Blue Cross and Blue Shield offers alternative medicine for federal employees

Effective Jan. 1, 2001 Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan members will have access to a national network of chiropractors, acupuncturists, massage therapists, and health and wellness products at discounted prices.

Administered by San Diego-based American Specialty Health Networks, the new program will provide discounts of up to 25 percent on American Specialty's network of chiropractors, acupuncturists and massage therapists. Members will be able to make appointments directly with the complementary health care provider of their choice without a physician referral.

Additionally, Service Benefit Plan members will have access to a wide array of complementary health care resources on the Internet through Healthyroads.com, an American Specialty affiliate. These are:

• "My Providers." Members will be able to quickly and easily locate a participating complementary health care provider anywhere in the country, through the online provider directory.
  
• "My Library." Members will have access to one of the most comprehensive Internet sources of educational information on complementary and alternative medicine.
  
• "My Store." Members will have over 3,000 health and wellness products available to them at significantly discounted prices.

The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan covers approximately 4 million federal employees, retirees, and their family members.

"We recognize our members' desire for more choices and direct access to chiropractors, acupuncturists and massage therapy services," said Steve Gammarino, senior vice president of the Federal Employee Program and Integrated Health Systems.