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William L. Jews, CareFirst President and CEO (right); Denise Austin, Chair, President's Council on Physical Fitness and Sports; Scott Serota, President and CEO BCBSA, and U.S. Surgeon General Rear Adm. Richard Carmona during the WalkingWorks Workplace launch on Capitol Hill.

CareFirst is partnering with the Federal Occupational Health Service unit of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the national Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association (BCBSA), in a pilot program aimed at encouraging about 6,000 of the agency's employees at two Washington, D.C-area locations to take part in walking efforts at work.

Through WalkingWorks, people can lead healthier lives with daily walking routines of 30 minutes or more. Experts say walking can help control your weight, lower cholesterol, strengthen your heart and reduce the likelihood of future serious health problems.

BCBSA and Blues Plans around the country are forming partnerships with businesses as part of the national WalkingWorks Workplace program. Under the CareFirst pilot project, employees will be given information, time and support for walking exercise in the work place.

CareFirst President and CEO William L. Jews said CareFirst's goal for Walking Works is for all its members to lead healthy lifestyles. "Study after study has shown that improving fitness reduces the risk of serious illness, which ultimately reduces health care costs," Jews said.  "Ten thousand steps a day is all it takes to get on the road to fitness."

WalkingWorks suggests that participants walk an average of 10,000 steps a day, or roughly five miles. Here are some ways to incorporate walking into your lifestyle:

• Walk up stairs instead of riding the escalator at the mall
• Choose the farthest parking spot in the lot at work
• Take your lunch outdoors instead of at your desk

More information about WalkingWorks and registration forms are available on the program's Web site, http://www.bcbs.com/walkingworks.

In its 70th year of service, CareFirst, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, is a not-for-profit health care company which, through its affiliates and subsidiaries, offers a comprehensive portfolio of health insurance products and administrative services to more than 3.3 million individuals and groups in Northern Virginia, the District of Columbia, Maryland and Delaware. Through its CareFirst Commitment initiative and other public mission activities, CareFirst supports efforts to increase the accessibility, affordability, safety and quality of health care throughout its market areas.

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