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About Healthy Lifestyle ChoicesSM
Healthy Lifestyle Choices is a comprehensive set of health improvement services being offered to prevent and reduce obesity. These services were developed based on extensive feedback from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina (BCBSNC) members, national experts and doctors across the state.
- Key components of Healthy Lifestyle Choices are:
- Coverage of four physician office visits per year and related testing for the evaluation and treatment of obesity. (Effective April 1, 2005 at group renewals)
- Coverage of two FDA approved prescription weight loss drugs – Meridia and Xenical – when medically necessary. (Effective October 1, 2005 at group renewals)
- Credentialing and contracting with licensed registered dieticians starting in the second quarter of 2005 to include their services in the treatment of obesity effective October 1, 2005 at group renewals.
- Centers of Excellence designation for providers of superior results in bariatric surgery.
- The Healthy Lifestyle Choices self–management program provides self–help tools such as a lifestyle diary and an interactive online weight loss program.
- Healthy Lifestyle Choices is available for employer groups and individuals enrolled in Blue Care®, Blue OptionsSM1 or Blue Advantage® and renewing on or after April 1, 2005. Members enrolled in the State Health Plan and the Federal Employee Program or BCBSNC’s Medicare Supplemental plans are not eligible for the Healthy Lifestyle Choices program.
- Healthy Lifestyle Choices is intended to support physicians in the evaluation of weight and treatment of obesity, reduce the incidence of obesity, diabetes and cardiac disease among BCBSNC members, provide safe and effective treatment, and enhance the management of members with lifestyle related illness.
- For more information about the Health Lifestyle Choices program, members should email their questions to quality@bcbsnc.com.
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