It's not just insurance – it's "your plan for better health." That's the message that Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) is sending to its members today as it rolls out a new company tagline. The change reflects an evolution from a company that primarily pays claims to one who partners closely with consumers in efforts to improve their health.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) will reward and recognize physicians who meet national quality of care standards under a pilot program to be launched in conjunction with the North Carolina State Health Plan.

For 2005, the net income of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) continued to fall in proportion to company revenues. BCBSNC today reported that its 2005 net income represented 4.4 percent of revenue, or less than 5 cents for every dollar of revenue. This is a 4 percent decrease in net income ratio over 2004 and approximately a 30 percent decrease over 2003.

The state’s largest health insurer today announced it is joining forces with the state’s hospitals to help them reach their goal of becoming the safest in the nation over the next four years. The initiative seeks to reduce medical errors that result in costly complications and, in some cases, even death.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) is once again waiving copayments on generic drugs, giving its members an opportunity for significant savings on prescription drug costs. The 2006 copayment waiver program begins Feb. 1 and will continue through July 31.

Laura Gorry, who began her career at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) as a customer service representative 18 years ago, has been named the company's vice president of Sales and Marketing Operations.

The BCBSNC employees spent the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday constructing the walls of a Habitat for Humanity home that will be shipped to the Mobile, Ala. area for Stacey Mosley and her disabled daughter, whose apartment was flooded and heavily damaged by the hurricane.

These scenarios are soon to become reality in North Carolina as Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) rolls out ePrescribe, a new program to promote and fund the adoption of electronic prescribing to a select group of physicians.

George Lassiter, who has more than 30 years experience in corporate data center and technology management, has been named vice president of IS Operational Services for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC).

Walter Kastenschmidt has joined Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) as vice president of Clinical Informatics. In this role, Kastenschmidt will lead the team that provides critical data analysis related to BCBSNC's ability to manage medical expense trends and help members make the best choices about their health.