INScompanies Blog

August 31, 2006

Preventive Approach Tackles Health Disparities

Oakland, CA — With the start of Latino Heritage Month, Kaiser Permanente has launched a Latino health DVD and reference guide, Escoge la salud - Choose Health, part of Kaiser Permanente’s ongoing effort to improve the quality of care provided to an increasingly diverse community. Featuring Lupe Ontiveros, the well-known actress from Desperate Housewives and Real Women Have Curves, the DVD and its accompanying guidebook are available in Spanish or English. Escoge la salud - Choose Health encourages greater awareness of health risk factors faced by Latinos and encourages consumers to take charge of their health.

The DVD and reference guide are focused on 5 key messages:
1. Know your history
2. Know your numbers, e.g., blood pressure, blood sugar, cholesterol, Body Mass Index (BMI)
3. Eat for life
4. Be active
5. Talk with your doctor

“The health challenges facing Latinos are skyrocketing rates of obesity and diabetes - nearly twice the rate of whites,” said Frank Meza, MD, Kaiser Permanente, family medicine practitioner. “With this educational effort we can encourage Latinos to make simple, healthy choices that will empower them to take better care of themselves and their families.”

“There needs to be a fundamental retooling of the health care industry to address the needs of an increasingly diverse population, and we want to lead the way in eliminating health disparities,” stated Bernard Tyson, senior vice president, Kaiser Foundation Health Plan and Hospital Operations. “Escoge la salud - Choose Health is one of many initiatives that Kaiser Permanente is spearheading to promote greater and equal health for people of all colors and backgrounds.”

Kaiser Permanente will partner closely with community based organizations for distribution of the Escoge la salud - Choose Health DVD and reference guide. In addition, the Kaiser Permanente Latino Association, an employee staff organization, will distribute the DVD and reference guide through “house parties” targeted at families and friends.

Kaiser Permanente members will be able to preview a short trailer of the DVD, download portions of the reference guide, and order copies of the tools at www.kp.org/escogelasalud.

Kaiser Permanente is America’s leading integrated health plan. Founded in 1945, it is a not-for-profit, group practice prepayment program with headquarters in Oakland, Calif. Kaiser Permanente serves the health care needs of about 8.5 million members in 9 states and the District of Columbia. Today it encompasses the not-for-profit Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and their subsidiaries, and the for-profit Permanente Medical Groups. Nationwide, Kaiser Permanente includes approximately 154,000 technical, administrative and clerical employees and over 12,000 physicians representing all specialties.

For more information, contact:
Kaiser Permanente National Communications
Beverly Hayon 510-271-6437

KaiserPermanente.org

August 15, 2006

Latest CDHC Product Emphasizing Prevention & Consumer Engagement

Oakland, CA — Kaiser Permanente today announced the launch of Custom Care HealthInvestor (HSA), (Health Savings Account) in its California regions. The new offering will be effective January 1, 2007. The California regions now join Georgia, Colorado, Mid-Atlantic States, and the Northwest regions in offering HealthInvestor (HSA) products which pair a High Deductible Health Plan (HDHP) with a health savings account option.

HealthInvestor (HSA), the latest offering in the Custom Care consumer directed health care suite of products, complements the recently announced (May 2006) Custom Care HealthBuilder (HRA) and the current deductible HMO. It is available to individuals, employers, and their employees. HealthInvestor (HSA) is a comprehensive package of services and tools that include:

• HSA-qualified high deductible health plans with lower premiums
• CarePay health savings account with a range of investment options
• Preventive and wellness services
• Online support tools

Contributions to the CarePay HSA may be made by the employer, the member, or both - similar to a 401K or IRA. Funds can roll over year after year with no income limitations, are not taxed when they are used for qualified medical expenses, and the account is portable. A debit card is provided which allows convenient access to funds to pay for health care services.
“HealthInvestor (HSA) offers convenience to the individual health care consumer, and also addresses the needs of employers who are looking for solutions that reduce their costs and help their employees stay healthy” stated Ted Wise, senior vice president, health plan strategy and product innovation. “The ability of the individual to save for specific health care expenditures, to benefit from important tax advantages, and to have a portable account makes it easier for Kaiser Permanente members to save and pay for their health care expenses. It’s a win for everyone.”

The introduction of HealthInvestor (HSA) in California is part of Kaiser Permanente’s evolving business strategy to better serve the changing needs of its customers and members by developing new products that are responsive to the marketplace. Kaiser Permanente now offers an array of consumer directed health care products with a range of benefit design and financial account options that have the advantage of providing access to Kaiser Permanente’s unique integrated delivery system. It is part of an overall strategy that includes a major investment in technology that advances its clinical, management and business systems; engages members in their own health care with sophisticated online health information, decision support tools, and discount programs.

Preventive health and wellness services, for which the organization has long been known, are a key advantage of Kaiser Permanente’s Custom Care product suite– which includes HealthInvestor (HSA). A wide range of Healthy Living classes and programs are offered at local medical centers that include Stress Reduction, How to Live with Chronic Conditions, Smoking Cessation, Yoga, even Tai Chi. Discounts are available for massage therapy, acupuncture, and select fitness clubs.

Online consumer support tools offer a broad array of assistance and services, and help to engage Kaiser Permanente members in making wise health care decisions. Among the online tools available are:

• Decision support tools that help consumers better understand the cost of their health care decisions such as a sample fee list that provides pricing transparency.
• Financial management of individual health accounts.
• Health assessment tools offered through Kaiserpermanente.org that include interactive health calculators designed to help members eat better and lose weight, reduce stress, stop smoking, access to health and drug encyclopedias, and online health topics with related links.

About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is America’s leading integrated health plan. Founded in 1945, it is a not-for-profit, group practice program headquartered in Oakland, Calif. Kaiser Permanente serves more than 8.5 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Today it encompasses the not-for-profit Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and their subsidiaries, and the for-profit Permanente Medical Groups. Nationwide, Kaiser Permanente includes approximately 154,000 technical, administrative and clerical employees and caregivers, and more than 12,000 physicians representing all specialties.

For more information contact:
Kaiser Permanente National Communications
Beverly Hayon 510-271-6437

KaiserPermanente.org

May 22, 2006

Custom Care Provides Cost-Effective Access to Kaiser Permanente’s Integrated Health Care Delivery System

Oakland, CA — Kaiser Permanente today announced the launch of the Kaiser Permanente Custom Care product suite in its California region. This new suite of Consumer Directed Health Care products offers a range of benefit design and financial accounts options, along with online health information, decision support tools, incentive and discount programs, and access to Kaiser Permanente’s integrated delivery system. Kaiser Permanente Custom Care provides customers with additional options to actively manage their health care expenses and provides consumers with the tools to become more active participants in managing their health care services and costs.

In a recent Business Roundtable survey of corporate CEOs, 43 percent reported rising health care costs as their greatest concern. “Employers are looking for solutions that reduce costs and help their employees stay healthy,” said Ted Wise, senior vice president, health plan strategy and product innovation.“ Custom Care meets this need by providing lower-cost access to our integrated health care delivery system with a variety of funding options and tools to support increased consumer participation, ultimately reducing the long term costs of health care.”

In California the first offering in the Custom Care suite of products is Custom Care HealthBuilder (HRA), which pairs a Kaiser Permanente Deductible HMO with a CarePay HRA. The CarePay HRA allows employers to provide their employees with tax-free funds to pay for their health care expenses including co-pays, co-insurance and deductibles. Employers do not pay federal, state, or FICA taxes on their HRA contributions. Funds are tax deductible, and are tax-free to the employee. The CarePay HRA is 100% employer funded, and all or part of the unused funds may roll-over year to year.

Other elements of Custom Care products will be rolled-out in California in the coming months. Nationally, several other Kaiser Permanente regions have launched qualified High Deductible Health Plans (HDHP) with CarePay HSA (Health Savings Account). The Custom Care products give employers flexibility to choose the plan design that best supports the needs of their employees.

A key advantage of Kaiser Permanente’s Custom Care product suite is the preventive health and wellness features for which the organization has long been known. “We are offering far more than just a product,” said Jerry Fleming, senior vice president, national health plan manager. “We have 60 years of experience in keeping people healthy. These health and wellness tools will help consumers make better health care decisions and continue our tradition of actively involving our members in managing their health.”

The consumer support tools include:
• Online decision support tools that help consumers better understand the cost of their health care decisions.
• Online financial management of individual health accounts.
• Online health assessment tools.
• Personalized health programs designed to help members eat better and lose weight, reduce stress, and stop smoking, offered through Kaiserpermanente.org.
• Online health and drug encyclopedia, and online health topics with related links.
• Healthy Living classes and programs offered at local medical centers.
• Discounts for massage therapy, chiropractic, acupuncture, and select fitness clubs.
• Incentive programs that provide members with financial rewards for participating in fitness programs and completing an online health assessment.

The introduction of the Custom Care suite is the latest in Kaiser Permanente’s evolution to better serve the changing needs of its customers and members. Taking advantage of its integrated delivery system as a foundation, Kaiser Permanente continues to develop new product solutions to meet the needs of customers; these include deductible plans, significant investments in technology to advance evidence-based medicine, and synchronize clinical, business management and business systems.

About Kaiser Permanente
Kaiser Permanente is America’s leading integrated health plan. Founded in 1945, it is a not-for-profit, group practice program headquartered in Oakland, Calif. Kaiser Permanente serves more than 8.5 million members in nine states and the District of Columbia. Today it encompasses the not-for-profit Kaiser Foundation Health Plan, Inc., Kaiser Foundation Hospitals and their subsidiaries, and the for-profit Permanente Medical Groups. Nationwide, Kaiser Permanente includes approximately 145,000 technical, administrative and clerical employees and caregivers, and more than 12,000 physicians representing all specialties.

For more information contact:
Kaiser Permanente National Communications
Beverly Hayon 510-271-6437

KaiserPermanente.org