Anthem Blue Cross 2006 Annual Report Download - page 24

WellPoint, Inc. 2006 Summary Annual Report
Our values and our commitment to transform health
care begin with our own members but extend to the
entire community. WellPoint works with public and
private organizations to educate and encourage all
individuals to lead healthier lifestyles, make health
care more affordable, improve access to the health
care system, and reduce health care disparities in
underserved communities.
Member Health Index
WellPoint is the first health benefits company to
develop a Member Health Index to track our progress
in improving the health of our 34 million members
nationwide. The Member Health Index tracks
20 broad measures in four areas:
Screening and prevention, with an emphasis on
cancer and cholesterol screening, and childhood
immunizations.
Care management, focused on conditions
such as asthma, diabetes, hypertension and
behavioral health.
Clinical outcomes, measured by emergency
room visits for asthma, diabetes and heart
failure, as well as selected hospital admissions
for chronic illnesses.
Patient safety, including medication monitoring.
Gains in these areas will mean that our members
will have improved health and receive state-of-
the-art care for their illnesses.
Curbing obesity
One of the greatest public health challenges
nation wide is obesity. Because of the close
relationship between obesity and health conditions
such as heart disease and diabetes, more
than 9 percent of medical spending in the
United States is related to obesity. And the
problem is getting worse.
For example, in West Virginia, 64 percent of
adults are obese or overweight — an increase
of 83 percent in just the past two decades. In an
effort to curb the obesity problem there, UniCare
Health Plan of West Virginia — a WellPoint subsid-
iary that is part of our State-Sponsored business
unit — has entered a groundbreaking collaboration
with Weight Watchers® of West Virginia, Inc. The
program is aimed at helping the more than 75,000
UniCare Medicaid beneficiaries in the state.
As a first-of-its-kind program, the collaboration
will allow UniCare’s members — with a physician’s
approval — the opportunity to participate in the
Weight Watchers® program free of charge. In
addition, the program is available to children
and adolescents from 10 to 17 years of age.
Corporate philanthropy
With nearly $183 million in net assets, the WellPoint
Foundation and its affiliated foundations have
established one of the country’s largest social
legacies dedicated to improving the health of
our communities.
In 2006, the WellPoint Foundation paid out
approximately $20 million in grants, including
approximately $9 million to community health clinics,
health screenings, children’s hospitals, health
coverage education, and programs to improve
public health access and reduce health disparities.
#6
Improving the state
of public health
® 2007 Weight Watchers International, Inc., owner of the
Weight Watchers trademark. All rights reserved.