NEWS IN BRIEF

Thursday, November 8, 2012

— AT&T adding 4G LTE in 18 Arkansas cities

AT&T has expanded its mobile-data network coverage by offering 4G LTE connectivity in 18 cities in the state, the company announced Wednesday.

In September, AT&T announced plans to provide LTE service in Little Rock by the end of the year.

The network service is now available in central Arkansas and the additional cities, said Anita Smith, a spokesman for the company.

Mobile devices, such as smart phones and tablets, that are LTE capable will see faster broadband network connections.

The cities getting LTE - long term evolution - connectivity include: Alexander, Bauxite, Benton, Bryant, Conway, England, Greenbrier, Hensley, Humnoke, Little Rock, Mabelvale, Maumelle, Mayflower, North Little Rock, Roland, Scott, Shannon Hills and Sherwood.

Verizon and AT&T offer 4G LTE in Northwest Arkansas. Verizon first offered its 4G LTE service in the state in 2011 and it’s available in 150 communities.

Hypertension drugs offered for Medicare

Humana Inc. of Louisville and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. of Bentonville said Wednesday that they are starting a low-cost hypertension drug program for Medicare recipients.

Starting in 2013, members of the Humana Walmart-Preferred Rx Plan will have access to 10 hypertension drugs for 1 cent each when filled at one of the 4,400 Wal-Mart or Sam’s Club pharmacy locations.

The 1-cent price applies through all phases of a Medicare recipient’s Part D benefit, regardless of whether he has met his deductible or is in the coverage gap, the companies said. Annual enrollment for 2013 Medicare plans is now under way.

Dr. John Agwunobi, president of Wal-Mart’s Health and Wellness Division, said in a news release that the prescription plan will help eliminate out-ofpocket costs for high blood pressure treatments so more patients can follow the regimens prescribed by their physicians.

Drugs included are Lisinopril, Hydrochlorothiazide, Metoprolol Tartrate, Atenolol, Lisinopril-Hydrochlorothiazide, Triamterene-Hydrochlorothiazid, Enalapril Maleate, Benazepril, Nadolol and Captopril.

Medicare Part D is the prescription drug program supported by the federal government.

The Arkansas Index, a price-weighted index that tracks the largest public companies based in the state, dropped 5.29 to 243.62 Wednesday.

The index was developed by Bloomberg News and the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette with a base value of 100 as of Dec. 30, 1997.

Business, Pages 33 on 11/08/2012