MEMBER FOCUS. Better Quality Is Our Goal. You and Your Guests Are Invited to a Summer Splash Pool Party! MISSOURI 2014 ISSUE II

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1 MISSOURI 2014 ISSUE II MEMBER FOCUS Better Quality Is Our Goal We aim to improve our members health and quality of life. One way we do this is by reviewing our Quality Improvement goals. We d like to share some of the goals we reached in Each focused on ways to provide better service. In 2013, we worked to: Redesign our website, which includes helpful information on wellness and resources for providers and members Remind providers about members who may be missing care services Make sure members have access to provider appointments and a fte r-h urs c ov er age Contact members who may have had gaps in their care Improve coordination of care between providers and specialists We ve been working on our goals for These include: Continuing to reach members with diabetes and asthma through our disease management program Continuing to make sure members are getting preventive care Improving member and provider satisfaction Providing education about regular checkups, lead screenings and ^murazattons Working with community agencies to improve the care of our members And we ll keep an eye on what our members say about how well we do. What you say matters! To receive a copy of our QI Program Description, please call our Member Services Department at You and Your Guests Are Invited to a Summer Splash Pool Party! When its hot outside, cool off at a Summer Splash Pool Party near you. We ll pay the pool entry fee and provide snacks at no cost to 7 you. You don t have to be a Mi ssour i C are mem b er to come. Our pool parties are f or ever y one. Th ere w 11 be six parties through June and July - go to one or a ll o f th em! F or d a t es ti mes an d l oca ti ons v i s it or call Member Services at (TTY ) Monday-Friday, 8 a. m. t o 5 p. m. J us t as k for information about the Missouri Care _. ^.. Swim Parties!

2 When Kids Join a Club, We ll Pay the Dues! Missouri Care knows how important it is for kids to have a safe place to go after school or to join a club to help kids build character. We support this by covering the yearly membership cost for your choice of one of the following programs in your area: Boy Scouts The Boy Scouts help build character, train boys to be better citizens and develop personal fitness. Girl Scouts The Girl Scouts build girls of courage, confidence and character who make the world a better place. 4-H Kids in 4-H do well in schools and sciences and are committed to improving their communities. Boys & Girls Club The Boys & Girls Club is a safe place to learn and grow all while having fun. Contact Member Services to learn more. You can reach us at (TTY ) Monday Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. You can also visit us at 2 Member Newsletter

3 Disease Management Programs Put You in Control Do you have a long-term health condition? Facing an illness can be tough. But keeping it under control can help you have a better quality of life. The good news is that there are resources to help you. Your health plan has programs that help members manage certain conditions. They include: Asthma High blood pressure Diabetes Major depression Congestive heart failure Other complex conditions such as chronic HIV/AIDS lung disease, i.e., COPD These programs can give you support to deal with your health issues. Many are available online. Others are offered in your community. Members may even get coaching from a nurse in some cases. You can find out more by calling us at the number on the back of this newsletter. Child Checkups to Keep Kids Healthy Did you know that it s important for your children to get a checkup, even if they aren t sick? That s right! And it s covered at no cost to you! This complete preventive care checkup is provided by a primary care provider (PCP). It is tailored to the age of your children to make sure they stay healthy as they grow. There are several things the doctor will check during your children s health checkup: Your children s complete health history and examination Perform an assessment of physical and mental development Provide age-appropriate vaccines (shots), labs or diagnostic tests Evaluate possible risk factors and discuss ways to reduce risk as your child continues to develop (as age and gender appropriate) Regular checkups are a great way to make sure your child grows up healthy. Source: American Academy of Pediatrics Member Newsletter 3

4 Prevent Medication Poisonings in Your Home Poisonings happen too often, but, here are many things you can do to prevent this in your home: Follow the directions on the medicine bottle and read all of the warning labels Keep medicines in their original bottles or containers Never share or sell your prescription drugs Put the Poison Control number on or near every home telephone. Save it on your cell phone. The toll-free number is Keep all drugs in cabinets that young children cannot reach If a poisoning happens, stay calm. Call 911 if the victim has passed out or is not breathing. Call Poison Control if the victim is awake. Stay on the phone and follow the instructions you are given. Sources: Therapeutic Research Center, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Be Safe and Enjoy the Sunshine Thinking of going out in the sun? Wear protective clothes, drink plenty of water and don t forget your sunscreen! Look for sunscreens that have one or more of these ingredients for the proper protection: Zinc oxide Dioxybenzone Titanium dioxide Oxybenzone Avobenzone Reapply sunscreen every two hours. Be sure to use a good amount each time. One ounce, about enough to fill a shot glass, is about the amount you ll need for the entire body. Being safe in the sun can help prevent serious issues like skin cancer and eye damage. Source: Action Steps for Sun Safety, retrieved from 4 Member Newsletter

5 Tools to Help You Track Diabetes Managing diabetes is easier when you remember your ABCs. The ABCs of diabetes were developed by the American Diabetes Association. They help people with diabetes keep track of three important factors: A stands for your A1C or your glucose average The A1C is a blood test to measure the sugar levels in your blood. The target number is below 7. You should have your blood tested at least twice a year. B stands for blood pressure Your blood pressure should be below 130/80. Your health care provider should check it at every visit. They may also ask you to monitor your blood pressure at home. C stands for cholesterol Cholesterol is something that is in all humans. It is a waxy, fat-like substance. It travels throughout the body in the blood. There is bad cholesterol called LDL. There is also good cholesterol called HDL. The LDL can build up and clog blood vessels. But the HDL can help the body remove the LDL. Your bad cholesterol (LDL) level should be less than 100. Have it checked out at least once a year. Eye Exams Too! Did you know that diabetes can also cause eye problems? Eye disease from diabetes is sometimes called retinopathy. And it can lead to loss of sight. But finding and treating eye problems early can help. That s why eye exams are so important. Get a full eye exam every year. Tell your eye care provider about any eye problems you may have. Be sure to say you have diabetes. Also check your coverage. Your eye exams may be covered as a medical benefit. Ask your eye care provider to send the exam results to your primary care provider (PCP). That helps your PCP stay up to date with all the information needed to give you the best care possible. Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Member Newsletter 5

6 Are You Eligible for Case Management? We offer case management services to our members. You may be eligible. These services help people with serious illness or other tough health issues. Our team works with you, your family and your health care providers. A member of our team will personally make sure that all the different parts of your care work together. You do not have to pay for these services. They come with your health plan. You do not have to use them if you do not want to. Yet you may find that case management can help you better understand how to take care of yourself. Case management services are available to members who are: Pregnant Children with elevated blood lead levels Within 30 days of enrollment, Missouri Care will offer a case management assessment for new members with the following conditions: Behavioral health conditions or substance abuse Cardiac disease Cancer Chronic pain Hepatitis C HIV/AIDS Sickle cell anemia Anxiety disorders Pervasive Developmental disorder Children with special health care needs, including autism spectrum disorder Our team focuses on your care. We talk about your health care and your options. We find places where you can get treated. We arrange for rides if you have transportation benefits. We also arrange for home health services. We even help you sort out all your medicine. We do not give you health care, but we work with your providers on your behalf so you and your family get the care you need. Find out if you re eligible. Just call us at the number on the back of this newsletter. 6 Member Newsletter

7 Healthy Diet for a Healthy Heart Heart disease is the leading cause of death in the United States. The most common type of heart disease is Coronary Artery Disease (CAD). This happens when arteries that supply blood to the heart become hardened. That reduces the flow of oxygen to your heart. What can you do for a healthy heart? Follow a healthy diet: Avoid foods that are high in bad fats saturated fats and trans fats. Eat foods rich in good fats such as fish and olive oil. These can lower your risk. Eat lots of fiber, which you ll find in fruits, vegetables and whole-grain foods. Limit salt and sugar intake. A healthy diet can also help you with your weight. Eat smaller portions and eat lower-calorie foods. And remember that you don t have to finish everything on your plate. Many portions at restaurants are too big anyway! Source: Centers for Disease Control, heartdisease/about.htm Always talk with your doctor(s) about the care that is right for you. This material does not replace your doctor s advice. It is based on third party sources. We are presenting it for your information only. It does not imply that these are benefits covered by Missouri Care. Also, Missouri Care does not guarantee any health results. You should review your health plan or call Customer Service to find out if a service is covered. Call 911 or your doctor right away in a health emergency. Member Newsletter 7

8 P.O. Box Tampa, FL Para solicitar este documento en espanol, llame al Servicios para Miembros al (TTY ). MO025547_CAD_NEW_ENG State Approved WellCare 2014 M0_02_14 MOC14160 ^ 2R... =. n.. is ssue...'».... um : ers o now... J Welcome to the latest edition of our newsletter. We created it with you in mind to give you health-related tips and information. In this issue, you ll find: Some of our goals for quality care in 2014 Invitation to our Summer Splash Pool Parties Services to help with difficult health challenges There s much more inside, so please take a 1. 1., moment to explore. As always, we wish you good health. mem' We re just a phone call (or click) away!... Call Member Services: TTY Monday-Friday, g am t o 5 p m Or visit Nurse Advice Line: