Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) announces the promotion of Steve Dean to vice president, IS Technology Planning and Networking, and Lisa Cade to vice president, Federal Employee Program.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) is 700 pounds lighter after just 10 weeks of an employee fitness challenge. The state’s largest health insurer delivered big results with two workplace wellness programs in 2006 aimed at helping its employees become more aware of their health in an effort to change behaviors and stem the tide of rising health care costs.

North Carolinians saved at least $80 million last year in direct out-of-pocket prescription costs when Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBNSC) told them to skip the copayment on generic drugs. The 2006 generic copayment waiver was part of a coordinated effort - which also included free flu shots and electronic prescribing -- to help members improve their health and save money.

Officials of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) said today that the health insurer's strong network of hospitals in western North Carolina was more than adequate to care for members affected by the decision of Park Ridge Hospital in Fletcher to stop participating in BCBSNC's networks.

Maureen O'Connor, chief administrative officer, general counsel and corporate secretary of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC), was named as one of the 2006 "Legal Elite" by Business North Carolina magazine. O'Connor received the distinction in the corporate category and was noted for her work over the past seven years with BCBSNC. Voted on by peers, the list includes approximately three percent of the state's lawyers.

With the use of high-tech diagnostic imaging procedures, such as MRI and CT scans, growing at a rate of nearly 25 percent annually focusing on the right test at the right time for patients can save critical time and money. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) is launching a new program that will seek to improve health care quality through the use of non-urgent outpatient, high-tech diagnostic imaging services.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) is pleased to announce the promotion of King Prather to vice president, Legal Services. Prather, who has been with the company for almost four years, will now have responsibility for managing four of the company's key legal and regulatory areas including Law, Corporate Contract Management, Special Investigations Unit, and the Privacy & Security Regulatory Office. Prather previously served as deputy general counsel, Corporate Law.

The Diabetes Bus, a mobile classroom for diabetes patients who have difficulty getting health services for their conditions, will expand its reach statewide as the result of a grant by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation (BCBSNC Foundation).

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina announced today that it has streamlined its leadership team to help position the company strategically for future success and to increase efficiency.

About a third of the children covered by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) are overweight or in danger of becoming overweight, yet most of their parents see no problem with their kids' weight. Armed with these alarming statistics, BCBSNC today announced a pilot program to empower families to help their children maintain healthy weights, adopt good nutrition habits and get daily physical activity.