll continue to receive a paper EOB. These include claims for which you owe additional money, other than a copayment, and claims you fi led yourself. (Today, most claims are fi led by providers.) If you do not have access to a computer or prefer to continue receiving paper EOBs, please notify Member Service by calling the number on the back of your MSBCBS ID card.

What does this change mean for you? Less clutter in your mailbox! While you won’t receive a paper version, you will be able to view EOBs for all types of claims on the member website. While you’re there, please support our efforts to manage administrative expenses further by opting to “Go Green” entirely by signing up for e-Delivery of all EOBs.

Simply log onto www.mybenefi tshome.com and click the Member tab. Log in using your ID and password. Under Quick Resources, click on Go paperless and click eEOB. Make sure the box is checked. Click Submit.

If you have any questions about this change, please call the Member Service number on the back of your ID card.

Blue is Going Green