Alisa Graf, MD. Spring is a time for celebration and enjoying the outdoors!! Spring 2017

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1 Spring 2017 Spring is a time for celebration and enjoying the outdoors!! Spring is also a time that a lot of people suffer from allergies that can also exacerbate problems related to asthma, for example. Studies show it is best to start seasonal allergy medications early, even before spring has arrived. If you have allergies, it is important to remember to take your allergy medicine to prevent uncomfortable allergy symptoms. Speak with your doctor about what allergy medicine(s) are best for you. This would also be a good opportunity to check with your doctor about any vaccines or medicines you may also need if your spring/summer travel plans include out-of-state travel or travel outside of the United States. Try to plan your outdoor activities for fair weather. Enjoy the fragrances and colors of the season. Pick up healthy fruits and vegetables and bring herbs and flowers indoors to enjoy the scent of basil, rosemary and thyme that are also great in recipes! (included in this issue is a delicious recipe that uses thyme!). Have a beautiful spring season!! Wishing you the best of health! 1 MAPD: MLTC: FIDA: Alisa Graf, MD Medical Director Contact Us: TTY: Days a Week 8am-8pm INDEX Emergency Repsonse 2 Alzheimer s Awareness 3 Employee Spotlight 4 Hash Brown Recipe 4 Fraud, Waste & Abuse 5 Spring Exercises 5 CPHL Reference Guide 6

2 Emergency Preparedness Response In the event of an emergency, members should make sure to have certain information on-hand or should keep this imortant information readily accessible. These recommendations include, but are not limited to the following: Maintain a 7-10 day emergency supply of all medicines Create a list of all medications and dosage, along with list of physical and medical diagnoses, allergies and blood type that is kept in an easy accessible location Keep basic emergency supplies on hand such as: food, bottled water, flashlight/radio/ batteries, cellphone/chargers, appropriate clothing, eye glasses, hearing aids and batteries, wheelchair batteries or manual wheelchair, oxygen and cash in case ATMs are disabled Make a list of emergency contact names and telephone numbers. This list should include: family members; CPHL s plan member services line; local police, fire and health departments; pharmacy; utility companies; local disaster relief organizations such as the Red Cross or Salvation Army; poison control; doctors and other care providers. Identify a list of important documents, such as: *License/Photo ID *Social Security Card *Insurance Information 2

3 ALZHEIMER S AWARENESS MONTH June is Alzheimer s and Brain Awareness Month. We are hearing more about Alzheimer s in magazines, billboards, radio, and television commercials. We are also learning about signs and symptoms of Alzheimer s in younger people. Some simple lifestyle changes can make a difference in preventing Alzheimers and other dementias from developing. Regular exercise, according to the Alzheimer s Research and Prevention Foundation, gives someone up to 50 percent less chance, half the chance, of getting Alzeimer s. Staying social and enjoying time with others is another way we can help ourselves. Getting enough sleep is so simple but makes a big difference. Adults should get about 7-8 hours of sleep at night. We should try our best to have a regular bedtime and a way to relax and get ready for bed. If you are having a problem sleeping or breathing at night, be sure to tell your doctor. A diet made up of healthy fats such as the fats we find in fish, nuts and avocados; cutting down on eating sugar; and eating lots of fruits and vegetables also help. If you have a lot of stress in your life, try to be calmer by doing things you enjoy to unwind. Having fun and finding ways to laugh can really help! Using opposite hands, even for brushing teeth, keeps our brains sharp. If you smoke, stop. Ask your doctor for help. There are medicines he or she can give you. A healthy heart, including making sure our blood pressure and cholesterol levels are not too high, keeping weight down and not drinking too much are also part of the way we live that can keep our brains and the rest of our bodies healthy and strong. 3 Wishing you a healthy and happy season!

4 Hash Brown Potato Cakes Ingredients: 1 pound russet or round red potatoes 1/2 of a medium onion, very thinly sliced 1 tablespoon olive oil 2 teaspoons snipped fresh thyme or 1/4 teaspoon dried thyme, crushed 1/4 teaspoon salt 1/8 teaspoon ground black pepper Employee SPOTLIGHT Meet Peter Nobilecilla- Member Services I began my work journey as an asset protection specialist in retail. With hard work and perseverance I was given the opportunity to grow and take a leap forward to become a store supervisor. In this position, I aquired a wide variety of customer service skills and have used these tools in all of my previous jobs and my current job at Centers Plan for Healthy Living. It has been an absolute pleasure working for this company and an educational experience, as well. I believe that all of the information I have gathered here is beneficial to have in life. In each situation I encounter, I always try to enter with an open mind and do my very best to use all of the tools I have at my disposal (e.g. work flows, excel files, previous situations and past work knowledge) to assist and to treat each member as if they were my own family member; to give the best service possible and resolve their issues. My goal is to continue learning, working hard and remaining focused on contining to excel in this company. Serves 8 Serving Size: 2 Potato Cakes Carb Grams Per Serving: 9 Nutrition Facts Per Serving: Servings Per Recipe: 8 PER SERVING: 59 calories 2 g total fat 75 mg sodium 9 g carb. (1 g fiber), 1 g pro. Diabetic Exchanges: Starch (d.e): 0.5 Fat (d.e): 0.5 Directions: 1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F. Peel and coarsely shred potatoes; immediately rinse with cold water in a colander. Drain well, pressing lightly, then pat dry with paper towels; place in a large bowl. Quarter the onion slices. Stir onion, oil, thyme, salt, and pepper into potatoes. 2. Lightly coat an unheated very large nonstick skillet or griddle with nonstick cooking spray. Preheat skillet or griddle over medium heat. For each cake, scoop a slightly rounded measuring tablespoon of the potato mixture onto skillet or griddle. Press down potato mixture with a spatula to flatten evenly. Cook for 5 minutes. Using a wide spatula, carefully turn potato cakes (be sure not to turn cakes too soon or they will not hold together). Cook for 3 to 5 minutes more or until golden brown. Place cooked potato cakes on a baking sheet. Keep warm, uncovered, in oven while cooking remaining potato cakes. Repeat with remaining potato mixture, stirring mixture frequently. Makes 8 servings (16 potato cakes). 4

5 Fraud, Waste & Abuse Alert It is everyone s responsibility to help in the fight against Fraud, Waste and Abuse. How can you help? Here are three important things you can do: 1) Do not give your information to unfamiliar pharmacies (that is, pharmacies you don t know). If you are getting telephone calls or mailings from a pharmacy that you do not know (especially one from out of state) asking for your insurance information, your doctor s information or other personal information (such as your date of birth), please do not give them this information. These requests for information may be part of a plan (also known as a scheme) to commit fraud. Most pharmacy fraud schemes involve unauthorized prescriptions for pain creams and diabetic supplies (such as lancets and test strips). 2) Be on the lookout for these requests, or any other suspicious or questionable activities. Always think twice before sharing your personal information, especially with companies you do not know. 3) If you suspect fraud or questionable activities, let us know. Call our Fraud Waste and Abuse hotline at , or tell us online by visiting Both modes support anonymous reporting. We appreciate your help! 5 Spring & Summer Exercises We all know that exercise is an important part of a healthy lifestyle. Exercise helps us physically by strengthening our heart and lung function. It also has helpful effects on other parts of our bodies, including our weight, which also helps lower the strain on our hearts; it helps our skin; it brings blood flow to the rest of our body as well. Exercise can have a very positive effect on our mood. It has shown to help with feelings of depression. Walking outdoors, in particular, is shown to help with depression. Now that spring is in the air, we are all spending more time outside. This is a great time to take walks, bike, visit parks and take advantage of other activities that are harder to do when the cold, ice and snow of winter may hold us back. As we move into the summer months, we can walk the beaches and swim. Swimming is an ideal exercise, as we use our entire body without the pounding on our joints that can cause damage over time. Studies also show that people will continue an exercise program that they enjoy, so it is important to find something that you especially like to do.

6 75 Vanderbilt Avenue Staten Island, NY Presort Standard U.S. Postage PAID Hicksville, NY Permit No. 885 Heart. Health. Home. Health and Welless or Prevention Information WORD SEARCH Barbeque Exercise Flowers Fruit Healthy Nutrition Protein Spring Stretching Sunshine Walking 6