Winter 2000

New WEB SITE information — P. 2New WEB SITE information — P. 2

Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield will begin thenew year with a new look and expanded presence on theWorld Wide Web. The Web site will feature a wealth ofnew information about our products and services. Itsexpandable architecture will allow the site to grow as thecompany develops more customer-service tools over thenext year.

The Health Advantage site (http://www.healthadvantage-hmo.com) also is undergoing redesign andexpansion and should be launched about Feb. 1.

Once you enter the arkansasbluecross.com site, youwill be able to choose one of five gateways to additionalinformation: “Guests,” “Members” (policyholders),“Employers,” “Providers” and “Agents.”

The “Members” gateway will provide access toseveral new areas. Arkansas public school employees,Arkansas state employees and federal employees will findsections designed specifically for them. The school andstate employees may access benefit and rate charts,which will be updated annually. Federal employees willhave a link to an extensive national site.

Provider DirectoriesThe “Provider Directories” will have a new look andmore functionality. You will be able to search for aphysician or other health practitioner, dentist, hospital orother health facility, or pharmacy. You may search bycity, county, region or name of the provider or facility.

Preferred Drug ListAnother section of the Web site should help membersunderstand why some drugs cost them more than others.The “Preferred Drug List” section will explain how thethree-tier formulary works and list the drugs that havethe highest cost. A condensed version of the ArkansasBlue Cross and Health Advantage Preferred Drug List willprovide a guide for asking your physician to prescribe ageneric or lower-cost medication.

Health Plans and ServicesThe “Health Plans and Services” section will describe ourindividual and group health plans. You will be able toobtain an on-line rate quote for individual and familycoverage. You also will be able to fill out an applicationform on line, print it out and mail it to Arkansas BlueCross. Services available to members, such as SpecialDelivery for expectant mothers, also will be describedunder “Health Plans and Services.”

Customer ServiceUnder the “Customer Service” section, you will find:

• “Wellness Discounts,” a directory of health clubs,weight-loss programs and sporting goods storesoffering discounts to our members;

• “Glossary,” a list of health insurance terms;• “Fraud & Abuse,” information about how to report

insurance fraud, which drives up costs for everyone.

FAQsThe “FAQs” (frequently asked questions) will answer themost common questions our customer servicerepresentatives receive about our products and services.

About Us“About Us” will contain information about Arkansas BlueCross, including its history, vision, financial strength andleadership. The “Community Involvement” section willsummarize community-service efforts.

Legislative/Regulatory Update“Legislative/Regulatory Update” will keep membersupdated on national and state legislation and issues thatcould affect your health care coverage. A link to the BlueCross and Blue Shield Association’s national healthissues Web site will enable visitors to search for theirstate or federal lawmakers by typing in their ZIP code.

Arkansas Blue Cross To Launch Expanded Web Site Jan. 1www.arkansasbluecross.com

For a wild and woolly experience, visit BlueAnn Eweat her own Web address beginning Jan. 1, 2001: http://www.BlueAnnEwe.com. BlueAnn is a six-foot-tall bluesheep who serves as a health and wellness ambassadorfor Arkansas Blue Cross. Her Web site is designed forchildren and will help promote healthy lifestyles.

BlueAnn’s home page will feature a weekly poll anda schedule of her appearances.

Other sections of the site will include:• “About BlueAnn,” a profile and photos of the blue ewe;• “Healthy Goodies,” a place to find healthy, easy-to-

prepare recipes and fun activities;• “Games and Activities,” easy-to-do, fun, health-related

games, puzzles, coloring pages and quizzes;• “BlueAnn’s Scrapbook,” snapshots of BlueAnn with

the children and classrooms she visits;• “TV and Radio,” BlueAnn’s TV and radio health

information spots;• “BlueAnn’s Clubhouse,” BlueAnn’s Class Club and

Health Club information and enrollment forms;• “Fan Mail,” letters sent to BlueAnn;• “Comm’EWE’nicate,” telephone, e-mail and mailing

instructions.

BlueAnnEwe.com

JAN1,

2001

3

is published four times a year by theArkansas Blue Cross and Blue ShieldAdvertising and CommunicationsDivision for the company’s mem-bers, health care professionals andother persons interested in health

care and wellness. Opinions expressed herein do not necessar-ily reflect the views of Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield orany of its publics.

Vice President of Advertising and CommunicationsPatrick O’Sullivan

EditorKelly Whitehorn — BNYou-Ed@arkbluecross.com

DesignerGio Bruno

ContributorsMark Carter, Janice Drennan, Damona Fisher and Kathy Luzietti

Customer Service Numbers

Little Rock Toll-freeCategory Number (501) Number

State/Public School Employees 378-2437 1-800-482-8416

e-mail: publicschoolemployees@arkbluecross.com stateemployees@arkbluecross.com

Medi-Pak (Medicare supplement) 378-3062 1-800-338-2312

Medicare (for beneficiaries only): Part A (hospital benefits) 378-3151 1-877-356-2368 Part B (physician benefits) 378-2320 1-800-482-5525

UniqueCare, UniqueCare Blue, Blue Select®, BlueCare PPO & PPO Plus (individual products) 378-2010 1-800-238-8379

Group Services 378-2070 1-800-421-1112

BlueCard® 378-2127 1-800-880-0918

Federal Employee Program (FEP) 378-2531 1-800-482-6655

Health Advantage 221-3733 1-800-843-1329

Medi-Pak HMO (Health Advantage) 954-5200 1-800-354-9904

USAble Administrators 378-3600 1-800-522-9878

For information about obtaining coverage, call:Little Rock Toll-free

Category Number (501) Number

Medi-Pak (Medicare supplement) 378-2937 1-800-392-2583

UniqueCare Blue, Blue Select®, BlueCare PPO & PPO Plus (individual products) 378-2937 1-800-392-2583

Medi-Pak HMO (Health Advantage) 378-6987 1-800-588-5706

Regional Office locations:Central Little RockNortheast JonesboroNorthwest FayettevilleSouth Central Hot SpringsSoutheast Pine BluffSouthwest TexarkanaWest Central Fort Smith

Customers who live in these regions may contact the regionaloffices or call the appropriate toll-free telephone numbers above.

Web sites: www.arkansasbluecross.comwww.healthadvantage-hmo.com

INSIDETHIS ISSUE

~WINTER 2000~

Web site information ................................... 2Have a healthy New Year ............................. 4Toy safety tips ............................................. 5Fad diets ...................................................... 6Healthy recipes............................................ 7Are you stressed? ..................................... 8-9Healthy pregnancy ..................................... 10Gestational diabetes.................................. 10Special Delivery ......................................... 10Skin care dos and don’ts ........................... 11Depression & our seniors ........................... 12Health Advantage news for members ......... 13A common insurance fraud ........................ 13Weight Watchers & you ............................. 13Let us introduce......................................... 14Blue & Your Community ............................. 15Health seminar for women ......................... 15Clearly Blue (a terminology guide) .................... 16

4The new year is just beginning

and we have some good news andbad news for you. The good news isthat this is a perfect time to make aNew Year’s resolution and keep yourhealth and wellness program ontrack. The bad news is that studiesshow that the majority of thoseresolutions are forgotten in just afew months.

Never fear. You can do it. Allit takes is a little willpower and arealistic plan for the new year.Review the following 10 simpleresolution suggestions and ways tokeep from straying from your goal.

#1 Sign up for an exercise class:Arkansas Blue Cross, Health

Advantage and USAbleAdministrators now offer a “wellnessprogram” to all members. Thewellness program provides discountsat numerous local health clubsstatewide. See Page 3 for our Webaddresses to look up participatinghealth clubs and discounts offered.

#2 Exercise at least 20 minutes threetimes per week:

Exercise can contributesignificantly to a healthy lifestyle andreduce the risk of cardiovasculardisease.

#3 Always wear your seatbeltwhile driving:

Motor vehicle accidents remainthe biggest cause of non-diseasedeath and injury in the United States.

#4 Get to know yourprimary care

physician:Health

examinationsare an

important part ofa healthy lifestyle.

Health & Wellness 2001Helpful hints for a healthy new year

It is important to develop trust byestablishing a relationship with yourphysician and to be able to discusshealth risk factors with him/her.

#5 Reduce the stress in your life:Ride a bike. Read to your

children. Plant a garden. Take a longbath. Take a walk. Take time fromyour every day life to do the thingsyou enjoy.

#6 Get plenty of sleep:Adults need at least eight hours

of sleep per day; teen-agers neednine hours of sleep per day; school-aged children need 10 hours of sleepper day; toddlers and preschoolersneed approximately 12 hours of sleepper day and one afternoon nap; andnewborn babies need anywhere from12 to 20 hours per day.

#7 Eat healthy foods:The best nutrition plan for a

person of any age is to follow theU.S. Department of Agriculture’sFood Guide Pyramid for eating eachday — six servings of bread, cereal,rice and pasta; five servings of fruitsand vegetables; two to three servingsof milk, yogurt and cheese; two tothree servings of meat, poultry, fish,dry beans, eggs and nuts; and just alittle fats, oils and sweets.

#8 Quit smoking:Smoking causes lung cancer,

cardiovascular disease and affectsyour quality of life. Have a plan toquit smoking: set a target date toquit, talk to your physician aboutnicotine replacement therapy; avoid

those social situations or triggers thatcause you to want a cigarette; andreward yourself for not smoking.

#9 Drink at least eight glasses of water aday because it is good for you:

Next time you reach for a sodaor one more cup of coffee, do yourbody a favor and have a refreshingglass of water instead.

#10 Learn to laugh:Research shows that while

having a positive attitude and asense of humor won’t necessarilycure disease, it can keep you fromgetting sick and make you feel better,both emotionally and physically. Ithas been reported that laughter hasfavorable effects on breathing andheart rates and offers relief fromstress and anxiety. Sigmund Freudsaid that laughter enables individualsto defend against fear, anger andother disturbing emotions. Laughter,he said, provides comfort, alleviatesthe pain of misfortune and enablesindividuals to deal with situations ina mature, intelligent and constructivefashion.

Making resolutions is easy.Keeping them is the hard part.

Have trouble keeping yourresolutions? Here are a few tips tostay on track.• Don’t make a resolution unless

you think the change will makeyou happier or improve your life.

• Tackle one resolution at a time.• Word your resolutions positively.

Instead of “stop eating potatochips,” tell yourself to “eathealthy.”

• Do not punish yourself forsetbacks.

• Reward yourself foraccomplishing your goals.

5Adults eager to find the

perfect toy or game as a gift fora favorite youngster should keepsome specific safety tips in mind.Many toys look harmless but cancause injury in certain situations andeven death.

The Consumer Product SafetyCommission (CPSC) reported that in1998 more than 120,000 childrenwere treated in hospital emergencyrooms for toy-related injuries. Ofthose, 14 died.

Most toys are completely safe.But for more than 120,000 Americankids in 1998, at least one toy wasn’t.By following a few toy-safety tips,you can eliminate that minutechance that your child could becomea CPSC statistic.• Toy recalls.

Educate yourself about toyrecalls. The CPSC has an auto-mated e-mail list that will keepyou updated on all recalls. Sendthe message “Join CPSCINFO-L”to listproc@cpsc.gov, and you’llbe added to the list. To reportproblems or defects with a toy,e-mail info@cpsc.gov or call1-800-638-2772.

• Make sure toys are age-appropriate.

Most toy-related deaths andinjuries involve children underthe age of 4. Choking is thenumber-one cause of death in toy-related accidents. Kids under 4should not play with toys orgames intended for older children.Read the labels.

• Stay away from balloons.Latex balloons are the top

non-food choking hazard forchildren. Children as old as

8 have choked on the latex of adeflated balloon. Other topchoking hazards are nuts, hardcandy and popcorn.• Avoid thrift-shop and garage-

sale toys.Buyers have no way of

knowing whether toys bought atsuch venues as thrift shops orgarage sales have been recalled.The toy industry does a good jobof getting recalled products off theshelves but can’t account forthose used items not sold intraditional toy stores. Buyersshould be particularly sensitive tobuying used high chairs, playpensand cribs. Make sure you knowtheir source.

• Be careful with electronic toys.Some electronic toys, which

are becoming more and morepopular, have heating elementsthat have been known to causeburns. Also, batteries are achoking hazard.For more information on toy

safety and recalls, visitwww.cpsc.gov.

— Sources: The Consumer ProductSafety Commission and WebMD.

Choking is the

number-one cause

of death in toy-

related accidents.

Don’t “toy” with your child’s safety

6In their rush to satisfy an urge for instant gratifica-

tion or to take off that little bit of added holiday weight,many Americans are not taking healthy approaches toweight loss.

Diets that bill themselves as quick and painless, ascure-alls, that recommend or require supplements, that

specify whatshould beeaten atcertain timeswith noexceptions,limit oravoidcertainfoods andare short-termshould be

avoided, according to theAmerican Dietetic Association (ADA).

Americans spend an estimated $33 billion annuallyon weight-loss programs, products and pills — all thatmoney in search of a quick, easy solution.

But nothing worthwhile comes easy. The same istrue for dieting and weight loss. Long-term weight losscomes at the expense of slow, gradual change in one’seating habits and a strict adherence to the food pyramid.And regular aerobic exercise doesn’t hurt either. It willhelp take the weight off and keep it off.

The ADA says that all weight-loss or weight-manage-ment programs should include a gradual change to ahealthy eating style. Diets rich in variety are easier tostick with. In fact, experts say that most fad diets,especially those based on eating from one particular foodgroup (foods rich in protein, for example), aren’t nutri-tionally balanced and may actually cause the body harm

over time.The ADA, the U.S. Department

of Agriculture and the NationalInstitute for Health all agree onthe best way to approach weightloss or weight management. It is

the simplest approach and yet oftenthe hardest: eat less, exercise more.

Some ways to get started on asensible, healthy weight loss plan:• Visit your doctor, who can help you

design a healthy plan.• Drink lots of water.• Get in at least 20 minutes of exercise at

least three times a week.• Set a goal for losing just a pound or two a week.

Faster weight loss not only is more likely to betemporary, but those who rely on fad diets andstricter programs tend to give up sooner and put thelost weight back on.

• Count calories. Calorie-counting books are availableat most any bookstore. Educate yourself on howmany calories are in the food you eat. The best wayto cut calories is by eating fewer high-fat and high-sugar foods.

• Don’t skip meals. Starving oneself is not healthy.Hunger makes people morelikely to indulge andovereat later.

• Talk to your doctor aboutmaintaining your desiredweight once you’vereached it. Once youreach your desiredweight, your goal shouldbe to stay there.

— Sources: The AmericanDietetic Association andWebMD.

There’s a reason why they’re called

“fad” diets

7Feeling guilty about your holiday eating?

Well, ease your mind the next time you needsome tasty goodies for a holiday season. Therecipes below are light and tasty and sure tobe a hit with family and friends.

Eggnog DeLight2 tbsp. sugar^ cup fat-free egg substitute4 cups hot 2% milk1 ^ tsp. sugar1 cup fat-free whipping creamgarnish — cocoa powder

Beat 2 tbsp. sugar into the egg substitute.Slowly stir in milk. In a double boiler, cookthe mixture over hot, but not boiling, water.Stir continuously until mixture coats a spoon,about five minutes. Cool; chill for four hoursand pour into a punch bowl. Fold 1 tsp. sugarinto the whipped topping, pour eggnog intoseparate glasses, put a dollop of whippedtopping on each Eggnog DeLight and sprinklewith cocoa powder.

Brownies Light1 cup all purpose flourƒ cup unsweetened cocoa powder^ tsp. baking soda£ tsp. salt6 oz. semisweet chocolate, chopped2 tbsp. canola oil3 tbsp. unsweetened applesauce1 cup packed light brown sugar1 ^ tbsp. light corn syrup3 egg whites2 tsp. vanilla

Coat 13 X 9-inch pan with non-stick spray; setaside. Sift the flour, cocoa, baking soda andsalt into a medium bowl. In a large saucepan,combine the chocolate and oil. Stir over heatuntil chocolate is melted and smooth (do notscorch). Remove from heat and stir in theapplesauce, brown sugar and corn syrup.Vigorously stir in the egg whites and vanilla.

Continue to stir until all the sugar dissolves.Gently stir in flour mixture and blend well.Pour the batter into the prepared pan. Bake at350 degrees for 18 to 22 minutes or until thecenter is almost firm when lightly tapped. Letcool. Cut into squares. Makes 24 brownies.

Delicious Seven-Layer Dip1 16 oz. can fat-free refried beans^ cup salsa1 cup fat-free sour cream1 cup (4 oz.) shredded reduced-fat MontereyJack cheese or reduced-fat cheddar cheese2 medium tomatoes, chopped1 avocado, seeded, peeled and dicedƒ cup sliced green onions2 tbsp. chopped ripe olives

In a medium bowl, stir together the refriedbeans and salsa. Spread the bean mixture ona 9-inch platter or a pie plate. Spread the sourcream on top of the bean layer. Layer theshredded cheese, tomatoes, avocados, greenonions and olives on top. If desired, coverand refrigerate for up to four hours. Servewith low-fat tortilla chips.

The light side of holiday cooking

8In today’s world of computers, cellular phones,voice mail and fax machines, life can move at a very fastpace. At times you feel as though you need to get off themerry-go-round, but it won’t stop — it won’t even slowdown. It’s inevitable, in spite of all efforts to avoid it,that everyone, including you, will experience some formof stress at some point in his/her life.

An important thing to keep in mind when dealingwith stress is that stress, in itself, cannot directly affectyou — it’s how you choose to respond to it. One thing iscertain — if not properly managed, stress can have aharmful effect on your physical as well as mental health.

Many things determine why individuals responddifferently to stress. Sometimes biological or geneticreasons cause them to be more vulnerable to stress. Age,personality, isolation and ethnic differences also can playa role in how an individual reacts to stress. Whatever thereason, people usually have their own way of dealingwith it. Some turn to unhealthy habits, such as eatingjunk food, smoking, alcohol abuse or a sedentarylifestyle while others seem to be able to “roll withthe punches.”

PHYSICAL EFFECTS OF STRESSFor a number of years, it’s been known that stress

can lead to numerous physical as well as psychologicalproblems, such as:• Heart disease• High blood pressure• Stroke• Susceptibility to disease or illness• Digestive problems• Weight problems• Diabetes• Intensified arthritic/muscular aches and pains

• Sleep disturbances• Sexual and reproductive

dysfunction• Loss of concentration andmemory• Skin conditions.

Any physical orpsychological conditions

that are out of the ordi-

nary, such as cardiacsymptoms, significant pain,severe anxiety or depression,should be discussed with aphysician or psychologist.

Some stress can actually be good for you. Stress,when appropriate and controllable, can stimulate interestand excitement and motivate individuals to greaterachievements. On the other hand, a lack of stress cancause boredom and depression.

IDENTIFY THE SOURCETo reduce stress, first you need to identify the

source(s). One way to do that is to take an inventory ofyour activities over a two-week period. Note the activi-ties and events that were particularly stressful or had anegative effect on you. Also note the ones that you feltwere positive experiences — those that gave you a senseof exhilaration or accomplishment. Carefully review thelists and determine your priorities and goals. Ask your-self if these stressful activities met your own goals orsomeone else’s. Could the tasks be reasonably accom-plished? Which tasks were you in control of, and whichtasks did someone else control?

SET PRIORITIESAfter carefully studying your lists, try to schedule

more of the less-stressful activities and less of the more-stressful activities. Decide which of the more-stressful

activities have the mostnegative effect onyou. If it’s notpossible to elimi-nate those activitiesor situations, youmight be able tolessen the effect thatthey have on you.Plan some recreation— take some vacationtime or an occasionallong weekend. If thesource of your stress iswork-related andchanging jobs or

To Be or Not To Be …To Be or Not To Be …____________________

9working fewer hours is unlikely, try to transfer within thecompany or take a walk or do some other physicalactivity during lunch. Whatever the situation, take anoccasional break from the routine.

WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS• Learn to say “no” when appropriate. You will gain

more control of your life.• Develop a positive attitude. Your outlook on life

will improve.• Try leaving 15 minutes earlier for appointments or

work to avoid the rush.• Wear a smile on your face. Studies have shown that

even if it’s “pasted on,” it’s a start to being happier.• Discuss your feelings with someone you trust.• Don’t get ”too many irons in the fire.” Know

your limits.• Lay off the caffeine and other stimulants, and don’t

drink alcohol.• Exercise regularly. It’s proven to help reduce stress

and prevent depression.• Make a “realistic” schedule. Schedule enough time for

work, play and relaxation.• Keep your sense of humor during a stressful event.

Laughter reduces tension.• Keep things in perspective. Determine the worst thing

that can happen. Decide how important the activity orsituation is to you.

• Eat a healthy diet. Avoid junk food. Healthy foodsenhance stress resistance.

• Practice relaxation techniques such as deep breathing,muscle relaxation or meditation.

• Learn to delegate to subordinates when necessary.Part of their job is to help you do yours.

There are many things you can do to help reduce thestress in your life. No one thing will work for everyoneand it usually takes a combination of techniques beforeyou see results.

Just remember that stress in your life is here to stay.The best thing that you can do is to eliminate as muchof it as you can and learn to deal with the rest.By doing so, you’ll reap the benefitsof a much healthier, moreenjoyable life.

— Sources: Nidas InformationServices, Inc. Well-ConnectedReport: Stress;www.malehealth.com, HisHealth by Ken Goldberg, M.D.

STRESSED — It’s up to youSTRESSED — It’s up to you

10 For the majority of women, the surest way to have a healthy pregnancy and healthybaby is to live a healthy lifestyle. The March of Dimes suggests the following guidelines:• Get early prenatal care, even before you are pregnant and in the planning stages.• Eat a well-balanced diet, including a vitamin supplement that contains folic acid.• Continue your exercise program with your physician’s permission.• Avoid alcohol, cigarettes and illegal drugs. Limit your caffeine intake.• Avoid X-rays, hot tubs and saunas.• Avoid infections.

much more than is normal.Gestational diabetes may cause you tohave a more difficult delivery.

Q: What should you do if you havegestational diabetes?A: You will need to follow a dietsuggested by your doctor, exerciseregularly and have blood tests to checkyour blood sugar level. You may alsoneed to take medication to control yourblood sugar level.

Q: What changes should you make inyour diet?A: Consult with your physician. Youshouldn’t eat foods that contain a lot ofsimple sugar, such as cakes, cookies, candy,

fruit drinks or ice cream. Instead, eat small frequentmeals (every three hours). Avoid convenience foods suchas frozen meals or canned soups. It’s also important toeat well-balanced meals.

For more information on gestational diabetes, pleaseconsult your physician.

— Sources: The Journal of the American MedicationAssociation, the March of Dimes andwww.familydoctor.org.

Have a healthy pregnancy

If you would like more informationabout the Special Delivery prenatal

care program offered as an additionalbenefit to Arkansas Blue Cross and

Blue Shield, Health Advantage andUSAble Administrators members,

please call toll-free 1-800-742-6457or (501) 954-5469.

Women who are at risk for the mostcommon form of diabetes are also at riskfor developing diabetes during pregnancy,according to The Journal of the AmericanMedical Association.

Research shows that the risk fordeveloping gestational diabetes increaseswith advancing age, history of diabetesin a first-degree relative (such as amother or father), non-white ethnicity,high body mass index before pregnancy,weight gain in early adulthood andcigarette smoking.

Q: What is gestational diabetes?A: It is a type of diabetes that beginsduring pregnancy. If you have diabetes,your body is unable to use the sugar in your blood aswell as it should, so the level of sugar in your blood

becomes higher than normal.

Q: How can gestational diabetesaffect you and your baby?A: If the diabetes isn’t treated,your baby may be more likely tohave problems at birth, such as a

low blood sugar level andjaundice, or your baby may weigh

Gestational diabetes: Questions & Answers

Special Delivery

11The image of the tanned and toned body is usually

portrayed as the picture of good health. Althoughexercising and toning is good for you, tanning is not.

Study after studyshows thatburning andexcessivetanning of theskin isunhealthy. Itcan cause skincancer as wellas prematureaging of theskin.

So whatcan you doto take careof yourskin?Followthesesimplerules.

1. Use sun protection. The best way to avoid prematureaging of the skin and skin cancer is to limit sunexposure and apply sunscreen regularly. Make sureyour sunscreen or moisturizer contains a sunprotection factor (SPF) of at least 15. Use the highestSPF factor available for small children when you havethem at the beach or pool. Good habits begin early.

2. Eat healthy. Eating a balanced diet containing wholegrains, fruits and vegetables can help reduce theeffects of prior sun damage.

3. Drink at least eight glasses of water per day. Itrefreshes your whole body as well as your skin.

4. Wash your face gently. Gently wash your face, throatand neck with a gentle liquid cleanser or beauty bar.Avoid harsh cleansers and abrasive facial scrubs; theycause more problems than they solve. Additionally, besure to rinse your face thoroughly. Soap residue canirritate the skin, causing breakouts. Use warm, nothot, water to rinse off. Forget the cold-water splash —pores do not open and close as commonly thought.

5. What is the one thing you are always told to do, nomatter what your health concern? You guessed it. Quit

smoking, or don’t start smoking. Nothing ages yourappearance and damages your overall health morethan smoking. Onaverage, smokers look fiveto 10 years older thantheir actual ages. Smokingdamages the elastic tissuethat keeps the skin tightand probably aggravatesthe effects of sun damage.

6. Try to de-stress. Stressinterferes with sleep,which has both short- andlong-term effects on skin.Stress is a contributingcause to adult-onset acne cases, according todermatologists. Stress also robs your skin of that“healthy glow.” To relieve stress, try yoga, relaxationtechniques, exercise and doing things you enjoy.

7. Moisturize. Moisturize. Moisturize. Using moisturizernot only helps keep your skin soft; it also protectsyour skin from the pollutants in the environment.

Choose a product that isgentle to your skin and notoverly perfumed.Moisturizing your entirebody when still slightlydamp from the shower isthe best time. Additionally— for your face — try usinga mild lotion containingalpha hydroxy. Theselotions contain natural acidsfrom wine, milk, apples,lemons or sugar cane. The

acids gradually peel off the top layers of dead skinwithout irritation. Lotions containing alpha hydroxyare available in your localdrugstore in lotions, cleansersand other skin care products.No matter what your age, it

is never too late — or too early— to take good care of your skin.Remember that it has to lasta lifetime.

12The loss of a spouse,

chronic medical condi-tions, medications — theyall could be culprits fordepression in the elderly.Studies suggest thatapproximately 15 percentof all older adults experi-ence depression at onetime or another.

“Depression affectsour mental, physical andspiritual well-being,” saidSteven Thomason, M.D., afamily practice physician

with the Baptist Health Family Clinic in Little Rock.“Depression is caused by a chemical imbalance, notunlike diabetes, where insulin is the chemical.”

Depression is not a normal part of aging. In olderadults, depression often goes undiagnosed and untreatedbecause of several unusual characteristics:1) Sometimes the elderly develop illnesses (such as

Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s disease) whosesymptoms overlap with the symptoms of depression.

2) The side effects of many drugs mimic or aggravate thesymptoms of depression.

3) Depression often causes mental cloudiness or confu-sion. That makes depression harder to diagnosebecause everyone loses some mental sharpness as anormal part of aging.

4) Older adults may complain of persistent fatigue,experience unexplained weight loss or appetite loss,have problems sleeping or have difficulty concentrat-ing when they are depressed. Many people see thesecomplaints as a normal part of aging, but it could bedepression.

5) The losses that many older adults face (loss ofjob, loss of spouse, loss of physical or

mental vitality) may contributeto depression.

Depression & our seniorsDepression & our seniorsEveryone feels sad or melancholy occasionally.

When a person is depressed, the feelings of sadness orhopelessness continue for a prolonged period of time.People with depression usually exhibit at least some ofthe following symptoms:

• Depressed most of the day, nearly every day.• Loss of pleasure in daily activities.• Significant weight loss or gain.• Change in mobility either by slowing down or

exhibiting nervous gestures.• Feelings of worthless-

ness, self-reproach orexcessive guilt.

• Diminished ability toconcentrate.

• Suicidal thoughts.

Untreated depressionleaves the elderly at aserious risk for suicide.Compared with other agegroups, the elderly commitsuicide twice as fre-quently. If you think youor someone you love maybe experiencing depression, please talk to your physicianfor a diagnosis and treatment.

— Sources: Depression.Com and Self Help andPsychology Magazine.

13Health Advantage

members —

take note!

PRIMARY CARE PHYSICIAN CHANGES

As a member of Health Advan-tage, you are required to select aprimary care physician (PCP) fromthe list of participating providers.When members want to changetheir PCP, they may do so by callingHealth Advantage Customer Ser-vice. Requests received by the 15th

of the month will be effective thefirst of the following month.Requests received after the 15th ofthe month will be effective the firstof the second month. Exceptions tothis policy may be made, dependingon the circumstances.

Should you change your PCP,please be aware that referralsfrom the previous PCP will not bevalid. The new PCP should issuereferrals for specialty care.

HEALTH ADVANTAGE MEMBERS RECEIVE

BLUECARD EMERGENCY BENEFITS

On Oct. 1, 2000, the PublicSchool Employee (PSE) group

became the first group to have theirclaims filed electronically by the out-of-area Blue Cross and Blue Shieldplan when receiving emergency careoutside of Arkansas.

This means greater savings tothe member and to Health Advan-tage because the allowed chargesfrom the servicing provider will beheld to the other plan’s contractedrate in their traditional BlueCardnetwork. The most noticeablechange for the member and allproviders serving Arkansas is theaddition of the XCH prefix to themember’s ID card.

All members will receive new IDcards as their benefits renew duringthe next nine months. The new IDcards will show the new prefix withtheir old ID number. Arkansasproviders will not have to changeany claims-filing procedures as aresult of this benefit. Members alsowill receive additional informationregarding their BlueCard benefitswhen they receive their new ID card.

The mission of the investigators of the SpecialInvestigations Unit of Arkansas Blue Cross and BlueShield is to “aggressively investigate and pursue prosecu-tion of health care fraud, abuse and overutilization”whether it be providers, agents, company employees,provider employees or others. Their territory is privatebusiness (USAble Administrators, Federal EmployeeProgram, Medi-Pak HMO, Arkansas Blue Cross and BlueShield and Health Advantage).

All members of Arkansas Blue Cross and BlueShield, Health Advantage and USAble Administrators arenow eligible for a discount at all Weight Watcherslocations in Arkansas as part of the “wellness program”offered to all members. The Weight Watchers discountapplies to the regular joining fee (a 15 percent discount);four weeks of prepaid classes; and to all products soldduring class time. Members simply have to show theirindividual or family health ID card at the time of

One of the most common types of member fraud iswhen a group contract holder fails to remove a divorcedspouse from their contract. If Arkansas Blue Cross paysclaims on the divorced spouse, that is considered fraud,and the contract holder is held liable for the totalamount of this overpayment.

If you suspect someone of committing health insur-ance fraud, please call our fraud hotline at 1-800-FRAUD21. All information is kept strictly confidential.

purchase to receive the discounts. Weight Watcherscenters and meetings can be located by calling 1-800-651-6000 or through their international Web Site,www.weightwatchers.com.

For the complete list of all local health clubs, sportinggoods stores and fitness equipment vendors, etc. who areoffering discounts to members, visit our Web sites atwww.arkansasbluecross.com or www.healthadvantage-hmo.com.

A Common Fraud - - - - - -

Weight Watchers & You!

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14State Senator Mike Beebe

Mike Beebe, 53, began serving in theSenate in 1983. When the General Assemblyconvenes for the 2001 regular business, hewill be first in seniority. Additionally, he willbe the President Pro Tem of the Senatemeaning he will often preside over the Senateand make some committee appointments.

Hometown: Searcy

Education:Bachelor of Arts degree from Arkansas State University inJonesboro, Juris Doctorate from the University of ArkansasSchool of Law

1999-2000 Committees:Joint Budget, Legislative Council, Joint Legislative Facilities,Efficiency Committee (chairperson), Judiciary, Insurance andCommerce, and Joint Committee on Children & Youth.

Community Activities:Member, Board of Trustees, Arkansas State University, 1974-1979Chairman, Board of Trustees, Arkansas State University, 1977-79Central Arkansas General Hospital Board of Directors (chairperson)Searcy Chamber of CommerceWhite County Bar Association (president), 1976-77Trinity Episcopal Church (vestry member and senior warden)Arkansas Trial Lawyers AssociationAmerican Trial Lawyers Association

Honors and Achievements:Editor in Chief, Arkansas Law Review, 1971-72Outstanding Trial Lawyer of Arkansas, 1982 — award presented by the State Trial Lawyers AssociationAward for Distinguished Service, Arkansas Municipal League, 1985Arkansas Municipal League Honor for Distinguished Service, 1986Award of Appreciation from the Arkansas County Judges, 1991

Personal:Married to Ginger, two sons and one daughter.DemocratDistrict 21Home telephone number: (501) 268-9452Office telephone number: (501) 268-4111

Mike Beebe and Shane Broadway set to playkey roles in the future of Arkansas

State Representative Shane BroadwayShane Broadway, a Bryant businessman,

is serving his second term representing part ofSaline County in the Arkansas GeneralAssembly. He has been elected Speaker-designate of the House and will be voted in asSpeaker of the House when the GeneralAssembly convenes in 2001. Broadway’s newresponsibilities will include appointing legislators to the JointBudget Committee and House Select Committees. At 28, he willbecome the youngest Speaker of the House in Arkansas history.

Hometown: Bryant

Education:Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science from Arkansas State University in Jonesboro

1999-2000 Committees:House Rules Committee (chairperson), House EducationCommittee, House Aging, Children & Youth, Legislative andMilitary Affairs Committee, Joint Budget Committee and theArkansas Legislative Council.

Community Activities:Bryant Chamber of CommerceLeukemia Society of AmericaThe Saline County Farm BureauThe Bryant Booster ClubThe Multiple Sclerosis Society of AmericaThe Saline County Industrial Development CommitteeFirst Baptist Church in Bryant

Honors and Achievements:Named Outstanding Young American by the Arkansas Junior Chamber of Commerce in 1998Recipient of the first Distinguished Service Award from the Department of Political Science at Arkansas State UniversityListed in Arkansas Business magazine’s 2000 listing of “Forty Under Forty,” which recognizes community and business leaders under the age of 40

Personal:Married to Debbie, an investigator with the Consumer Protection Division of the attorney general’s office.DemocratDistrict 46Home telephone number: (501) 847-7796Office telephone number: (501) 847-9534

Let us introduce…Let us introduce…Let us introduce…Let us introduce…Let us introduce…Let us introduce…Let us introduce…Let us introduce…Let us introduce…Let us introduce…

15Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield strives to be a

good corporate citizen. Our employees raise money andspend many hours helping those causes near and dear tothe hearts of Arkansans.

Wild About WellnessThe “Wild About Wellness” Kid’s Health Fair must

have been on the check list of parents in the ArkLaTexarea because they turned out in full force to get theirstudents ready to go back to school. The Four StatesFairgrounds hosted more than 1,850 preschoolers andyoung students who were helped at the third annualevent. Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield was again atitle sponsor of the event and helped caregivers byweighing and measuring the height of the children, aswell as providing fun and educational materials. BlueAnnEwe was on hand to greet the kids. Students also couldget their immunizations, have their eyesight and hearingchecked and play healthy games for a chance to learn —and win prizes. The Nickelodeon Game Lab came on thesecond day of the event. The event more than tripled thenumber of participants from 1999.

Giving Breast Cancer the Boot!The Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield/Health

Advantage/USAble Administrators team boasted a totalof 423 cowboys and cowgirls for the seventh annualSusan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation’s ArkansasRace For The Cure on Oct. 14. The Race and Three Milesof Men teams turned out with almost 27,000 other folksto help “give breast cancer the boot” in the Race or greetthem down at the “Blue Cross Corral” Barn Dance and

Waterin’ Hole. Employees held a special fund-raiser forthe event which raised about $500 above and beyondpledges provided and pink postcards purchased for theevent. Our hats are off to all breast cancer survivors andall of those thousands of people who showed up to makethis the largest Race For The Cure ever in Arkansas andone of the top five races in the nation.

Every step countedArkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield employees, their

friends and family members turned out in force on Sept.23 in downtown Little Rock to make sure that “Every StepCounts.” Approximately 500 Arkansas Blue Cross “EveryStep Counts” teamwalkers participatedin the JuvenileDiabetesFoundation’s 2000Walk to CureDiabetes, of whichArkansas BlueCross was thepresenting sponsor.Arkansas BlueCross employeesmade up roughly one-seventh of the 3,500 or so walkersfor the third annual event, and raised more than $18,000themselves. Arkansas Blue Cross was far and away themost represented corporate group at the event and raisedmore than three times the amount of any other companyor group.

Arkansas Blue Cross Vice PresidentMike Brown hands out waterbottles to JDF walkers.

Baptist Health is presenting a health-and-wellnessseminar titled “How to Extend Your Life” as the first in aseries of health forums for women. The forum is sched-uled for 11 a.m.–2 p.m., Wednesday, Feb. 14, 2001, at theGilbreath Conference Center at Baptist Health MedicalCenter in Little Rock.

Participants are invited to take the Women and HeartDisease Risk Assessment test; view displays from BaptistHealth and area merchants; receive information onvitamins, yoga and massage therapy; participate in blood

pressure checks and osteoporosis and body-fat-composi-tions screenings; listen to a panel discussion with localphysicians on healthy aging; and much more. Thekeynote speaker for the event is Margery Silver, Ed.D., aneuropsychologist with the New England CentenarianStudy at Harvard Medical School Division on Aging andBeth Israel Deaconess Medical Center.

To register or for more information, please callBaptist Health toll-free at 1-888-227-8478 or in Little Rockat 227-8478.

Health Seminar for Women YULZNMaf

I

Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue ShieldP.O. Box 2181Little Rock, AR 72203-2181

— a guide to health insurance terminology

If health care terminology (including abbreviationsand acronyms) leaves your head spinning … ArkansasBlue Cross and Blue Shield would like to help you makesense out of all the jargon. We want you to be an in-formed customer, so we hope to explain the meaningbehind those health insurance words, acronyms andabbreviations that you may encounter when readinghealth care-related materials.

Adjustment — The change in the payment after a claimhas been paid incorrectly based on erroneous informa-tion submitted on the original claim.

Ambulatory care facility — A medical care center thatprovides a wide range of health care services, includingpreventive care, acute care, surgery and outpatient care,in a centralized facility. Also known as a medical clinicor medical center.

Carrier — The insurance company which writes and/oradministers the health insurance policy.

Claims Review — The most stringent utilization reviewsystem that takes place within preferred provider organi-zations (PPOs).

Clean Claim — A claim containing all data required forpayer adjudication and that does not require furtherinvestigation.

Employer Mandate — A legislative requirement thatemployers pay a portion of their employees’ health carecoverage. The mandate has been a point of heated debatein Congress’ formation of a national health care plan.

Generic Drug — Prescription medication that does nothave a trade name or brand name, usually produced bymore than one manufacturer; refers to a medication thatis chemically equivalent to is brand-name counterpart.

Generic Substitution — The act of dispensing a differentbrand or an unbranded drug product for the drug productprescribed (i.e., chemically the exact same drug in thesame dosage form.)

Medical Foundation — A not-for-profit entity, usuallycreated by a hospital or health system, that purchasesand manages physician practices.

Performance measures — Quantitative measures ofquality of care provided by a health plan or providerthat consumers, payors, regulators and others can useto compare the plan or provider to other plansand providers.

Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Insurance Rating Analysis —An independent rating company that evaluates acompany’s performance based on management andcorporate strategy, overall business review, operatingperformance, investments and capital. Arkansas BlueCross has consistently received a high rating from thisservice. In the past few years, Arkansas Blue Cross hasreceived an A- (Excellent) rating.

What an honor!Arkansas Blue Cross and Blue Shield recently

received an Award of Excellence for our customerpublication Blue & You and an Award of Excellence forthe design of Blue & You during the InternationalAssociation of Business Communicators (IABC) BronzeQuill Award ceremony. Blue & You was judged by out-of-state IABC members. The Award of Excellence is thehighest award given during the Bronze Quill Awardsceremony. Kelly Whitehorn serves as editor of Blue & Youand Gio Bruno is the designer.