HSI extends insurance plan to Estes Park

ESTES PARK – Fort Collins-based HSI Health Plans Inc. is offering its Exclusive Provider Organization product, Community Health EPO, to Estes
Park-area employers through the Estes Park Area Chamber of Commerce.

HSI chose the Estes Park chamber for its unique community bond.

“Because of its [Estes Park’s] intimate nature, the chamber is an extremely strong product there,´ said Phillip Floyd, sales manager for HSI Health
Plans.

The chamber’s endorsement of the product will assist HSI in distributing the EPO to chamber members. About 80 percent of the Estes Park-area
employers belong to the chamber, Floyd said.

HSI has offered Community Health EPO to Fort Collins employers since 1993.

FHP promotes electronic filing

FHP Health Care has partnered with Colorado Springs-based Electronic Data Submission Systems Inc. to implement an electronic claims-processing
system among its physician partners statewide.

Currently, FHP Health Care receives about 15 percent of its claims electronically but hopes this partnership will help to increase that total to 90 percent
by July 1997.

Filing claims electronically will ultimately reduce administrative costs and shorten response time.

To use the EDSS system, FHP physicians will need a 386 computer system with a modem. The system is set up for group passwords and individual
identification codes to ensure doctor-patient confidentiality.

Wyoming Blues sign contract

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming has signed a contract with Access Health Inc. of Rancho Cordova, Calif., to begin enrolling its members in
Access’ Personal Health Advisor.

Personal Health Advisor provides members with 24-hour health information from a registered nurse.

Blue Cross Blue Shield will offer PHA to its group members enrolled in the Wyoming Choice program. Wyoming Choice is Blue Cross Blue
Shield’s new preferred provider organization. The initial rollout begins this month, with Wyoming Choice members in the Cheyenne area.

“Personal Health Advisor will provide our Wyoming Choice members with a unique opportunity for getting the information they need to make
informed health-care choices,´ said Rick Schum, director of marketing administration for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wyoming.

Health Van receives funds

The Poudre Valley Hospital District has allocated $600,000 to purchase, lease and equip mobile and fixed health facilities.

The mobile unit, known at the Health Van, will include examination and counseling rooms on-board. The van will provide child services such as
immunizations, as well as physical exams for people with low incomes. Funds for the fixed facility will be used for the Northside Health Center, to be
built at North College Avenue and Bristlecone Drive.

Ground was broken for the facility June 4, with construction scheduled for completion in November. The project costs a total of $1.8 million for land
acquisition, construction, municipal fees and equipment.

The new clinic is designed to serve people who currently go to Poudre Valley Hospital’s emergency department for basic care.

“While we certainly want to take care of minor illnesses, we also hope people will feel comfortable at the center so we can work with them on such
things as immunizations, smoking cessation and a better diet,´ said Dr. Robert Stuart, the project’s administrator. “These residents haven’t enjoyed
that kind of ongoing medical attention.”

About 10,000 people are expected to be treated at the clinic annually, including patients who lack insurance or a physician of their own.

“We are very proud of this project and its part in helping people in need,” Stuart said.

The Northside Health Center is being dedicated to long-time PVH supporter G. Wayne Ballah, and his late wife, Phyllis. Ballah helped create the
hospital district in the 1960s to govern PVH and was a member of its board for years.

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