Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Announces New Complementary and Alternative Medicine Program For Service Benefit Plan Members.

Business Editors & Health/Medical Writers

SAN DIEGO--(BW HealthWire)--Jan. 15, 2001

Effective Jan. 1, 2001, Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan members will have access to a national network of chiropractors, acupuncturists, massage therapists, and health and wellness products at discounted prices.

Administered by American Specialty Health Networks (ASHN), the new program will provide discounts of up to 25 percent on ASHN's credentialled network of chiropractors, acupuncturists and massage therapists. Members will be able to make appointments directly with the complementary health care provider of their choice without a physician referral.

Additionally, Service Benefit Plan members will have access to a wide array of complementary health care resources on the Internet through Healthyroads.com, an ASHN affiliate. These are:

-- "My Providers" Members will be able to quickly and easily locate a
participating complementary health care provider anywhere in the country,
through the online provider directory

-- "My Library" Members will have access to one of the most comprehensive
Internet sources of educational information on complementary and alternative
medicine.

-- "My Store" Members will have over 3,000 health and wellness products
available to them at significantly discounted prices.

Steve Gammarino, senior vice president of the Federal Employee Program and Integrated Health Systems stated, "We recognize our members' desire for more choices and direct access to (1)CAM services. Thus, we are excited to offer to our members for the very first time access to a discounted CAM affinity program."

"The Service Benefit Plan is one the nation's largest employer-sponsored health plan and the addition of complementary health care for this group is significant," said George DeVries, president and CEO of American Specialty Health. "American Specialty Health is committed to providing a quality driven program for Service Benefit Plan members."

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan covers approximately 4 million federal employees, retirees, and their family members. The Service Benefit Plan is the largest health insurer in the Federal Employees Health Benefits Program (FEHBP) with 48 percent market share. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association has been offering health insurance to federal employees in all states and around the world since the inception of the FEHBP in 1960.

ASHN provides network access programs and managed care programs nationwide to health plans, insurance carriers, employer groups and trust funds. Its affiliate, American Specialty Health Plans (ASHP), is the nation's first and largest health plan for chiropractic and acupuncture services, operating in California. Based in San Diego, ASHP and ASHN have over 450 employees and cover over 40 million members nationwide through various managed benefit, network access and discount programs.

(1) The CAM affinity services are not offered or guaranteed under the Service Benefit Plan contract and are not included in the Service Benefit Plan premium. Any charges for these services do not count toward FEHB deductibles or out-of-pocket maximums. These benefits are not subject to the FEHB disputed claims review procedure. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and participating Local Plans will receive remuneration from ASHN to cover administrative costs in offering the program and for other purposes.