Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) today announces the adoption of a formalized policy to improve hospital patient safety and quality as well as reduce costly medical errors.

The latest ePrescribe results show the number of doctors using electronic prescriptions in the last quarter has now doubled to more than 2,000. In addition, more than 87 percent of North Carolina pharmacies now use electronic prescribing to meet customers’ prescriptions needs.

Choosing the right physician is a very important decision for most families and individuals, and many turn to the internet to get the most up-to-date information. Today, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) is launching a free, online tool which lets customers share their experiences with physicians in North Carolina.

Wake Emergency Physicians, PA and Raleigh Pathology Laboratory Associates have signed new, independent contracts with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC). These new agreements will simplify the billing process for BCBSNC customers who receive care at WakeMed Health & Hospitals.

The generic copay waiver program supplements BCBSNC's Medication Dedication program, launched in January 2008 which waives copays for generics for selected chronic conditions. Thus far, Medication Dedication has saved customers more than $13 million in out-of-pocket expenses.

According to a statewide poll commissioned by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC), employers are still slow to adopt jobsite wellness programs even though they help improve employees’ health, increase loyalty, and the most popular ones aren’t costly to implement.

Working Mother magazine today named Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) one of the 2008 Working Mother 100 Best Companies. From flextime and telecommuting to backup child care and parental leave, BCBSNC is expanding the concept of family-friendly benefits to ensure they cover adoptive parents and fathers as well as working mothers.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) has made it easier for customers to get prescription drug replacements and refills in advance of Tropical Storm Hanna and other Atlantic storms that could affect North Carolina.

Tomorrow Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) celebrates 75 years of service in North Carolina. In honor of the state's largest and oldest health insurer's anniversary, Gov. Easley issued a proclamation that Aug. 7, 2008 be 'Blue Cross and Blue Shield' day in North Carolina.

The University of North Carolina Health Care System has signed a multi-year contract with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) which ties some of the financial reimbursement to improvements in select quality health care measures. The new multi-year contract, effective August 1, continues to provide BCBSNC customers access to the full range of inpatient and outpatient services at UNC Hospitals in Chapel Hill and Raleigh’s Rex Healthcare – as well as UNC and Rex physicians.