Haywood Regional Medical Center has withdrawn from the networks of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) – voluntarily and temporarily – as it addresses issues raised in recent inspections by the federal Medicare program.

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation has invested $692,183 in 14 organizations through grants to support programs designed to improve the health of vulnerable populations and promote physical activity and nutrition.

Today Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) is announcing the launch of a new Web site. The site has digitally captured one of the North Carolina Museum of History’s longest-running and most popular exhibits, “Health and Healing Experiences in North Carolina,” which ran from 1998 to 2007.

BCBSNC, the state’s largest health insurer, is publishing online the average prices it pays statewide for physician office visits, diagnostic procedures and screenings, prescription drugs, and disease treatments. The Health Cost Estimator, now available to members at bcbsnc.com , includes one of the most comprehensive listings of total average costs related to diseases and conditions of any health insurance plan.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) will waive the copayment on all generic medications that treat congestive heart failure, high blood pressure, high cholesterol and diabetes effective January 1, 2008. In addition, more than 40 brand-name drugs that treat these specific conditions will be moved into a lower-cost drug classification category to make them more affordable. It’s all part of a new medication adherence program, called Medication Dedication(SM), designed to make prescription drugs more affordable and encourage members with chronic conditions to take their medications as directed.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) announced today in partnership with the North Carolina State Health Plan (NCSHP) that they have recognized and rewarded 63 physicians statewide, representing 20 practices, for meeting stringent national quality health care standards under the national Bridges to Excellence coalition. The practices received a combined total of more than $500,000. According to the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) based in Washington, D.C, North Carolina now ranks 3rd in the country for the number of physician recognitions made.

“The evidence speaks for itself. There’s money to be saved when people get serious about their health,” said Helen Darling, president of National Business Group on Health. “Businesses should take note, that healthier behaviors not only result in healthier workers, but it’s one way to keep rising medical costs in check. Now that’s a result we can and should go after.”

On Jan. 1, 2008, PARTNERS Medicare Choice will become Blue Medicare HMO and PARTNERS Medicare Options will become Blue Medicare PPO. The product names are changing, but the service, reliability and provider networks PARTNERS members have depended upon for years will remain the same. PARTNERS has offered Medicare Advantage plans longer than any other company in the state.

This disconnect may explain why employers have been slow to adopt programs and policies to promote physical activity, nutrition, and other preventive health policies and programs at their workplaces. In June, BCBSNC surveyed more than 400 employers it covers and presented the results at its 2007 State of Preventive Health summit today in Raleigh.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) and Moses Cone Health System announced today that they have entered into a multi-year agreement. The agreement means that Moses Cone Health System will continue to serve as an in-network hospital for BCBSNC members. The new contract allows BCBSNC to continue to offer competitive rates to members while creating incentives for the delivery of quality care.