News Release

August 29, 2008
HMSA’s online health questionnaire reveals health risks and offers advice

Laura Lott
(808) 952-7566

The Hawaii Medical Service Association (HMSA) today announced the launch of an easy-to-use, online health risk assessment program that can generate a person’s unique health profile and offer a wellness action plan to target their health risks.

The online health questionnaire is called Succeed™, and was developed by HealthMedia®, Inc., one of the nation’s leading health behavior change companies. HMSA members may access the questionnaire from the homepage of hmsa.com.” It takes about 30 minutes to complete the questionnaire.

From the privacy of their home, HMSA members may now find out how healthy their lifestyle is. They will be offered a personal action plan and access to online tools, resources, and interactive lifestyle-management programs to help them improve their health.

If members need help reducing health risks, they may access lifestyle-management programs, including weight management, nutrition, smoking cessation and stress management. With convenience and simplicity in mind, the online programs were designed to be used at home.

Health Screenings Available

“After completing the questionnaire, members who are eligible for HealthPass, HMSA’s health promotion and prevention program, can schedule an appointment to have their biometric screenings done as well,” said Caryn Ireland, vice president of Integrated Services, Inc., a subsidiary of HMSA. “HealthPass is a wonderful benefit, and each year more than 25,000 members take advantage of it. The HealthPass staff will measure blood pressure, height, weight, body mass index, blood cholesterol, blood sugar, and do a body fat analysis. A health professional will then meet with the member to go over screening results, answer questions and discuss possible lifestyle changes.”

Members may access the online health risk assessment year-round, and there is no cost for current HMSA members. Eligible members are those who are 18 years or older. Members eligible for HealthPass may receive their biometric screenings at no cost.

Some members may wish to fill out a paper version of the questionnaire. These members should contact their local HealthPass office for a hard copy of the risk assessment.

“Change is not always easy,” said Ireland. “With the right tools and motivation, you can succeed in making changes that will have a positive impact on your well-being and quality of life. Our online health risk assessment is an excellent tool for busy people to use when they begin the journey of improving their lifestyle habits. There’s no better time to start that journey than right now!”

For more information on the online health risk assessment, please call HMSA at (808) 948-6456 on Oahu. Neighbor Island members may call HMSA toll-free at 1 (800) 525-6548.

About HealthMedia® and HMSA

HealthMedia®, Inc. was founded in 1998, and is the market leader in behavior change. With its powerful combination of proven behavior science, sophisticated technology and creative marketing, HealthMedia® delivers individually tailored Internet and paper-based self-management programs for healthy lifestyle issues, diseases and conditions. The company has created programs with proven outcomes for conditions and issues such as diabetes, hypertension, arthritis, lower back pain, teen health, smoking cessation, nutrition, weight management, stress management, and health risk assessment. For more information, visit healthmedia.com.

HMSA is a nonprofit, mutual benefit association founded in Hawaii in 1938. It is governed by a community board of directors that includes representatives from health care, business, labor, government, education, clergy, and the community at large. HMSA is a member of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans. Nationally, HMSA and 38 other Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans provide worldwide coverage to more than 100 million members.

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