WellPoint Congratulates President-Elect Barack Obama

INDIANAPOLIS, Nov. 5 /PRNewswire/ -- WellPoint, Inc. would like to applaud both presidential candidates and congratulate Senator Barack Obama, the next president of the United States, on his historic campaign and election win. This has certainly been a hard-fought battle between two remarkable senators, and the toughest of challenges are yet to come.

As the nation's largest health insurer, WellPoint appreciates that health care will be a top priority of the Obama administration. Improving health care quality, controlling health spending and building on the current private-public system are WellPoint priorities. By working together, we can reduce the number of uninsured and improve the quality and value of health care provided in the U.S. This can be achieved through an increased focus on the development of consensus-based quality measures and expanded use of quality-based payments; enhanced efforts to promote an advanced medical home model for the delivery of care; continued efforts to provide coordinated care and disease management; and expanding viable public and private coverage options and access.

WellPoint is proud to play a role in developing innovative programs, services and initiatives that are improving the lives of our members. WellPoint's e-prescribing initiatives are reducing medication errors, and by increasing access to electronic medical records, we are helping eliminate lapses in care for our members. These efforts are helping to reduce costs and make information available where and when needed. WellPoint looks forward to working with the Obama administration to expand these advancements to reach a greater population and ultimately change the way health care is delivered in the United States.

WellPoint and others in the health care industry have a vast array of experience in finding solutions to expand access, control costs, enhance quality and improve health care outcomes. The ability to call on the expertise of all stakeholders will be the key to positive change, and we stand ready to work with President-Elect Obama to advance health care for all Americans.

About WellPoint, Inc.

WellPoint, Inc. is the largest publicly traded commercial health benefits company in terms of membership in the United States. WellPoint, Inc. is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association and serves its members as the Blue Cross licensee for California; the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, New York (as Blue Cross Blue Shield in 10 New York City metropolitan counties and as Blue Cross, Blue Shield or Blue Cross Blue Shield in selected upstate counties only), Ohio, Virginia (excluding the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.), Wisconsin; and through UniCare. Additional information about WellPoint is available at www.wellpoint.com.