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These are the signs of a healthier Vermont. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont has always taken pride in its commitment to the health of its members and other Vermonters. The Plan has long been a funding source for flu clinics, non-profit health centers and scores of other local organizations dedicated to health promotion in our state. In recent years, however, BCBSVT’s programs have become more comprehensive and hands-on. They range from statewide initiatives to local events helping Vermonters of all ages. Some help prevent illness; some fight serious health conditions and some keep Vermonters a little safer. Here’s a bit about a few of our programs: Better Beginnings We’re proud to say that since we started our Better Beginnings prenatal care program in 1998, the rate of complicated births among moms with BCBSVT coverage has been cut in half. And that’s to say nothing of the many women who have thanked us for making their first days with their babies as comfortable as possible. Our Better Beginnings nurses help mothers with high risk of complications get the care they need during their pregnancies. This maximizes their chances of bringing healthy babies to term. And whether a woman has a complicated birth or not, we cover home nursing and homemaker visits after the baby is born. Add to this the excellent educational materials we send—like the popular What to Expect books—and you know why Better Beginnings is so popular among our members. Walking to New Heights and New Health Members of our community advisory board in Brattleboro know the importance of physical activity to the health of their community members. The doctors, business owners and other health advocates on the board have planned projects aimed at increasing the rate of physical activity among their neighbors in Southeastern Vermont. They developed a special health supplement for the local paper that advocated exercising year-round. They put together a brochure that identified local resources for fitness activities. And this spring, they’ll lead a walk up local Mount Wantastiquet. Our other community board members are equally active at solving both regional and statewide health problems. Kicking the Habit Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont has started several programs designed to help members and other Vermonters stop smoking. We gave providers a number of tools to help them counsel patients at various stages of the quitting process. We also hold smoking cessation groups to help members actually break the habit. And together with other parties interested in smoking cessation, we funded a health coordinator in the St. Albans area for whom a primary function will be to help teens quit smoking. We intend to expand our programs in the future because we know that smoking is a leading cause of a variety of health problems. Bike Safety for Our Children For several years now, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont has scheduled bicycle rodeos in several areas across the state. At these events, children learn safety tips from local law enforcement agents. They demonstrate their riding and signaling skills by riding through a road test. Then they get BCBSVT bicycle licenses with their photos on them. Of course, to get a license, a child must first promise always to wear a helmet. Signs of a Healthier Vermont The Your Health Information and Support Program, which is available to most BCBSVT members,* assembles the best available information about health issues and treatments. The program includes a variety of tools that members can use to make the best decisions about their health, including: All of these tools help members to find answers to their health questions and to gather the information they need to talk about their conditions with their doctors and make treatment decisions that are best for them. These are just a few of the ways that BCBSVT works for the health of Vermonters. Keep your eye out for health policy forums, educational programs and other BCBSVT efforts in your area. * Some partially self-insured employer groups have chosen not to take advantage of the Your Health program. Ask your group benefits manager if your group has access to the program. |
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