SAN DIEGO, March 22, 2006 (PRIMEZONE) -- American Specialty Health (ASH), the nation's leading complementary health care organization, announced a new agreement with a seven-state alliance of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association licensees in Iowa, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming.
These seven Blue Plans have formed the Blue Cross Blue Shield Northern Plains Alliance to offer MedicareBlue Rxsm regional Medicare Prescription Drug Plans and MedicareBluesm PPO regional Medicare Advantage plans to Medicare-eligible individuals.
Under the agreement, MedicareBlue Rx and MedicareBlue PPO members can receive discounts on visits to ASH-contracted chiropractors, acupuncturists, massage therapists, and dietitians through an affinity program made available by ASH subsidiaries American Specialty Health Networks, Inc. (ASH Networks) and Healthyroads, Inc. These discounts are provided to members as part of a program called MedicareBluesm Values. Enrollment in MedicareBlue Values is free and automatic for MedicareBlue Rx and MedicareBlue PPO members.
Through MedicareBlue Values, members can also receive discounts of up to 40 percent on more than 2,400 health and wellness products, including dietary supplements, nutrition bars, homeopathic remedies, tobacco cessation tools, and mental imagery modules for relaxation. These products are provided by Healthyroads and are available by telephone order or online at Healthyroads.com(R). For a monthly fee, members may choose to enroll in clubs for exercise, relaxation, tobacco cessation, vitamins, walking, and weight management provided by Healthyroads.
According to ASH chairman, president, and chief executive officer George DeVries, complementary treatment options such as those being made available at a discounted rate through the ASH affinity program are becoming increasingly popular. "A recent Centers for Disease Control and Prevention study found that 36 percent of consumers use some sort of 'complementary and alternative' therapy," said DeVries. "We are pleased to provide the MedicareBlue Rx and MedicareBlue PPO members in this seven-state region the opportunity to more easily and affordably explore broader treatment options through ASH's nationwide network of providers."
"By providing discounted access to our outstanding complementary health care network and over 2,400 health and wellness products, ASH is reaffirming our ongoing commitment to helping individuals lower their health care costs and achieve better health," DeVries said.
"This is one more example of the benefit of choosing a Blue-branded product and one more way we can demonstrate to our customers that there is a difference in insurance, and that difference is Blue," said Lyndon Peterson, executive director of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Northern Plains Alliance.
The ASH affinity program is not insurance. This ASH program provides discounted complementary health care services from participating chiropractic, acupuncture, massage therapy, and dietetics providers, as well as discounts on Healthyroads' health and wellness products.
The Blue Cross Blue Shield Northern Plains Alliance (yourmedicaresolutions.com) is composed of the following independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association: Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Iowa, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska, Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota, Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield of South Dakota, and Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming.
These seven states comprise Medicare Advantage Region 19 and Medicare Part D Region 25. These regions are the largest in size and the most rural of the regions CMS established in 2004, and serve nearly two million Medicare-eligible beneficiaries.
American Specialty Health, Incorporated and its subsidiaries comprise the nation's leading specialty benefits organization for complementary health care benefits, affinity discount, health education, and wellness programs. ASH Networks contracts with more than 28,000 complementary health care providers nationwide and administers complementary health care benefits for self-funded employers, insurance carriers, and health plans in over 30 states. Healthyroads is ASH's wellness, health education, and e-commerce subsidiary, offering award-winning tobacco cessation, weight management, and healthy living programs.
Based in San Diego, ASH has more than 500 employees and administers benefit programs for over 12 million members and affinity discount programs for over 80 million members. For more information, visit ASH online at ASHCompanies.com or call 800.848.3555.