NC HealthSmart Health Tip
Eat a healthy diet that includes fruits, vegetables and whole grain products. Be sure to control portion sizes. |
March is Allergy Awareness Month
Allergy season is here but there's good news for allergy sufferers. Allergy season, complete with endless sneezing, and watery eyes, may indeed be upon us; but help and prevention are available.
Click here for links to more information. |
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Annual Enrollment Audio/Visual Presentation Available
Annual enrollment runs March 1st to March 28th for the state retirement system, public schools, community colleges, universities, and local governments, and from April 1st to April 25th for BEACON agencies.
A 25-minute audio/visual presentation about the 2008 annual enrollment period for the State Health Plan is now available. Click here for the presentation. Please use this presentation for your employee training sessions. Also, encourage your employees to view it should they have any questions. |
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Executive Administrator's Corner
 George C. Stokes, executive administrator of the North Carolina State Health Plan, welcomes members to the first edition of Executive Administrator's Corner. Executive Administrator's Corner encourages and supports an ongoing dialogue with members about the topics they find most important.
This first edition focuses on annual enrollment and members transitioning to one of the three PPO plans, as the Indemnity plan will no longer be available as of July 1, 2008. Click here for the Executive Administrator Corner. |
Office of State Personnel Passes New Worksite Wellness Policy
 The NC Office of State Personnel (OSP) has established a Worksite Wellness Policy for all state agencies and universities that became effective February 1, 2008. The OSP and the State Health Plan (SHP), in collaboration with the NC Division of Public Health, will assist agencies and universities in the development of a worksite wellness program that will address the primary components of a healthy lifestyle, including healthy eating, physical activity, tobacco cessation and stress management.
On March 3, 2008, university chancellors, state agency heads, and their respective human resources directors were sent an announcement and copy of the new policy. To download the complete policy, click here. | |
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State Health Plan Appoints Medical Director
 The North Carolina State Health Plan is pleased to announce the appointment of Bruce E. Norman, MD, as its medical director and executive team member, effective February 11, 2008.
For more information, click here. |
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Choose Over-the-Counter Medications
Some conditions can be treated with less expensive over-the-counter (OTC) medications. Many prescription drugs have a similar OTC version.
For example, Prilosec OTC®, generic name omeprazole, used to treat heartburn and other stomach problems, is the same medication as the prescription Prilosec® or omeprazole 20mg. Members can obtain Prilosec OTC for a $5 copay with a prescription from their provider. The OTC version is not subject to prior authorization requirements.
OTC allergy medications Claritin® and Alavert®, generic name loratadine, or Zyrtec®, generic name cetirizine, may be just as effective as the prescription alternatives Clarinex® and Xyzal®. Click here for more information about these products and to learn more about the new prior authorization requirement starting April 1, 2008 for prescription non-sedating antihistamines.
Members should talk to their provider about OTC medications that may be appropriate for them. |
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Register Now!
The State Health Plan has reserved an area of the Web site especially for HBRs. Click here to register. |
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