Retired Omaha attorney Fred Coffman doesn’t spend his days in court – he spends them on it. Over the last couple of years, the active 77-year-old has developed quite a taste for pickleball, a fast-growing court sport that combines tennis, table tennis and badminton. “I like pickleball because you bend, you stretch. You’re moving frontward,
Nebraskans are paying more for brand name and specialty drugs along with the rest of the nation, according to the latest Health of America study from the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Last year in Nebraska, usage of inexpensive generic drugs increased to 85 percent of total prescriptions filled, yet they made up just
An enhanced $5,000 reward is now being offered by Omaha Crimestoppers for tips leading to the arrests of opioid dealers, after a contribution from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska. The reward is the first of its kind in the country. Law enforcement officials from the State of Nebraska, Douglas County and City of
You’re more likely to suffer significant ailments and incur higher medical costs if you skip preventive dental and vision exams, according to the latest Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association Health of America report*. The report found that nationwide, Blue Cross members with serious dental conditions were 25 percent more likely to suffer heart disease,
To Dale, a 55-year-old Nebraskan, value-based care is help getting all his prescriptions filled on the same day so he doesn’t have to make multiple trips to the pharmacy—a 50 mile drive from his home. To Doris, a 60-year-old Nebraskan, value-based care is being able to see her own doctor when her COPD is
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE) has awarded seven Fearless Grants to nonprofits across the state, from Omaha to North Platte. The grant funds will assist the nonprofits with a number of initiatives, including behavioral health and substance use therapy, supplemental food for seniors, reduced emergency room visits, blood transportation, dental care, brain
Ann B. Davis, who played Alice the housekeeper on “The Brady Bunch” television show. Robert Culp of “I Spy” TV fame. Musician Leonard Cohen and author Kurt Vonnegut. What do they all have in common? They all died after a fall in their home. One in four older Americans fall every year. Of those, one-third suffer hip fractures
It all began with a nursing home in Fairbury, Nebraska. In 1975, Jack and Eldora Vetter took a leap of faith and bought the facility, with the goal of offering that community’s senior citizens a safe, loving and welcoming home. Grounded in the belief that the elderly deserve “dignity in life,” the Vetter Way was
The number of opioid medications filled by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Nebraska (BCBSNE) members declined 19 percent from 2014 to 2017. “There has been a lot more attention given by providers to their patients who may be misusing the drugs, filling too frequently, filling before they’ve run out, or maybe having symptoms
Knowing where to seek treatment makes a difference in terms of physical and financial health, as well as recovery, when you or a loved one is sick or injured. How do you know if a trip to the emergency room is required? Based on the symptoms presented, the following tips can help you determine if
