Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) is leading an effort to reward health care quality in North Carolina by introducing a new reimbursement model for participating primary care physicians.

In an effort to help reduce childhood obesity and prevent future cases of diabetes, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) is participating in the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association’s Pediatric Obesity and Diabetes Prevention Pilot Program.

PARTNERS National Health Plans of North Carolina, Inc. (PARTNERS), a fully owned subsidiary of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC), has expanded its Blue Medicare HMO and Blue Medicare PPO network to include 70 North Carolina counties. These Medicare Advantage plans offer lower out-of-pocket costs and more benefits than traditional Medicare, including preventive care and routine vision care.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) is pleased to announce that J. Bradley (Brad) Wilson is the organization’s new President, effective immediately. Wilson will retain his role as Chief Operating Officer while Bob Greczyn continues his role as Chief Executive Officer for the North Carolina-based health insurer.

"A flu shot takes just seconds and is the most effective way to prevent the seasonal flu or to keep from passing it on to others,” said Dr. Don Bradley, senior vice president and chief medical officer for BCBSNC. "We are making it easy for our customers to get their seasonal and H1N1 flu shots by simply visiting their primary care doctor, worksite clinic or participating pharmacist in the BCBSNC network."

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) opened its first environmentally friendly building named the CSC2. The new building will house about 550 current BCBSNC employees.

“We’ve believed for years that quality improvement leads to better health outcomes and lower costs, and now we have data that demonstrates it,” said Don Bradley, MD, BCBSNC senior vice president and chief medical officer. “Our investment in Bridges to Excellence over the past three years has made a difference for patients and physicians.”

Carolinas HealthCare System (CHS) has signed a contract to provide services to Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) customers covered by Blue Medicare HMOsm and Blue Medicare PPOsm plans. These offer lower out-of-pocket expenses and more benefits than traditional Medicare, including preventive care and routine vision care. The plans are provided by PARTNERS National Health Plans of North Carolina, a fully owned subsidiary of BCBSNC.

Three North Carolina nonprofit organizations committed to supporting the state’s conservation efforts have received $10,000 each as part of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) Foundation Community TIEs Awards Program. This year’s recipients include the Triangle Land Conservancy in Raleigh, the Western North Carolina Alliance in Asheville and the Pamlico-Tar River Foundation in Washington.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) is helping customers save money and stay on their medications with the generic copay waiver program. BCBSNC customers saved at least $15 million in out-of-pocket expenses since the program started January 1, 2009. The program will run until June 30.