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"A Year of Firsts": Recognition
 Best Payer
Athenahealth, an independent provider practice solutions company, rated FirstCarolinaCare the Best Payer to health care providers in the South.
Prompt and accurate payment to doctors and hospitals that provide care to members helps keep health care administrative costs down. It also keeps members from being billed repeatedly for covered services.
Honor Roll for Coverage Award
The Healthcare Leadership Council presented FirstCarolinaCare with the Honor Roll for Coverage Award for coverage provided to the uninsured through FirstPlan.
When the uninsured receive health services from hospital emergency rooms and cannot pay for those services, the cost is eventually passed on in the form of higher medical costs and, thus, higher insurance premiums. FirstCarolinaCare believes that covering the uninsured helps keep health care costs and premiums down. This helps local businesses remain profitable and able to afford premiums.
First to Return Premiums
FirstCarolinaCare returned 1 percent of 2005 premiums on a pro rata basis to participating employer groups.
Acting on our pledge to restrain the growth of premiums for employers and employees shows a commitment that goes beyond mere words. FirstCarolinaCare works hard to help keep down the cost of providing benefits. This contributes to the ongoing sustainability of local business.
FirstCarolinaCare Implements a Member, Pharmacist and Physician Friendly Tablet-Splitting Program
FirstCarolinaCare's tablet-splitting program,“Split the Pill, Split the Bill,” makes it easy for physicians to prescribe a higherstrength tablet that can be split in half, thus saving members 50 percent of their usual co-payment for a 30-day supply. The program is currently limited to crestor, lipitor, simvastatin and pravastatin.
To learn more about this program, visit pharmacy services.
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FirstCarolinaCare Scores in the Top 20 Percent Nationally in Health Plan Customer Satisfaction
Scoring in the top 20 percent nationally is satisfying, but we also learned there are very real communication opportunities with our members. FirstCarolinaCare and employers can do a better job of replacing incorrect member perceptions with factual information. Improving communication will increase the value employees attach to employer-provided benefits.
FirstCarolinaCare provides on-site flu shots
Reducing the spread of flu helps maintain the health status of local communities and cuts down on flu-related absences from work. Ultimately, this program helps hold down the cost of health care and health insurance premiums.
FirstCarolinaCare provides on-site health screening
FirstCarolinaCare believes that health screening is a required first step for people to begin improving their health status and gaining a measure of control over health costs.
View a full copy of FirstCarolinaCare's 2006 Annual Report: “A Year of Firsts”  back to top
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As the weather warms up, the possibilities are endless for having fun in the sun. Keep these fitness tips in mind during the upcoming summer months:
 Drink plenty of water. It is never more important to drink eight glasses of water a day than during hot weather. When the temperature and humidity are high, you can quickly become dehydrated.
Eat Right. The next few months will provide a great time for enhancing your diet with seasonal fruits and vegetables. Visit a local Farmers Market and take advantage of the fruits and vegetables that are bountiful this time of year. Fire up the grill for healthier versions of your favorite foods such as hamburgers, fish or chicken. You can eliminate a lot of the grease that comes with frying.
Don’t hire a landscaper. Mowing the yard and planting flowers are great forms of exercise. Keep your pace brisk while mowing and you’re sure to generate a good sweat.
Use the great outdoors. Summertime sports like softball, Frisbee and volleyball make great workouts.They’re lots of fun, too. If you like to walk or run outdoors, take advantage of the cool morning air for an awakening workout.
Too hot outside? Bring it inside. Avoid outdoor exercising during the hottest part of the day. Take your workout inside to a fitness center where there is control of the thermostat to avoid overheating.
Enjoy a day at the beach. While spending time at the beach, take a long walk in the sand to get in a good workout.
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Brown Orthopedic Surgery & Sports Medicine Center
Stephanie L. Bonham, P.A.
Cabarrus Family Medicine
Ricardo Vargas, M.D.
Cardinal Clinic, LLC
Lisa S.Anderson, LCSW
Allen L. Brooks, LPC
Gail A.Vincent, Ph.D.
Carolina Behavioral Care, P.A
Mary H. Edge, LCSW
Charlie L. Swanson, M.D.
Chatham Pediatrics
James E. Schwankl, M.D.
Mary C.Tornehl, M.D.
Deborah M. Nodrick,D.C.
Ernest W.Valutis, Ph.D.
Family Eye Care of the Carolinas
Glenn C. Middleton,O.D.
Lymflo Therapies, Inc.
Carol L. Johnson,O.T.
Mid Carolina Primary Care, P.A.
Joseph A.Tozzi, M.D.
Moncure Community Health Center
Michael C.Watson, M.D.
Cynthia B.Weeks, M.D.
Montgomery County Primary Care Corporation
James K. Daniel, M.D.
Pediatric Developmental Therapy
Paula E. Fischer, P.T.
Amber K. McQuistion,O.T.
Pediatric Neurology of NC, P.A.
David J. Jaffe, M.D.
Pinehurst Medical Clinic, Inc.
Suzanne L.Wilson, M.D.
Raleigh Neurology Associates, P.A.
Thomas S. Binford, P.A.
Robeson Health Care Corporation
Saqub Aziz, M.D.
Wendell L. Richardson, M.D.
Sandhills Emergency Physicians, Inc.
Matthew J.Vreeland, M.D.
Southern Pines Physical Therapy, LLC
Alice B. Russell, MPT
Stanly Medical Services
James B. DeTorre, M.D.
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| And the Winner Is... Thanks to everyone who completed a readership survey and provided us with valuable information regarding content for Health Messenger. We appreciate hearing from you and welcome your continued feedback. Congratulations to Amanda Mashburn, the winner of a $50 Visa Gift Card! back to top |
Nurse Helpline
Please remember that the Nurse Helpline is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week for assistance with any questions or concerns you may have. The toll-free Nurse Helpline number is (800) 336-2121.
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Healthy Summer Recipe:
Tossed Vegetables Vinaigrette |
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Serves 8; 3/4 cup servings |
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DRESSING: |
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1/4 cup low-fat vanilla yogurt |
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2 tablespoons white wine vinegar |
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3 tablespoons acceptable vegetable oil |
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1 tablespoon Dijon mustard |
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1/2 teaspoon coarsley ground black pepper |
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1/4 teaspoon salt |
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SALAD: |
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2 cups sliced carrots |
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8 ounces fresh green beans, rinsed, trimmed and cut into 1 1/2 inch lengths |
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Ice water |
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4 ounces fresh mushrooms, cut into quarters |
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2 medium tomatoes, cut into wedges |
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1/3 cup thinly sliced green onion |
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Place dressing ingredients in blender until thoroughly mixed. Set aside. |
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Steam carrots and green beans three to four minutes, or until tender-crisp. Remove from heat and dip into bowl of ice water to stop cooking. Drain and pat dry with paper towels. Combine carrots, beans, mushrooms, tomato wedges and green onions in shallow glass dish. Pour dressing over all and toss gently. Cover and refrigerate for several hours. |
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Nutritional Information
Calories: 90, Protein: 2g, Carbohydrates: 10g, Total fat: 6g, Saturated fat: 1g, Polyunsaturated fat: 3g, Monounsatruated fat: 1g, Cholesterol: 0 mg, Sodium: 127 mg
Serve Cold.
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Visit the American Heart Association's Web site, www.americanheart.org, for more healthy recipes
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It's Vacation Time
As the busy vacation season approaches, many of you will be traveling outside the FirstCarolinaCare service area. While we hope none of you will need medical care while on vacation, we know that many of you have concerns about how to access care while away from home.View frequently asked questions about what to do when away from home. back to top |
Publishing Info
Health Messenger is published quarterly by the Corporate Communications Department of FirstHealth of the Carolinas.
For more information, call (910) 715-1478 or write to:
Health Messenger
Post Office Box 3000
Pinehurst NC 28374
We welcome your comments and suggestions. Please send them to Emily Sloan, Editor, at essloan@firsthealth.org or call (910) 715-1478.
FirstCarolinaCare Insurance Company, Inc. is a wholly-owned subsidiary of FirstHealth of the Carolinas.
0439-173-7 |
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