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.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) today reported consolidated net income of $133.3 million for the nine months ending September 30, 2005, which was 8 percent less than the company earned during the same period last year and approximately 23 percent less than the company earned during the same period in 2003.

A consortium of North Carolina health care providers and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) today announced details of a collaborative project to improve the survival rate of patients rushed to the hospital with heart attacks. The consortium, which includes physicians, hospitals and emergency medical services professionals, is launching a new effort called Reperfusion of Acute MI in Carolina Emergency departments (RACE).

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) today announced greater availability of eInfoNOWSM, an online reporting tool that allows employer groups to track claims utilization data and to perform data analysis. Having this capability allows BCBSNC and the employer to tailor insurance plans to meet the specific health needs of each employer group. The eInfoNOW tool is available to all local and national self-insured employer groups.

At its third annual State of Preventive Health summit today, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) urged employers to play a heightened role in the company’s efforts to encourage healthier lifestyle practices. Unhealthy lifestyles continue to drive medical costs. Helen Darling, president of the National Business Group on Health (NBGH), was on hand to describe efforts to recognize businesses that have instituted successful lifestyle improvement programs.

BCBSNC is offering the flu shots at locations that include regional high-risk clinics and more than 700 retail locations across the state. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is recommending flu shots for all Hurricane Katrina evacuees, particularly those living in crowded shelters.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) and North Carolina Baptist Hospital announced today that they have reached a three-year agreement for the hospital to rejoin the BCBSNC network.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) announced today that once again it is offering free flu shots to its members starting October 1. Flu shots will be available at regional high–risk clinics, more than 700 retail locations throughout North Carolina, many large employer worksites, as well as most participating physicians’ offices.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) today announced its first health savings account (HSA) product for individuals. The new product, Blue Options HSASM, will be available beginning Nov. 7, 2005 for Jan. 1, 2006 effective dates.

Each of the 385 Hurricane Katrina evacuees being sheltered in the Raleigh area will receive new clothes and shoes tomorrow with donations from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC). BCBSNC’s gift of $69,300, given through the Wake County Department of Human Services, will ensure that each person is able to pay for $180 in clothing and shoes.