Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 2 January 2004 — Page 18

PAGE C2

THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER

FRIDAY, JANUARY 2, 2004

4

Indiana fines Anthem $50,000 over claims handling

Special to Tha Recorder Indiana regulators said Anthem Inc. has agreed to pay $50,000 to settle findings that it \iolated fairpractices standards for paying medical claims, a fine that comes as the health insurer seeks regulatory clearance for a $14.3 billion merger with WellPoint Health Networks Inc. While the year-and-a-half-long Department of Insurance review found violations in two areas, it also determined Anthem compl ied with an Indiana law requiring prompt payment of claims, according to findings obtained by the Associated Press. That was a key

issue in doctors’ complaints that led to the investigation. Anthem agreed in a consent order to pay the fine and take steps to ensure proper calculation of interest on claims and improve communications with doctors, among other things. The investigation involved only Indianapolis-based Anthem’s operations in Indiana, where the Blue Cross Blue Shield licensee has more than 1.7 million of its nearly 12 million members. Anthem announced plans in October to buy Thousand Oaks, Calif.-based WellPoint in a cash-and-stock deal that would combine the nation’s two biggest Blue

Cross Blue Shield companies, both of which have fueled conversion of traditionally nonprofit Blue plans to for-profit status. Critics, including some members of Congress, have expressed concern that the deal would limit consumer choice and lead to higher premiums. Anthem and WellPoint say thedeal would benefit consumers, as the companies become more efficient. Regulatory reviews are pending in several states, and federal regulators are expected to examine the deal for possible antitrust implications. The findings in Indiana follow the state Department of

Insurance’s release in October of a report showing the number of Indiana complaints filed against Anthem last year had doubled compared with 2001. The findings came in a review begun in May 2002 in response to doctors who complained Anthem reimbursed them slowly or inadequately for many claims. The state hired a consultant to investigate. The department was very thorough and very fair, as we agreed with the findings,” Anthem spokeswoman Deborah New said. “We’ve accepted responsibility’for two mistakes identified in the report. We fixed those things whiletheexamvvasin progress,

and we recognize we can continueto do a better job.” One violation involved failure to update claims processing systems to comply with Anthem’s October 2001 decision to extend coverage to a certain eye procedure previously considered experimental. The other violation involved failure to pay the proper amount of interest while switching to a new processing system. The review found Anthem complied with a 2001 state law requiring insurersto pay provider claims within 30 days for those filed electronically and 45 days for paper claims. Insurers must meet those standards 95 percent

of the time to comply, and Anthem came in at 99 percent. Anthem also met standards for accurate payment of claims, response to telephone inquiries and handling of appeals. Over the past decade. Anthem has grown beyond Indiana to become the Blues licensee in eight other states: Kentucky, Ohio, Connecticut, New Hampshire, Colorado, Nevada, Maine and part of Virginia. Anthem’s merger with WellPoint would create an Iridia-napolis-based company under the WellPoint name that would cover nearly 26 million people and operate in 13 states.

State's flu cases have already exceeded last year's peak

Sptcial to The Recorder , y ' The number of flu cases reported this season in Indiana has already exceeded last year’s peak, suggesting that this year’s outbreak is substantially worse than in the past and not just hype, health officials said. Nearly 10 percent of all patients visiting some doctors' offices are seeking treatment for flu-related symptoms, said state Department of Health spokesman Andy Zirkle. That percentage is much higher than the peak of last year’s flu season and is nearly double the average peak during the past five years.

“It’s certainly more widespread than in prior years,” Zirkle said. “More people are being affected." The Department of Heath tracks flu visits at 28 hospitals and clinics around the state. Over the past five years, the peak of the flu season occurred when about five percent of visits to those hospitals were people seeking relief from the flu. Last year, the season peaked at 5.5 percent of office visits. Children and young people are being hit hard especially. Patients made more than 64 percent of visits for the flu between the ages of 5 and 24. Over the last five years, that number averaged around 49

percent, Zirkle said. “The highest it’s been in the last five years is 55 percent," Zirkle said. “So for it to be 64 percent this year is an indication this year that the younger population is being affected at a higher than normal rate.” The Welborn Clinic in Evansville has had a lot more patients, especially children, than usual in the past few weeks, Chief of Medicine Donald Lurye said. He said most people he sees have similar symptoms; respiratory infection, fever, sore throats, vomiting and muscle aches. Some of the visits by children may be attributed to parents who became worried af-

ter reports of deaths from the flu, Zirkle said. A 13-year-old girl from Mitchell, about 80 miles south of Indianapolis, died last wreck from organ failure that was consistent with damage caused by the flu. "People may be more cautious this year and not wanting to take chances,” Zirkle said. “The psychological factor is almost impossible to measure." Older people are also susceptible, officials said. At Evansville’s Deaconess Hospital, Medical Director Peter Stevenson said older people sometimes get the flu first and later develop pneumonia or bronchitis.

Reduction & Management

Heart Disease High Cholesterol High Blood Pressure Diabetes Mellitus

Ray Henderson y M.D. •s ( ardwvasi uLir Disease &TInternal Medii ine

3231 N. Meridian Srreer Suire 600

Family Dentistry ()uulitN < lire at prk es you and ymii lainily iaii allmd. That's ihr tradition Di. .Smith started over 20 wars ago. Now you and vour loved ones tan have it too. Plus, for every new patient we receive, we will donate *5.00 to the Julian Center! We help your smile last a lifetime! •Gentle cleaning & fillings • Tooth whitening •Crowns & bridges ‘Bonding & veneers •Single visit root canals •Emergencies always welcome •Nonsurgical gum & TMJ treatment ‘Oral Sedation ■ • Restorative care ‘Oral Surgery We help your smile last a lifetime •Intraoral camera shows your smile close-up •Emergencies always seen promptly • Most insurance accepted & filed •Medicaid accepted • Visa. MasterCard, Discover & American Express welcome Handicapped-accessible free parking Wjl Call 317-545-5771 4456 North Keystone Ave Indianapolis j One and one-half blocks north ol Fall Cheek HB Smith. D.M.D. First time patients will receive 2.’)% off teeth cleaning & X-rays. We accept most insurances.

317.923.2565

FAVOR Beauty Supply Botbei supples styling loots pngs extonvors, hancaie supplies oasssmies and muds moie 111

Owned t opwated by Brenda Gilom i Belinda Morbey

5158 Pike Plain Rd. Indpls, IN located in Pike Plaza near Galyans 317-295-1586 in house beautkian-Tina

T>eteUJU Stciudtve Sedan

%Ufi*u*uy etHdt If •Ml tffdC ^.raetfiCUd

- SatwideUf 70-6 3 H-293-9077 7131 rt OnMianapotii % <76205 Kfnli- <vtc ddWyj uticome

^-■A^ricaiN t^fyr

Fine Bind lemoval i you buy youi human hon in the shop Birthday special Bmoie Specialized on all kinds and

all styles of biaids 1

3809 Lafayette Rd., Suite E Indianapolis, IN. Next to Don's Guns (317) 299-8717 or (317) 280-0584

♦complete CHIROPRACTIC CARE

Dr. Kenneth Ackles, Sr., CHIROPRACTIC PHYSICIAN

X Ray Therapy Automobile Injury Medicaid Welcome All Insurance Accepted The Atkinson Building 3231 N. Meridian Suite 502 Indianapolis, IN 46208 Office Hours By Appointment Phone (317) 926-4623

5 Steps to bolster the immune system and create health and high-level wellness

“We live in a hostile environment that increasingly stresses and weakens our immune systems, our primary line of defense against disease,” explains Terry S. Friedmann, M.D., author of Freedom Through Health (Harvest Publishing, $17.95 at ww’W'.FreedomThrou^iHeahh.ajm). “We must be cognizant of th£ dangers confronting us and nourish and strengthen our immune systems to reverse chronic and debilitating diseases.” To eliminate immune system dysfunction and keep our bodies healthy, Dr. Friedmann, developed a successful five-step program, which, if followed, may create health and high-level wellness. Here are 5 “R’s" to bolster the immune system and create health and high-level wellness: (1) REMOVE We must first remove the offending toxin or avoid the situation causihg the problem. (2) REPLACE We must replace the nutri-' ents that are depleted.

(8) REPAIR These newly replaced building blocks must repair the damaged tissue or organs. (4) REJUVENATE We must rejuvenate the tissues by administering products which increase hormone and other nutrient levels, such as enzymes, which support the body. (5) REVITALIZE We must revitalize the body over the long term with a program that includes regular exercise, proper diet, and a conscious lifestyle that cares for our mental, physical, and spiritual well-being. According to Dr. Friedmann, by responsibly and consistently bolstering the immune system with the 5 R’s program, we can potentially reverse many diseases and even prevent illness in the first place. V' i s i t vv vv vv . Freedom ThroughHealth.com to discover more methods to reverse aging and live disease free with greater energy and vitality. There, you’ll find 10 free reports ranging from eliminating allergies, to improving memory, to enhancing the immune system.

Bunion surgery relieves pain, helps increase acHvil’y

(NAPSI) — There’s good news for anyone considering bunion surgery. A survey found more than 90 percent of patients who had the procedure say they experienced significant pain relief, increased their physical activity and would recommend it to others. The patients surveyed by the American College of Foot and Ankle Surgeons (ACFAS) had surgery performed by a podiatric foot and ankle surgeon to correct bunions within the past six to 24 months. “Sometimes, those who can benefit from the surgery avoid it and continue to endure pain because they have heard that surgery doesn’t work and is exces.sively painful,” said Kimberly Eickmeier, DPM, FACFAS, a podiatrie foot and ankle surgeon with Christie Clinic in Champaign, III. “The truth is that advanced surgical techniques have allowed us to effectively correct bunion deformities with excellent outcomes in terms of pain relief and improved quality of life.” Ninety-six percent of the survey respondents identified pain relief as a desired outcome of the surgery, and 86 percent also said they hoped to improve their walking and increase their physical activity following surgery. Ninety-two percent said they were able to increase their physical activity and 90 percent said they would recommend bunion surgery to others. A bunion is the result of undue stress on the big toe joint, w hich causes a protuberance of hone or tissue around that joint. Bunions can be very painful, inhibit normal walking and make

it difficult to fit into some shoes. Contrary to popular belief, bunions arc aggravated, not caused, by tight shoes. Bunions usually are due to inherited faulty foot mechanics which put abnormal pressure on the front of the foot; pain is the primary reason patients seek medical attention. A majority of bunion surgeries are performed on women because they wear tight-fitting, highheeled shoes that worsen the underlying problem and cause abnormal stress to the joint. One survey respondent, Joann Morini of Windemere, Fla., returned to an active schedule as a club tennis player after surgery to correct severe bunions on both feet. “The pain was, so had I couldn’t walk normally or wear decent-looking shoes," she said. “After surgery, I couldn’t believe the improvement. The pain was gone and I was able to play tennis again. looking back, I regret w aiting so long.” A complimentary brochure, “Bunion Deformities and Treatment" is available by ealling the, HHH-THF-FFFT, or on the Web at \v\v\v.aelas.org.,