North Dakota ranked as nation’s 12th healthiest state

Posted on May 1, 2013 by bcbsnd

By Ryan Schuster

North Dakota was ranked as the 12th healthiest state in the nation in the 2012 America’s Health Rankings, down one spot from an 11th place ranking in 2011.

The index ranked states by a number of measures, including obesity rate, sedentary lifestyles, prevalence of smoking, binge drinking, high school graduation rates, physical activity, cholesterol checks, annual dental visits, fruit consumption and teen birth rate. North Dakota’s strong showing in the rankings was helped by its high school graduation rate, high rate of immunization, low air pollution levels and low percentage of children living in poverty.

North Dakota’s diabetes rate is lower than many other states, but more than 40,000 adults in North Dakota have diabetes and the state’s diabetes rate doubled between 1990 and 2011. Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota is working to fight diabetes and to improve the overall health of North Dakotans in a number of ways. Our MediQHome program is helping to improve the treatment of diabetes and other chronic conditions by leading to greater collaboration between doctors and more coordinated care. The Official Sponsor of Recess platform is also helping to combat childhood obesity in the state by encouraging movement and activity for children.

What do you think of the rankings? What makes North Dakota a healthy or unhealthy place to live?

Ryan Schuster is an editor in the Communications department at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.

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North Dakota to expand Medicaid coverage

Posted on April 29, 2013 by bcbsnd

By Ryan Schuster

Earlier this month North Dakota Gov. Jack Dalrymple signed legislation allowing the state to expand Medicaid coverage to an estimated 20,000 North Dakotans who don’t currently qualify for Medicaid. Medicaid currently covers roughly 65,000 North Dakotans per month.

The North Dakota state legislature also passed the legislation after Dalrymple included the provision of the Affordable Care Act in his Human Services budget before the start of the legislative session.

State by state progress toward Medicaid expansion, from the Center on Budget and Policy Priorities.

 

The federal government will pay for 100 percent of the cost of the state Medicaid expansion through 2016. North Dakota’s share of the expanded coverage will increase in stages and will eventually reach 10 percent, with the federal government still contributing 90 percent of the funding.

What do you think of the decision to accept additional federal funding and expand Medicaid coverage to more North Dakotans?

Ryan Schuster is an editor in the Communications department at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.

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Online marketplace to provide more health insurance options

Posted on April 26, 2013 by bcbsnd

By Ryan Schuster

Starting next year, North Dakotans will have a new option when purchasing health insurance. A new online marketplace (also referred to as an exchange) will allow North Dakotans to search for, compare and purchase health insurance online, a provision of the Affordable Care Act. Open enrollment for coverage on the marketplace begins on October 1, with coverage taking effect in January 2014.

Like all states, North Dakota will have its own marketplace where insurance companies can sell four different levels of health insurance coverage, depending upon the amount of coverage and cost chosen. These marketplaces are voluntary. If you wish to continue purchasing health insurance through your employer (if your employer offers health insurance benefits) or individual insurance on your own directly from an insurance company, you can still do so.

The North Dakota marketplace will provide more choices for those searching for health insurance coverage. Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota will continue to offer quality, affordable health insurance plans and products through traditional distribution channels. We will also offer plans on the North Dakota online marketplace for those who would prefer those products.

Some employers may stop offering health insurance and instead provide subsidies for employees to purchase insurance on the new online marketplace, but most are expected to continue offering health insurance benefits. A recent national survey of employers found that 69 percent plan to continue providing health insurance to employees when the online marketplaces start operating in 2014.

Subsidies to purchase insurance on the marketplace will also be available for North Dakotans making between 138 percent and 400 percent of the federal poverty level (or between $32,500 and $94,200 per year for a family of four).

Ryan Schuster is an editor in the Communications department at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.

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Explore West Acres mall activities with your kids

Posted on April 25, 2013 by bcbsnd

By Ryan Schuster

We are partnering with West Acres mall in Fargo to renovate the playland by the mall’s food court. A new, redesigned Recess West play area will open in the same location as the former dinosaur themed playland in early May.

But you don’t have to wait until the new indoor playground opens to keep your kids occupied, moving and getting some exercise during a mall shopping trip.

You can stop at the Guest Services desk at the main entrance by the food court and pick up a recess adventure activity sheet and help your kids complete a list of activities throughout the mall.

When you’re finished, you can turn in the activity sheet with your contact info to Guest Services to win a prize and be entered in a drawing for a chance to win a $100 West Acres gift card or an activity themed gift basket.

Here are some kids completing the activity sheets. Get out to the mall and get exploring with your kids!

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A little lunch stroll today

Posted on April 24, 2013 by bcbsnd

By Ryan Schuster

Today our employees took a break to walk during lunch, participating in National Walk@Lunch Day activities.

Employees walking outside our Fargo headquarters.

 

Our employees walked around our Fargo headquarters facility and joined in a walk around the state capitol in Bismarck led by Lt. Gov. Drew Wrigley.

Walkers trudge through snow flurries in Bismarck.

It was snowing this morning before the walk in Fargo and was snowing in Bismarck, but not even colder than normal temperatures for late April could spoil a great day to get out and walk to raise awareness of the importance of regular exercise and how it impacts our health.

The annual costs to treat illnesses and chronic diseases caused by inactive lifestyles are estimated to reach nearly $1,000 for each family in the country.  Getting as little as half an hour of moderate physical activity, like a brisk walk, at least five times a week can have significant health benefits.

Do you take a walk on your lunch break? What do you enjoy about walking?

Ryan Schuster is an editor in the Communications department at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.

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Registering for the 5K on a bus. Really.

Posted on April 23, 2013 by bcbsnd

By Ryan Schuster

This morning our headquarters building in Fargo was visited by the Marathon 1 bus (kind of like the Air Force 1 of the Fargo Marathon, only in bus form).

Marathon 1 kicked off a tour of Fargo area businesses at our building this morning to provide another way for people to sign up for the May 17 Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota Friday Night 5K at the Fargo Marathon. If you’ve ever wanted to sign up for a 5K while on a bus, you are in luck.

The bus will also be making the following stops this week in the parking lot of these Fargo area businesses:

TUESDAY, April 23

Scheels, 1551 45th St. S., Fargo

Noon-1:30 p.m.

WEDNESDAY, April 24

Noridian Administrative Services, 900 40th St S., Fargo

7:30-9 a.m.

Titan Machinery, 644 East Beaton Drive, West Fargo

Noon-1 p.m.

THURSDAY, April 25

Eide Bailly, 4310 17th Ave. S., Fargo

9-10 a.m.

Integrity Windows, 1616 43rd St N., Fargo

2:30-4 p.m.

If you can’t make it to one of these bus stops on the Marathon 1 tour, you can sign up online. Get on the bus, or your computer and register now for the 5K.

Ryan Schuster is an editor in the Communications department at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.

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What you can do to help control health care costs

Posted on April 19, 2013 by bcbsnd

By Shauna Vistad

We have already told you about some of the fraud, abuse and waste in the health care system that is inflating health care costs and told you what Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota is doing to fight fraud and abuse.

Here are some things you can do as a consumer to help manage your health care costs:

Take an active and educated role in your health care.

  • Review your Explanation of Benefits forms as soon as you receive them.  Did you see the listed provider on that date of service?  Did you receive the services or products listed on the form?  If not:
  • Contact your provider to ask, and/or report your concerns to the BCBSND SIU or through our hotline 1-877-537-2830.  A majority of the time a simple error is found, but BCBSND can help ensure it is corrected.
  • All the normal advice:  eat better, exercise more, etc.
  • Don’t forget your preventive treatments, such as vaccinations, annual exams, pap tests and other early diagnosis testing as appropriate for your family history, medical history, age, etc.
  • When visiting your provider: Communicate all of your concerns and ask questions. This can help prevent multiple visits.
  • Write your questions and concerns down ahead of time if needed so you don’t forget.
  • If you need treatment, ask about alternative treatments and cost to consider all of your options.
    • New/expensive does not always mean it is the best for you.
    • While only you and your health care provider can determine your health care needs, consider whether a visit to a provider is necessary for your current concern.
    • If care is necessary does it require a trip to the emergency room or is a visit to your regular provider an option?

As discussed in the cost of health insurance, Americans are also using more health care services than in the past, going to the Emergency Room, urgent care centers or doctor’s office to treat things such as common colds that years ago they wouldn’t have sought medical attention to treat.

Health care fraud, waste and abuse affect costs for everyone. With your help, BCBSND will continue to look for ways to address and control these growing costs.

(This is the final installment of a three-part series of blogs about fraud, waste and abuse in the health care system. The first post looked at the impact fraud, waste and abuse is having on the health care system. The second post looked at what BCBSND is doing to help control costs and prevent fraud and waste).

Shauna Vistad, Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and Certified Forensic Interviewer (CFI), is manager of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.

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What are we doing to help control health care costs?

Posted on April 18, 2013 by bcbsnd

By Shauna Vistad

Yesterday’s blog looked at research showing that nearly a third of health care costs may be attributable to fraud, waste or abuse, which amounted to an estimated $765 billion in 2009.

BCBSND has a Special Investigations Unit (SIU) responsible for the prevention, detection, investigation and resolution of suspected health care fraud, waste and abuse. The SIU uses tips, reports, claims pattern analysis and proactive investigations to identify areas of concern, conduct investigations and take appropriate actions to recover any identified improper payments.

Here’s what Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) is doing to fight fraud, waste and abuse:

  • Controlling administrative costs. BCBSND’s administrative costs are among the lowest in the nation, take a look at how your premium dollar is spent.
  • Making insurance affordable with more options to help encourage members to have a more active role in caring for their health as well as a better understanding of health care costs. BCBSND is offering a wider variety of options including consumer-driven health plans, sometimes referred to as high deductable health plans.
  • Working with providers to negotiate competitive rates, focusing on quality over quantity and offering tools such as MediQHome to ensure patients receive the right care at the right time.

(This is the second in a three-part series of blogs about fraud, waste and abuse in the health care system. Tomorrow’s blog will focus on what you can do as a consumer to help control costs).

Shauna Vistad, Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and Certified Forensic Interviewer (CFI), is manager of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) at BCBSND.

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Fraud, waste and abuse in health care

Posted on April 17, 2013 by bcbsnd

By Shauna Vistad

An Institute of Medicine report released in September 2012 suggests as much as 30 percent of health care costs can be attributed to fraud, waste or abuse.

In 2009 it is estimated that $765 billion in health care spending was the result of fraud, waste or abuse.

While few are actively involved in health care fraud, they have a large impact.  The FBI regularly reports multi-million dollar health care fraud cases of providers billing for services that are not delivered or providing unnecessary services. In a case of medical identity theft a criminal can pocket an average of $19,000 per incident, according to reports by Javelin Strategy and Research.

The effects of waste and abuse are significant contributors to growing health care costs.  Waste and abuse refer to excessive use of health care services, improper or ineffective use of treatments and actions that are inconsistent with acceptable medical or business practice that result in unnecessary cost.  Frequently these costs can be eliminated without reducing the quality of care received.

(This is the first in a three-part series of blogs about fraud, waste and abuse in the health care system. Tomorrow’s blog will focus on what Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota is doing to help control costs and prevent fraud and waste. The third blog will focus on what you can do as a consumer to help control costs).

Shauna Vistad, Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) and Certified Forensic Interviewer (CFI), is manager of the Special Investigations Unit (SIU) at BCBSND.

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Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota to partner with West Acres on new play area

Posted on April 2, 2013 by bcbsnd

By Ryan Schuster

Have you ever felt like you needed a little break while out shopping? Maybe the kids are getting antsy and want to run around and you need a little brain break.

Early next month an improved new indoor playground will be unveiled at Fargo’s West Acres Shopping Center. The new playground, which will be sponsored by Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND), will provide children and their parents with an improved indoor play experience that will be more accessible for younger children in a bright, renovated and more inviting space. Today, BCBSND and West Acres announced the new mall play area sponsorship and the future Recess West play area. Alternative activities will be provided for children to stay active at the mall while the play area is under construction.

The U.S. childhood obesity rate has more than doubled since 1980. More than a third of North Dakota kids are classified as being overweight or obese, according to government statistics.

Recess West is one part of a BCBSND effort to promote, advocate and support healthy living for all North Dakotans. BCBSND is The Official Sponsor of Recess. We support opportunities for daily activity breaks — or recess — for North Dakotans of all ages. “The play area is for kids, but recess is for everyone,” BCBSND President and CEO Paul von Ebers said. “It’s important for all of us to find time in our day for a break — whether it’s a 15-minute walk around your workplace, or a physical activity break for kids in the classroom or a simple family outing.”

What do you think of the former dinosaur-themed playland at West Acres? What would you like to see in the new play area?

Ryan Schuster is an editor in the Communications department at Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota.

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