Remember: Open Enrollment concludes on Friday, Nov.
12. To make changes to a benefits plan, visit www.ohr.gatech.edu.
Insurance providers expand prevention programs for
chronic conditions
The health
plans offered by the Board of Regents provide University
System of Georgia employees with a variety of health
education offerings that address the multiple needs
of plan members who have chronic health problems such
as diabetes, asthma and congestive heart failure. Called
Disease State Management (DSM) programs, they are designed
to help the afflicted individual understand the chronic
condition and learn how to participate in improving
his or her health and quality of life.
In 2005, the Board of Regents will add a new Disease
State Management (DSM) program for participants in the
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) and indemnity
plans who suffer from cardiovascular disease (CVD).
This is an umbrella term for several heart-related conditions
such as coronary artery disease, hypertension, hyperlipidemia
and stroke.
CVD was the number one cause of hospitalization in
the United States in 1999. By 2001, it was the number
one cause of death in the U.S. Four of the top 10 prescription
drugs used by USG members in the PPO and indemnity plans
are taken for high cholesterol, high blood pressure
and/or heart disease — all major contributors
to CVD.
A complete list of DSM programs, with contact information,
is available below.
• PPO/Indemnity: asthma, cardiovascular
disease with stroke overlay, congestive heart failure,
diabetes and oncology. For additional information about
these programs, call 800-790-2507.
• BlueChoice HMO: asthma, cholesterol
management, congestive heart failure and high-risk maternity.
For additional information about these programs, call
800-638-4754.
• Kaiser Permanente HMO: asthma,
congestive heart failure, coronary artery disease and
depression. For additional information about these programs,
call 404-261-2590.
Free medical advice with MedCall
With MedCall, members of the University System’s
Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) and indemnity
plans can get free expert advice and even physician
referrals at any hour of the day or night.
MedCall also provides an audio library called the Healthwise
Knowledge Base. The library contains helpful information
on medical problems, symptom assessments, health topics,
medical procedures and drug treatments.
This service is intended to offer information and support,
not to diagnose illnesses. To access the library, call
800-785-0006 or go to www.usg.edu/admin/humres/benefits/health
and click on the Healthwise Knowledge Base link.
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