It's time to "Step Up!" Registration is open for Step Up Carolinas, a statewide fitness challenge sponsored by the State Health Plan and the North Carolina Business Group on Health in partnership with ShapeUp. This two-month challenge begins April 1, 2013, for registered participants. There is no cost for members. The Plan is paying the $20 registration fee for members to participate.

Plan members who join up for this eight-week, online, team-based wellness competition will receive a free pedometer and have access to online tools to form teams, set goals, track progress, and motivate others. Plan members can participate in one, two, or all three divisions within the Step Up Carolinas challenge that include pedometer steps, exercise minutes and weight loss. In addition, winners will receive valuable gift cards.

For more information about the challenge, click here.

The State Health Plan continues to monitor and update pharmacy programs to ensure appropriate medication utilization, address safety concerns and maintain an affordable benefit. To help with this ongoing effort, the diabetes medication step therapy program will be implemented May 1, 2013, for the Traditional Pharmacy Benefit. This does not apply to the Express Scripts Medicare Part D Prescription Drug Plan.

Click here for additional information on Diabetes Medication Step Therapy for the Traditional Pharmacy Plan.

The State Health Plan is offering more retail pharmacy options to help retirees save on copays for their diabetes and heart medications.

Through the Medication Adherence Program (MAP), retirees may visit a participating pharmacy to obtain a 90-day supply of their cholesterol, blood pressure or blood sugar medication for 2½ times the copay (instead of 3 times the copay).

For a list of the additional participating pharmacies, click here. To see a list of MAP medications, click here.

The State Health Plan will conduct Annual Enrollment May 20-31, 2013. You do not need to do anything during Annual Enrollment if you are satisfied with your current plan. If you take no action, you and any dependents will remain on your current plan. There are no changes to member or dependent premiums.

Click here for more information on Annual Enrollment 2013.

The State Health Plan has some good news for members facing knee replacement surgery. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina and Triangle Orthopaedic Associates have teamed up for a new payment program for knee replacements. Under this program:

• Plan members age 18-64 pay a fixed price for knee replacement surgeries received at North Carolina Specialty Hospital, which is physician-owned.
• Patients can make one payment to Triangle Orthopaedic Associates. This avoids multiple bills from the surgeon, hospital, physical therapist and others.
• Medical teams can work together more closely to reduce complications and prevent readmissions.

Click here for more information on the new program with Triangle Orthpaedic Associates.

The Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program (SHIIP), a division of the North Carolina Department of Insurance, provides free unbiased counseling to Medicare beneficiaries and caregivers about Medicare, Medicare supplements, Medicare Advantage, Medicare Prescription Drug coverage and Long-term care insurance.

Click here for more information on the Seniors' Health Insurance Information Program.

We are what we eat. For many of us, that may mean either too much or too little of a good thing. March is National Nutrition Month, the perfect time to take stock of how and what you eat, and consider any adjustments to keep you as healthy as possible.

Fortunately, State Health Plan members have a menu of healthy eating tips and other support to make choosing the right foods easy. Through NC HealthSmart, the Plan offers members* health coaching free of charge. Health coaches include registered dietitians, nutritionists and weight loss therapists. Health coaches can help you find ways to eat healthier. To get started, call 800-817-7044.

For more information on eating right and how NC HealthSmart can help, click here.

Healthy eating is an ongoing goal for State Health Plan member Noreen Wimbush, who is the newest winner of a new iPad^® in the Plan's latest monthly drawing.

Ms. Wimbush, who works for Murdoch Developmental Center in Butner, participated in the recent Your Roadmap to Good Health pilot project and is familiar with the benefits of the Plan's NC HealthSmart health and wellness initiative.

Click here for more information on winning an iPad^®.