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News Release

May 4, 2006
Personal responsibility encouraged at HMSA membership meeting

Cliff Cisco
Senior Vice President
(808) 948-5481

The Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) today held its annual membership meeting at the Ala Moana Hotel. In addition to a review of 2005 accomplishments and financial results, Robert P. Hiam, HMSA president and CEO, encouraged attendees to engage in regular physical activity to promote good health. A discussion of personal responsibility and a review of the HMSA go Campaign took center stage.

In his remarks, Hiam highlighted the problems of obesity and inactivity in Hawaii. "Our state remains the nation’s leader in obesity rates, especially among youth," said Hiam. "The link between obesity and inactivity is indisputable. It’s even been said that today’s young people are the most inactive generation in America’s history."

Hiam added that serious health risks are associated with obesity, including asthma, diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure, and orthopedic complications. There are financial consequences as well, such as higher health care costs. "The cost of obesity-related conditions in Hawaii is estimated to be nearly $300 million per year," said Hiam.

Hiam called on HMSA members and the community to make a commitment to a healthier lifestyle, one that features regular physical activity. He encouraged them to take personal responsibility for their health, and work on making positive lifestyle changes.

HMSA go Campaign in 2005

To help people get up, get out and get active, HMSA launched its statewide go Campaign in April 2005 with an activity festival for more than 3,000 people at Les Murakami Stadium. The campaign is still going strong, and features TV, radio and print messages focusing on the importance of regular physical activity.

HMSA introduced several new programs last year to reach different segments of the community. These activity programs target kids, teens, adults and seniors.

  • Spaz’s go Challenge is a program created by HMSA that features local television personality Kutmaster Spaz. Spaz takes his entertaining and motivating teen challenge to shopping malls and high schools around the state to share positive messages about the benefits of an active, healthy lifestyle.

  • The HMSA Kaimana Awards & Scholarship Program was created to recognize high school students and their schools for their active involvement in athletics, good sportsmanship, community service, and academics.

  • HMSA’s Weight Watchers pilot program for adults was developed to help encourage eligible members who were ready to commit to increasing their activity level and improving their nutrition. The pilot program ran through 2005, and offered a 12-week membership to Weight Watchers at no cost to the member.

  • HMSA’s Keep going program was created to help seniors increase their activity level and improve strength, flexibility and stamina. Free community workshops teach seniors the health benefits of increased activity and the techniques to be active at any age.

Another element of the HMSA go Campaign is its interactive web site at www.HMSA.com/go. The site features information on physical activity, and includes a "calorie burn off" matrix that shows how much and what kind of physical activity a person needs (based on their body weight) to burn off calories for a variety of snack foods. The site also has a stretching guide, safety tips, a statewide community calendar of health classes and activities, and more.

Other Highlights

At today’s meeting, HMSA reported on a variety of accomplishments, including:

  • HMSA helped administer health plans for more than 16,000 employer groups in the state.
  • HMSA’s network of providers contained more than 4,100 participating physicians, dentists, hospitals, pharmacies, and other health care providers.
  • HMSA processed 17.6 million claims in 2005. On average, HMSA processed over 70,000 claims every business day of the year.
  • HMSA’s Care Connection disease management program provided support to over 100,000 members with serious health conditions such as asthma, diabetes, heart disease and kidney disease.
  • HMSA member satisfaction remained very high in 2005. According to its annual membership survey, 96 percent of members surveyed indicated they would choose their health plan again.

This year’s membership meeting was presided over by Chairman of the Board Roger J. Wall, executive vice president and CFO of Foodland Super Market, Ltd. Wall shared the podium with Hiam and HMSA Executive Vice President and Chief Financial Officer Steve Van Ribbink. About 400 HMSA members attended the meeting.

HMSA is a nonprofit, mutual benefit association founded in Hawaii in 1938. It is governed by a community board of directors that serves without compensation and includes representatives from health care, business, labor, government, education, clergy, and the community at large. It is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Nationally, HMSA and 38 other Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans provide worldwide coverage to more than 93 million members.

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