To help protect members against identity theft, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) announced that it is dropping Social Security numbers as the basis for member ID numbers.

After issuing an ultimatum for a 36 percent fee increase, N.C. Baptist Hospital in Winston–Salem has cancelled its contracts to serve as an in–network health care provider for members of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC).

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina’s (BCBSNC) net income for 2004 was down 21 percent from 2003, to $155.9 million from $196.3 million. This decrease in net income is due to increased medical costs, lower premium increases and investments in technology, programs and services for members. The state’s largest health insurer added 184,544 members served in 2004 and now serves over 3.1 million.

From October through December of 2004, BCBSNC waived copayments for all generic drugs for members who have their prescription coverage through the company. Under that initiative, the company’s generic dispensing rate increased from 47 percent to 53 percent. The number of generic prescriptions increased 390,000, compared to the previous three–month period.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) today announced two senior–level promotions to enhance company–wide efficiency and excellence.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) announced today that it is launching a new group Health Savings Account (HSA) product with Mellon Financial Corporation’s Human Resources & Investor Solutions (HR&IS) business for North Carolina employers. The new offering, called HSA BlueSM, consists of a high-deductible health plan (HDHP) from BCBSNC and a health savings account (HSA) administered by Mellon.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) will hold free flu shot clinics for members who meet the Centers for Disease Control’s (CDC) "high risk" criteria.

Fit Together, one of the most comprehensive state obesity prevention campaigns in the nation, unveiled a new website on Tuesday as well as advertisements that begin running throughout North Carolina this week.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina's (BCBSNC) net income for the nine months ending September 30, 2004 declined 16 percent, compared with the same period in 2003. The state's leading health insurer reported net income of $145.5 million for the period ending September 30, 2004, compared with net income of $173.1 million for the same period last year.

With more than half its members overweight or obese, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) announced today that it will pay doctors to work with their patients to understand how weight impacts health. The state’s largest health insurer will cover physician office visits and diagnostic tests to treat obesity as a primary condition.