Plans Reach Out To Those With Chronic Diseases In California To Help Ensure
Needs Are Met
INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 31 /PRNewswire/ -- WellPoint, Inc. (NYSE: WLP)
continues to reach out to victims of the southern California wildfires. As
the most immediate threat to residents is subsiding in many areas, longer
lasting health implications are beginning to take root, impacting all
residents, but especially those suffering from chronic diseases.
Certain WellPoint pharmacy guidelines have been modified to help
members who are directly impacted by the wildfires in southern California.
Affected members may receive a one-time 30-day supply override on
prescriptions. This will enable members to refill prescriptions now, even
if they are not due for a refill at this time. For members in the impacted
communities who participate in a mail-order prescription program, orders
are being re-routed to alternate addresses as needed at no charge to the
members.
Medical professionals from our disease management programs are
contacting members in areas affected by the fires in California who have
asthma and other respiratory problems to ensure they have the medications
and supplies they need. Community Resource Center (CRC) staff has begun
identifying Medi-Cal and Healthy Families, Access for Infants and Mothers
(AIM) and other WellPoint State Sponsored Business members. Similarly, care
management staff is identifying Medicare members in the areas affected by
the fires. Representatives are reaching out and offering assistance to
members who are at risk for additional health problems as a result of the
fires, evacuation, property damage and poor air quality by:
-- Identifying members with ongoing medical problems (asthma, diabetes,
congestive heart failure, etc.) and providing assistance with replacing
or refilling lost or damaged prescriptions, replacing health plan
cards, and providing information and referral to additional supports as
needed;
-- Working with physicians and other medical providers in areas affected
by fires to assist with member needs; and,
-- Partnering with the American Red Cross and other groups to help
communicate with members who are unreachable by phone due to property
damage or evacuation.
Community Resource Center representatives in Los Angeles and San Diego
are also reaching out to physicians' offices in the affected areas to offer
assistance and resources and to provide information to help physicians
continue their clinical practices at this critical time.
The American Lung Association recommends all residents, but especially
seniors and those with respiratory and other chronic conditions, take the
following precautions:
-- Use appropriate protective breathing masks when outdoors until air
quality improves. The American Lung Association recommends masks with a
rating of N95 to provide protection against smaller particles. CRC
representatives can provide information on where protective breathing
masks are available in local communities.
-- Obtain a flu shot as soon as possible. The stress of the disaster,
evacuation, proximity to strangers, lack of sleep and general life
disruption, especially right at the beginning of flu season, can
increase the susceptibility to flu.
-- Run the air conditioner on the "recirculation" setting and/or use your
indoor air filter system.
CRC representatives are available to provide information and referrals
on a daily basis for members who walk in or call. In Los Angeles the CRC
can be reached at (866) 465-2272 and in San Diego at (888) 302-1012.
Medicare members are encouraged to call the care management unit directly
at (866) 797-9884 for assistance. Members affected by this disaster may
also call the 24/7 NurseLine day or night, seven days a week at (866)
417-7107.
About WellPoint, Inc.
WellPoint's mission is to improve the lives of the people it serves and
the health of its communities. WellPoint, Inc. is the largest health
benefits company in terms of commercial membership in the United States.
Through its nationwide networks, the company delivers a number of leading
health benefit solutions through a broad portfolio of integrated health
care plans and related services, along with a wide range of specialty
products such as life and disability insurance benefits, pharmacy benefit
management, dental, vision, behavioral health benefit services, as well as
long term care insurance and flexible spending accounts. Headquartered in
Indianapolis, Indiana, WellPoint is an independent licensee of the Blue
Cross and Blue Shield Association and serves its members as the Blue Cross
licensee for California; the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for
Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri
(excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, New
York (as Blue Cross Blue Shield in 10 New York City metropolitan and
surrounding counties and as Blue Cross or Blue Cross Blue Shield in
selected upstate counties only), Ohio, Virginia (excluding the Northern
Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.), Wisconsin; and through UniCare.
Additional information about WellPoint is available at http://www.wellpoint.com.
SOURCE WellPoint, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.wellpoint.com
CONTACT:
Media, Cheryl Leamon, +1-317-488-6748, or
Investor Relations, Michael Kleinman, +1-317-488-6713, both of
WellPoint, Inc.
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