'Prevention: Rx for a Healthier Minnesota' Airs February 25 on Twin Cities Public Television Minnesota Channel 17

'Prevention: Rx for a Healthier Minnesota' Airs February 25 on Twin Cities Public Television Minnesota Channel 17

Program Emphasizes Importance of Prevention in Health Reform

EAGAN, Minn., Feb. 19 /PRNewswire/ -- Effective community and individual prevention initiatives can improve the health of Minnesotans while helping to control health costs. That's the message of a new television program that will have its premiere on Twin Cities Public Television (TPT) Minnesota Channel 17, Sunday, February 25, at 7:30 p.m.

Prevention: Rx for a Healthier Minnesota is a joint production of TPT and Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. It is hosted by long-time Twin Cities health reporter and news anchor Dennis Douda.

The program examines the impact physical inactivity, poor nutrition and tobacco use are having on Minnesotans, and offers practical steps that communities as well as individuals and families can take to improve health and prevent many chronic diseases.

"Prevention is gaining recognition as an essential component in health care reform and cost control," said Marc Manley, M.D., vice president and medical director for population health at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. "Some of the costliest diseases to treat are preventable. This program can raise awareness of the human impact -- and the economic value -- of investing in prevention."

The program features health experts and advocates from leading Minnesota academic, health, and business organizations, including: Dr. Richard Hurt, Director, Mayo Clinic Nicotine Dependence Center; Dr. Larry An, Dr. Mary Story and Dr. John Finnegan, all with the University of Minnesota; Dr. Peter Dehnel, Medical Director, Children's Physician Network; Dr. Tim Crimmins, medical officer and vice president, General Mills; and, Jan Malcolm, CEO of Courage Center and former state health commissioner.

In addition to its premiere and future broadcasts on TPT's Minnesota Channel, the program also will be available for viewing by interested groups. Beginning February 26, the program will be accessible via http://www.preventionminnesota.com/ . To request a free DVD of the program, contact Karen Lyons at 651-662-1415 or Karen_M_Lyons@bluecrossmn.com .

For more information about prevention, visit http://www.preventionminnesota.com/ .

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota, with headquarters in the St. Paul suburb of Eagan, was chartered in 1933 as Minnesota's first health plan and continues to carry out its charter mission today: to promote a wider, more economical and timely availability of health services for the people of Minnesota. A not-for-profit, taxable organization, Blue Cross is the largest health plan based in Minnesota, covering 2.6 million members in Minnesota and nationally through its health plans or plans administered by its affiliated companies. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, headquartered in Chicago. Go to http://www.bluecrossmn.com/ to learn more about Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota.

First Call Analyst:
FCMN Contact:

Source: Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

CONTACT: Karen Lyons, +1-651-662-1415, or Joel Swanson, +1-651-662-2882,
both of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota

Web site: http://www.preventionminnesota.com/
http://www.bluecrossmn.com/

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