INDIANAPOLIS, Oct. 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- After announcing the strategic partnership with WebMD Health just three months ago, WellPoint, Inc. is placing improved secure, consumer-friendly, personalized health information and tools into the hands of all WellPoint members.
WebMD is one of the most reliable health resources on the Web, giving members the ability to make informed decisions about self-care, medications, conditions, tests and treatments while facilitating the improvement of communication between members and their health care providers.
WellPoint members now have access to a rich suite of online health information products, powered by WebMD, including: the Healthwise Knowledgebase in English and Spanish; a personalized Health Assessment; a confidential, portable Personal Health Record; an online fitness management program; secure member messaging and health alerts; and Personal Health News accessible through their personalized WebMD homepage.
As health plan members assume more control and responsibility over their health, they are actively turning to the Internet to search for medically sound information and innovative ways to proactively manage their health. WellPoint’s tool set offered through WebMD encourages members to adopt healthy behaviors and lifestyles that lead to better health outcomes and lower health care costs associated with manageable and preventable chronic illnesses.
“Our members need useful, relevant information that is specific to their individual needs, as their health and life circumstances change so they can make informed decisions concerning their health and well-being,” said Mark Boxer, president and CEO, Consumer-driven Health Plans, Enterprise Services and Medicare Government Business. “Providing online health and wellness resources from a trusted medical source such as WebMD, is just one more way that WellPoint is using on-line technology to help members become more involved and engaged health care consumers.”
“These online tools provide our members with easy-to-understand, easy-to- access health information that is based on sound clinical evidence and practice guidelines,” said Sam Nussbaum, M.D., executive vice president and chief medical officer for WellPoint. “They are designed for all of our members, from those who are well and want to maintain their health, to members with chronic conditions such as asthma, diabetes or heart disease. By integrating these online health tools with our comprehensive medical management strategies, we are working collaboratively with our members and their physicians to improve both the quality and affordability of health care.”
WellPoint members can manage their health at their convenience by accessing our public websites or logging onto our secure member websites at http://www.anthem.com , http://www.bluecrossca.com , http://www.bcbsga.com , http://www.bcbsmo.com , http://www.bcbswi.com or http://www.unicare.com .
About WellPoint, Inc.
WellPoint, Inc. is the largest publicly traded commercial health benefits company in terms of membership in the United States. WellPoint, Inc. 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, Ohio, Virginia (excluding the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.), Wisconsin; and through HealthLink and UniCare. Additional information about WellPoint is available at http://www.WellPoint.com .
About WebMD Corporation
WebMD Corporation provides services that help physicians, consumers, providers and health plans navigate the healthcare system. Our products and services streamline administrative and clinical processes, promote efficiency and reduce costs by facilitating information exchange, communication and electronic transactions between healthcare participants. WebMD Health is a leading provider of online information, educational services and communities for physicians and consumers. WebMD Practice Services is a leading provider of administrative, financial and clinical software and related services to the nation’s medical practices. WebMD Business Services is a leader in payer and healthcare provider transaction processing and reimbursement cycle management services.
SAFE HARBOR STATEMENT UNDER THE PRIVATE SECURITIES LITIGATION REFORM ACT OF 1995
This press release contains certain forward-looking information about WellPoint, Inc. that is intended to be covered by the safe harbor for “forward-looking statements” provided by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. Words such as “expect(s)”, “feel(s)”, “believe(s)”, “will”, “may”, “anticipate(s)” and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These statements include, but are not limited to, financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions; statements regarding plans, objectives and expectations with respect to future operations, products and services; and statements regarding future performance. Such statements are subject to certain risks and uncertainties, many of which are difficult to predict and generally beyond the control of WellPoint, Inc., that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied or projected by, the forward-looking information and statements. These risks and uncertainties include: those discussed and identified in public filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) made by WellPoint, Inc. (formerly named Anthem, Inc.) (“WellPoint”) and WellPoint Health Networks Inc. (“WellPoint Health”); trends in health care costs and utilization rates; our ability to secure sufficient premium rate increases; competitor pricing below market trends of increasing costs; increased government regulation of health benefits and managed care; significant acquisitions or divestitures by major competitors; introduction and utilization of new prescription drugs and technology; a downgrade in our financial strength ratings; litigation targeted at health benefits companies; our ability to contract with providers consistent with past practice; our ability to achieve expected synergies and operating efficiencies in the WellPoint Health merger within the expected time-frames or at all and to successfully integrate our operations; such integration may be more difficult, time-consuming or costly than expected; revenues following the transaction may be lower than expected; operating costs, customer loss and business disruption, including, without limitation, difficulties in maintaining relationships with employees, customers, clients or suppliers, may be greater than expected following the transaction; future bio-terrorist activity or other potential public health epidemics; and general economic downturns. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements that speak only as of the date hereof. WellPoint does not undertake any obligation to republish revised forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof or to reflect the occurrence of unanticipated events. Readers are also urged to carefully review and consider the various disclosures in WellPoint’s various SEC reports, including but not limited to its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2004, and its Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the reporting periods of 2005.
WellPoint, Inc.
CONTACT: Investor Relations: Tami Durle, +1-317-488-6390, or Media: ToddSiesky, +1-317-488-6548, both of WellPoint, Inc.
