In the News

Valley Baptist Health Plans Recognized for Diabetes Care by State Council

HARLINGEN, April 5, 2006  – Valley Baptist Health Plans, the Valley’s only locally-owned health insurance plan, has become one of only six health plans in the state of Texas to receive an award for above-average care of diabetes, which is a major health problem in the Rio Grande Valley.

The Texas Diabetes Council recognized Valley Baptist Health Plans based on performance indicators in the 2004 Guide to Texas HMO Quality.  The 190-page guide is published annually by the Texas Office of Public Insurance to assist employers and consumers in selecting HMO coverage, and is available online by clicking here.

Valley Baptist Health Plans (VBHP) exceeded the Texas average in all six comprehensive diabetes care measures, according to a certificate presented by the Texas Diabetes Council to VBHP.

As an example of the standards that were measured, Valley Baptist Health Plans ranked fourth in the state for comprehensive diabetes care for low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (LDL-C) screenings. Nearly 93 percent of the adult diabetes patients who are members of Valley Baptist Health Plans had an LDL-C test performed within the previous two years.

“The high ranking is reflective of the emphasis that Valley Baptist Health Plans places on disease management efforts and education for our members who have diabetes,” said Dr. Luis Calo, Chief Medical Officer for Valley Baptist Health Plans and Schaller Anderson of Texas, the health care management company that administers VBHP.  “You empower the patients by educating them -- and reminding them that they need their check-ups, laboratory tests, etc. We emphasize disease management so that patients can keep their diabetes under control.”

In fact, Valley Baptist Health Plans offers a diabetes management program that provides free diabetes testing supplies and free educational programs to members. The goal of the “Valley Healthy Partners” program is to help participants live a long and healthy life with diabetes. Patients who are motivated to properly control their diabetes can, in many cases, prevent the loss of their feet, legs, eyesight, kidneys, and in some cases their very life.

The program is critical in the Valley because Hispanics are twice as likely to develop diabetes as the general population. Cameron and Hidalgo counties rank 2nd and 3rd in diabetes-related deaths among all the counties in Texas.

In addition, adults over age 60 are more at risk for developing diabetes. High blood glucose over a period of years can damage nerves and blood vessels, which can eventually lead to heart disease, stroke, blindness, kidney problems, and amputation.

The Texas Diabetes Council is appointed by the governor and works with private and public health care organizations to promote diabetes prevention and awareness. The Texas Department of State Health Services provides administrative support for the diabetes council. This is the first year for the council's HMO Recognition Program awards.

Valley Baptist Health Plans is the only health plan that is headquartered in the Valley, with offices at 2005 Ed Carey Drive, across the street from Valley Baptist Medical Center-Harlingen. For more information on the health plan’s diabetes management program, or on health coverage for individuals and employers -- as well as Advantage plans which are available for Medicare / Medicaid beneficiaries in the Valley -- please click here or call (956) 389-2273 or 1-877-424-4400.