Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield Provides
Health Screenings to Charleston Customers

August 17, 2001 - PARKERSBURG, WV - Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield customers had an opportunity to receive free health screening services today at their front door. Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield unveiled HealthPLACE on the Move, the mobile health education and screening facility, at the Kanawha County Commission offices in downtown Charleston. Screenings will also be provided to City of Charleston employees on Wednesday.

The program's mission is to increase awareness of health risks, disease prevention and the importance of living a healthy lifestyle to our customers and the citizens of West Virginia by continuous growth and expansion, customer-oriented execution of services, and a commitment to excellence, confidentiality, and innovation.

HealthPLACE on the Move provides basic health screenings, including health education and promotion materials. The basic screening included blood pressure testing, body composition assessment, and total cholesterol/glucose tests (performed by venipuncture). All results will confidentially be sent to the participants directly via US Mail within 7-10 days of the test. If authorized by the participant, results are also sent to the participant's family doctor.

"Mountain State is pleased to provide this value added service that will strengthen existing relationships with our groups and promote health and wellness to the people of West Virginia," said Gregory K. Smith, President and CEO of Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield. "The screenings will raise awareness of how life-style behaviors can affect health. Also, the risk factors determined from these screenings can often be managed by modifying life-style habits, working with one's primary care physician or a combination of both."

The health bus was specifically manufactured and designed to facilitate health screenings. Modeled after one maintained and operated by Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield in Pennsylvania, it is designed in such a manner that participants proceed from one type screening to the next.

There are three full-time Mountain State employees who operate the program and maintain the bus. These are the Manager, Health Evaluation and Promotion, a medical assistant and the health bus driver/assistant. In addition to having overall responsibility for the health bus, the Manager, Kelly Nottingham, performs the blood pressure screening as well as the body composition assessment. The medical assistant, Sandy Freeland, draws the blood and the
bus driver/assistant, Bob Beckett, checks to make sure each participant's paperwork is properly completed and ensure that the bus is set for operation and everyone is comfortable.

Representatives from Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield groups may contact their marketing representative and individuals representing community and civic events may contact Kelly Nottingham at (304) 424-9811 to discuss the possibility of scheduling the bus for health screenings.

Mountain State Blue Cross Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Mountain State is the largest private health care benefits provider in West Virginia with over 700 employees in Parkersburg, Charleston, Wheeling, Martinsburg, and Weirton. Mountain State provides or administers coverage to more than 250,000 West Virginians.