Virginia's largest insurer to continue to be state's primary health insurance carrier

RICHMOND, Va., June 25 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- The Commonwealth of Virginia has awarded Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia a two-year contract to administer health insurance benefits for more than 220,000 state and local health plan members. The agreement calls for an option of three additional years and will be effective July 1, 2009.

'We're pleased to again work with Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield to offer health care benefits to state employees and their families,' said Governor Timothy M. Kaine. 'By partnering with Anthem, we plan to continue the great strides we've made to help state employees make the move toward a healthier lifestyle by taking advantage of the programs and services that will be offered.'

Under the contract, state employees will have access to Anthem's physician and hospital network, along with health management programs that include:

• Disease management: a comprehensive program for asthma, diabetes, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, coronary artery disease, heart failure, hypertension, high cholesterol and obesity.
• Personal Health Record: an on-line health information repository, including claims and laboratory data, which enables state employees to better track and manage their health.
• Maternity management: a prenatal program that helps ensure healthy pregnancies.
• Weight management: a partnership with the Commonwealth to bring Weight Watchers(R) to the workplace with a special 50 percent reimbursement program for state employees.
• Smoking cessation and onsite health screening programs for state employees.
• Vision care: a separate optional vision benefit through its Blue View Vision product.

'As Virginia's largest health insurer, we are pleased to continue our nearly four-decade long partnership as the primary health insurance carrier for the Commonwealth of Virginia,' said C. Burke King, president, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield. 'We look forward to continuing our strong tradition of serving the needs of state employees and their families.'

About Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia

Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem Health Plans of Virginia, Inc. (serving Virginia excluding the city of Fairfax, the town of Vienna and the area east of State Route 123.). Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and its affiliated HMOs, HealthKeepers, Inc., Peninsula Health Care, Inc. and Priority Health Care, Inc. are independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. (R)ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virginia is available at www.anthem.com.

SOURCE Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Virgina