SUMMER 2015 THE KEY TO A GOOD LIFE IS A GREAT PLAN Health TALK DID YOU KNOW? Just over 12 percent of adults have diabetes. However, 3.5 percent don t yet know they have it. *U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Health4Me A new app for you UnitedHealthcare Community Plan has a new member app. It s called Health4Me. The app is available for Apple or Android tablets and smartphones. Health4Me makes it easy to: find doctors, ERs or urgent care centers near you call Nurseline view your ID card read your Member Handbook get help and support in your community learn about your benefits contact Member Services PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID United Health Group UnitedHealthcare Community Plan 8 Cadillac Drive, Suite 100 Brentwood, TN 37027 Download it today. Do you use a tablet or smartphone? Download the free Health4Me app today. Use it to connect with your health plan wherever you are, whenever you want. Scan to download mobile app. AMC-035-TN-CAID
Partners in health You and your PCP We care for you Members with special needs can get care management. Care management helps members get the services and care they need. Care coordinators work with the health plan, members physicians and outside agencies. This service helps people who have: physical disabilities serious mental illness complex health problems other special needs We can also help if you want more information about a chronic disease that you may have. We can help you find a diabetic education program. We can talk to you about ways to live healthier with heart disease. Help is here. Call Customer Services toll-free at 1-800-690-1606 (TTY 711). Ask about programs that can help you. When you joined UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, you were assigned a primary care provider (PCP). Your PCP knows you and your health history. He or she will provide or coordinate all your health care. If you need tests or treatments that your PCP can t provide, he or she will give you a referral. You should feel comfortable with your PCP. If you are not, choose a new one. Your PCP s provider group name is listed on your member ID card. Beginning August 1, 2015, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan may not pay for visits or services from a provider who is not at your or your child s PCP provider group. This is part of our Lock in Your Doc program. When you see your PCP, tell him or her about any drugs, vitamins or over-the-counter medication you take on a regular basis. Bring a written list with you. It s important that your PCP knows about all your health care. Tell him or her about other providers you see, such as specialists. Include mental health or substance abuse care if you get it. Mention any medications or treatments other providers have prescribed for you. Ask other providers to send copies of any test results or findings to your PCP. Check your card. Is your preferred PCP provider group listed on your member ID card? If not, call Customer Services toll-free at 1-800-690-1606 (TTY 711) and request to change your PCP. DON T EVEN START A new study has linked five more deadly diseases to smoking. There were already 21 diseases known to cause early death in smokers. This brings the number of smoking-related deaths to more than a half million each year. About 5.6 million kids who are under 18 today will die early from smoking. These deaths can be prevented. Prevention begins in childhood. Consider these facts: Nine out of 10 smokers started before age 19. Every day, 3,900 teens try their first cigarette. One quarter of teens who try smoking will become daily smokers. One in three of these teen smokers will die of a smoking-related disease. People who smoke die a decade before nonsmokers. Quitting time? You can quit smoking for good with the right help. Get telephone support and information at 1-800-QUIT-NOW. Or get online resources and sign up for text support at smoke free.gov. Coaching is available in English and Spanish. 2 HEALTH TALK
A protective shield The importance of dental sealants What if there was a way to apply a shield to a child s teeth to protect them from cavities? There is. It s called a dental sealant. Dental sealants are thin plastic coatings applied to the chewing surfaces of a child s back teeth (molars) to protect them from tooth decay. These are the teeth that are most susceptible to decay. Sealants keep germs and food out of the grooves in the teeth. Tooth decay happens quickly, so sealants are most effective when applied as soon as the permanent molars appear in a child s mouth. This usually happens at about age 6 for first molars, and about age 12 for second molars. Applying sealants is a short, easy, painless process. It just takes a few minutes for the dentist to clean and prepare the tooth, then the sealant is painted on. It dries after a minute, forming a protective shield. Sealants are a truly preventive measure. Tooth decay damages teeth permanently, while sealants protect them. They save time and money and the pain of having a decayed tooth filled. They are not guaranteed to prevent cavities. Brushing and flossing is still very important. But they will definitely help! Need a dentist? Need help finding a dentist or scheduling an appointment? Call DentaQuest at 1-855-418-1622 (TTY 1-800-466-7566). Or visit their website at dentaquest.com. On the spot You may have heard about the recent measles outbreaks. Maybe there was one in your community. These outbreaks could have been prevented. Two doses of the measles, mumps and rubella (MMR) vaccine are all that s needed. They are given at ages 12 15 months and 4 6 years. Measles spreads easily. About 90 percent of people who are not immunized will catch it if exposed. People are contagious for four days before they get sick. This means they can spread measles before they know they have it. Measles is a serious disease. It causes a full-body rash and flulike symptoms. These can include a high fever, cough and runny nose. It can lead to complications such as infections of the ear, lungs or brain. In rare cases, it can be deadly. There is no treatment for measles. Rest and fluids are important while the virus runs its course. It s very important to keep the infected person away from people who have not been vaccinated. Learn more. Find out why measles is important to avoid. Plus, get information about all the vaccines your child needs. Visit KidsHealth.org. SUMMER 2015 3
HEALTHY FIRST STEPS Whether you re expecting your first baby or your third, Healthy First Steps can help. Get personal support to stay healthy before, during and after pregnancy. While you re pregnant, your personal nurse can help you: find ways to reduce tobacco, alcohol and drug use. eat well. exercise safely. prepare for labor. Your support doesn t end after you have your baby. Your nurse can help you for up to six weeks after delivery to: get postpartum care (and make your appointment). choose a doctor for your baby. find local resources such as Women, Infants, and Children (WIC). Expecting? For a happy and healthy pregnancy, enroll today. Call 1-877-813-3417, Monday Friday, 8 a.m. 5 p.m. Central time. Healthy First Steps is already part of your benefits, so there s no extra cost to you. Making healthy choices UnitedHealthcare and Sesame Workshop have teamed up to make healthy eating and fitness fun for you and your kids. Food for Thought: Eating Well on a Budget offers families tips for enjoying nutritious, low-cost foods. 1. SHARE YOUR DAY DURING MEAL OR SNACK TIMES. Breakfast, lunch, dinner and snack time are great chances to connect. 2. COOK TOGETHER! This helps children grow to like different foods. 3. EAT YOUR FRUITS AND VEGGIES. Mealtimes are great moments to practice healthy eating with your child. 4. PLAN FOR MEALS EVEN AS YOU SHOP. Precut vegetables can be costly. Instead, cut your own. At home, children can help wash veggies and store them in reusable containers. 5. COOK EXTRA MEALS ON THE WEEKEND. Use them when you are busy during the week. Most grains, meats and vegetable dishes freeze well and make tasty leftovers. Easy recipes! For more Food for Thought: Eating Well on a Budget tips and easy recipes, visit sesame street.org/food. TM/ 2015 Sesame Workshop 4 HEALTH TALK
Call if you need help and need to speak with someone in one of these languages: Need to know How we can help you FAIR TREATMENT We do not allow unfair treatment in TennCare. No one is treated in a different way because of race, color, birthplace, religion, language, sex, age or disability. Do you think you ve been treated unfairly? Do you have more questions or need more help? If you think you ve been treated unfairly, call Tennessee Health Connection for free at 1-855-259-0701. TennCare no permite el trato injusto. Nadie recibe un trato diferente debido a su raza, color de la piel, lugar de nacimiento, religión, idioma, sexo, edad o discapacidad. Cree que lo han tratado injustamente? Tiene más preguntas o necesita más ayuda? Si piensa que lo han tratado injustamente, llame gratis al Tennessee Health Connection al 1-855-259-0701. HELP IN OTHER LANGUAGES OR FORMATS Habla español y necesita ayuda con esta carta? Llámenos gratis al 1-800-690-1606. If you have a hearing or speech problem, you can call us on a TTY/TDD machine. Our TTY/TDD number is 711. Si tiene problemas de audición o del habla, puede llamarnos a través de una máquina de TTY/TDD. El número de TTY/ TDD es 711. Need help in another language? You can call United- Healthcare Community Plan for any language assistance at 1-800-690-1606 or the numbers in the box at right. Interpretation and translation services are free to TennCare members. Do you need help with this information? Is it because you have a health, mental health or learning problem or a disability? Or, do you need help in another language? If so, you have a right to get help, and we can help you. Call Customer Services at 1-800-690-1606 for more information. Español (Arabic) 1-800-758-1638 (Bosnian) 1-800-758-1638 (Kurdish-Badinani) 1-800-758-1638 (Kurdish- Sorani) 1-800-758-1638 (Somali) 1-800-758-1638 (Spanish) 1-800-758-1638 (Vietnamese) 1-800-758-1638 Necesita ayuda con esta información? La necesita porque tiene una discapacidad o un problema de aprendizaje, de salud mental o una enfermedad? O acaso necesita ayuda en otro idioma? Si es así, usted tiene derecho a obtener ayuda, y nosotros podemos brindársela. Llame a 1-800-690-1606 para más información. Do you have a mental illness and need help with this information? The TennCare Advocacy Program can help you. Call them for free at 1-800-758-1638. Tiene usted una enfermedad mental y necesita ayuda con esta información? En la línea telefónica de TennCare Advocacy pueden ayudarle. Llámelos gratis al 1-800-758-1638. REPORTING FRAUD AND ABUSE To report fraud or abuse to the Office of Inspector General (OIG), you can call toll-free 1-800-433-3982 or go online to www. tn.gov/tenncare/fraud.shtml. To report provider fraud or patient abuse to the Tennessee Bureau of Investigation s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), call toll-free 1-800-433-5454. Para reportar fraude o abuso a la Oficina del Inspector General (Office of Inspector General, OIG) nos puede llamar gratis al 1-800-433-3982. O visítenos en línea en www. tn.gov/tenncare/fraud.shtml. Para reportar fraude o maltrato de un paciente por parte de un proveedor a la Unidad de Control de Fraude Médico de la Oficina de Investigación de Tennessee (Tennessee Bureau of Investigation s Medicaid Fraud Control Unit, MFCU), llame gratis al 1-800-433-5454. SUMMER 2015 5
DO YOU PAY COPAYS? Health on time Your child s TENNderCare checkup It is very important for all children to get regular checkups. Getting checkups on time helps find health problems early. When health problems are found early, they are easier to treat. Please take your child for his or her regular TENNderCare checkup. Infants and toddlers need 12 TENNderCare checkups before their third birthday. Children age 3 and over should get TENNderCare screenings every year until the age of 21. This will help keep your child healthy. These checkups are FREE for members under 21. Your child can get a ride to the doctor for TENNderCare health services. An adult may ride with the child. These rides are FREE. You might have copays for certain health services. This means you may need to pay a certain amount for each visit or prescription. See your Member Handbook for details about your benefits and ways you may help pay for your healthcare. The Handbook is available at UHCCommunity Plan.com. You can also have one mailed to you by calling Customer Services at 1-800-690-1606. Call today. Call your child s doctor today to make an appointment. If you need help making an appointment, please call UnitedHealthcare Community Plan at 1-800-690-1606 (TTY 711). Ask Dr. Health E. Hound Q: How can I protect my child from the sun? A: Kids get much of their lifetime sun exposure before age 18. It s important to think about sun protection every day not just when you go to the pool or beach. Starting good sun protection habits early can protect your children from skin cancer as adults. Try to avoid exposure in the middle of the day, when the sun is strongest. Cover up with clothing and hats. Don t let your teen use tanning beds. Keep babies covered by the shade of an umbrella or canopy. Give your child sunglasses to protect his or her eyes from sun damage. Sunscreen is one of the best defenses for everyone 6 months of age and over. Use sunscreen with an SPF of 30 or higher every day. Choose a broad-spectrum formula that protects against both UVA and UVB rays. Apply a thick coating 15 to 30 minutes before kids go outside. Reapply often and after a child sweats or swims. Learn more. Get more tips for keeping your children safe and healthy. Find out how to treat the sunburns, bug bites and skinned knees common in summer. Visit KidsHealth.org. 6 HEALTH TALK
Saving lives Violence and injuries affect us all. Violence and injury are major problems in the United States. From infants to the elderly, they affect people in all stages of life. It is likely that you or someone you know has been touched by violence or injury. You may know: a neighborhood child injured or killed in a car crash. a friend who committed suicide. an older relative who fell and suffered a brain injury. Each year, millions are injured. In the United States, one person dies from violence or injuries every three minutes. Those who survive may be faced with life-long mental, physical and financial problems. Violence and injuries are so common that we often accept them as just part of life. Many cases can be prevented. We know prevention works. For example: Seat belts have saved thousands of lives. School-based programs to prevent violence have been shown to help in reducing violent behavior. Exercise programs for older adults have been shown to reduce falls. Learn more. Get more information about violence and injury prevention. Call the National Center for Injury Prevention and Control (NCIPC) at 1-800-CDC-INFO (TTY 1-888- 232-6348) or visit cdc.gov/injury. Or, call the Safe States Alliance at 770-690-9000 or visit safestates.org. Long-Term Care CHOICES TennCare s program for long-term care is called TennCare CHOICES. CHOICES helps with everyday things that you might not be able to do anymore. Maybe you need help because you have grown older or you have a disability. CHOICES can help you with things like preparing meals, bathing or dressing. For long-term care services, you might live in a nursing home. Or you might live in your home or in the community and receive home and communitybased services (HCBS). Do you have questions about CHOICES and: you already have a CHOICES care coordinator? Call your care coordinator or call UnitedHealthcare Customer Services toll-free at 1-800-690-1606 (TTY 711). you are a UnitedHealthcare member, but you do not know if you are part of CHOICES? Call UnitedHealthcare Customer Services toll-free at 1-800-690-1606 (TTY 711) and ask about CHOICES. you do not have TennCare yet? Call or visit the local Area Agency on Aging. The local Area Agency on Aging can start the paperwork. Call the area agencies toll-free at 1-866-836-6678. Visit their website for more information at state. tn.us/comaging/localarea.html. Get in touch. It s easy to contact your CHOICES member advocate. Call United- Healthcare Customer Services toll-free at 1-800-690-1606 (TTY 711). SUMMER 2015 7
Need a ride? A better chance Adults need regular screenings Regular health screenings and tests can help find problems before they start. They also can help find problems early. This gives you a better chance for treatment and cure. When you get the right health services, you take steps that help your chances for living a healthier life. Your age, health and family history, what you eat, how active you are, whether you smoke, and other factors impact what and how often you need services and screenings. The best place to go for health services is your regular health care provider. It s time to take charge of your health! Schedule an appointment with your health care provider. Be sure to discuss what health services you need and when you need them. If you need non-emergency transportation for a health care visit, call 1-866-405-0238. This is a new number that began January 1, 2015. You may be able to get a ride from TennCare. You can get help with a ride: only for services covered by TennCare, and only if you don t have any other way to get there. You can have someone ride with you to your appointment if: you are a child under the age of 21, or you have a disability and need help to get the service (like someone to open doors for you, push your wheelchair, or help you with reading or decision-making). Try to call at least one week before your health care appointment to make sure that you can get a ride. If you change times or cancel your health care appointment, you must change or cancel your ride too. Get a lift. If you need a ride to your appointment or have questions about having someone ride with you, call 1-866-405-0238. Need help? If you need help scheduling an appointment, please call UnitedHealthcare Community Plan 1-800-690-1606 (TTY 711). GET REWARDED UnitedHealthcare Community Plan wants to help you get and stay healthy. We have a reward program. You may get a gift card for completing certain wellness visits. These include health screenings, wellchild checkups and immunizations. Look for your invitation in the mail to wellness events in your area. 8 HEALTH TALK
Know the signs Could you have an addiction? HELPFUL RESOURCES Al-Anon/Alateen: al-anon.alateen.org Alcoholics Anonymous (AA): aa.org National Council on Alcoholism and Drug Dependence: ncadd.org National Institute on Drug Abuse: easyread.drugabuse.gov Substance Abuse and Mental Health Service Administration Helpline: 1-800-662-HELP (4357) (TTY 1-800-487-4889) It is common for people to think they have their alcohol or substance use under control. However, drug and alcohol use can impair your judgment. This makes it hard to know whether you have a problem. Use of alcohol and/or drugs can negatively affect work, family and health. You may also have some of the physical signs of abuse or addiction. These symptoms can be different for each person. These symptoms may include nausea, sweating, shakiness and anxiety. Alcoholism and drug addiction are serious diseases that need to be properly diagnosed. They can be treated by licensed health care providers. A tool health care providers use to detect substance use disorders is the CAGE+ survey. It includes the following four simple questions: HAVE YOU EVER: 1. thought you ought to CUT DOWN on your drinking/drug use? 2. felt ANNOYED that others are criticizing your drinking/drug use? 3. felt bad or GUILTY about your drinking/drug use? 4. had a drink or taken a drug first thing in the morning as an EYE-OPENER, to steady your nerves or get rid of a hangover? Did you say yes? If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may have a problem. Contact a health care professional for additional screening and help. Set a goal Living with a chronic condition can be difficult. To avoid feeling overwhelmed, it helps to have a good understanding of your condition. By educating yourself and asking questions, you can become an expert in self-care. UnitedHealthcare Community Plan wants to help. We have many programs that could benefit you. We offer health coaches who can help you better understand the condition(s) that you are living with. They will work with you to set goals to make lifestyle changes that can help you keep your condition under control. They will also help you to understand the tests you need to have in order to better manage your condition. We have health coaches available to work with you on the following topics: tobacco cessation managing stress exercise or increasing physical activity maintaining a healthy weight controlling use of alcohol or drugs Just call. If you would like to speak with a health coach, please call us at 1-800-690-1606. When asked why you are calling, tell us that you are calling for Health and Wellness. SUMMER 2015 9
Is it Alzheimer s? Know the warning signs. JUST FOR MEN Prostate problems are common in men over 50. As men age, the prostate often gets bigger. When this happens, some men have trouble urinating. They may have frequent or painful urination. Some men may have pain with sex, along with discomfort in the lower back or groin. A doctor can help you find relief for these and other prostate problems. Most of the time, prostate problems are not caused by cancer. However, prostate cancer is the second most common cancer in men. When caught early, it is very curable. That is why it is important for men over 50 to be checked for prostate problems. African-American men and men whose father, brother or son had prostate cancer should get checked starting at 45. Minor memory problems can be a normal part of aging. However, Alzheimer s disease and other forms of dementia are not. Alzheimer s is a brain disease that gets worse with time. It is the sixth-leading cause of death in the United States. Early detection and treatment can help with symptoms. It can also help families learn how to cope with the disease. The Alzheimer s Association lists some warning signs you should know: 1. MEMORY LOSS. Forgetting new information or important dates and events. Asking the same questions over and over. 2. TROUBLE WITH PLANNING OR FAMILIAR TASKS. Tasks such as following a recipe or driving to a familiar location may be harder. They may take much longer than they used to. 3. NOT KNOWING TIME OR PLACE. Losing track of the seasons, dates or what time of day it is. 4. PROBLEMS SPEAKING OR WRITING. Trouble following a conversation. Not remembering words or using words incorrectly. 5. LOSING THINGS. Putting things in unusual places. Not being able to retrace where an item may have been left. 6. MOOD AND PERSONALITY CHANGES. Becoming confused, depressed, fearful or anxious. Being easily upset when out of his or her comfort zone. Seeing warning signs? Talk to your primary care provider (PCP) right away. Visit the Alzheimer s Association at alz. org or call their 24/7 helpline at 1-800-272-3900 to learn more. 10 HEALTH TALK
Your total health Managing multiple conditions People can have more than one kind of illness at the same time. This is very common. People who have a mental health condition can also have a medical disorder. People who have medical disorders may have mental health conditions, too. It is very important to make sure you are getting the right care for all your conditions. A lot of times your primary care provider (PCP) is the first person to notice symptoms of emotional or mental health issues. It is good to talk over life changes and things that are causing stress with your PCP. Sometimes your PCP may refer you to a behavioral health provider. If you are seeing a behavioral health provider, a therapist or psychiatrist may be the first to notice symptoms of a physical health condition. He or she will recommend you see your PCP. Before your doctors share any information, they will ask you to sign a permission form. You don t have to sign it. If you don t, no one can talk about your treatment. If you do give your OK, remember that all information is protected by strict privacy laws. Please share. It is important to take care of ALL your health problems. The best way to start is by sharing information. Share with your PCP and other doctors treating you. Allow them to coordinate the best care for your total health. Bring it down Controlling your blood pressure can help you prevent heart disease. If you have hypertension (high blood pressure), these tips can help you lower it. If your blood pressure is normal, these tips can help keep it that way. 1. MAINTAIN A HEALTHY WEIGHT. Lose weight if your doctor says you should. 2. GET MOVING. Aim for 30 minutes of moderate activity a day. 3. EAT WELL. Eat more fruits, vegetables and lean proteins. Reduce saturated fat. Read labels on packaged foods. 4. REDUCE SODIUM. Choose other spices to add flavor to foods. Limit processed and restaurant foods. 5. LIMIT ALCOHOL. One drink a day for women or two for men is a moderate amount. Or, don t drink any alcohol. 6. TAKE YOUR MEDICINE. If your doctor prescribes blood pressure medicine, take it as directed. Use notes, alarms or phone calls to help you remember. Get checked. A healthy blood pressure is below 120/80. High blood pressure is 140/90 or higher. A reading in between is considered prehypertension, or borderline high blood pressure. SUMMER 2015 11
Who to call Numbers to know UnitedHealthcare wants to hear from you. We are available to help you better understand your health plan. You can ask for help or voice an opinion. You will reach the right person to help you with questions and concerns. Answering your questions and hearing your input is important to us. UNITEDHEALTHCARE RESOURCES CUSTOMER SERVICES 1-800-690-1606 If you have a hearing or speech problem, you can call us on a TTY/TDD machine. Our TTY/TDD number is 711. Hay una línea telefónica en español para los consumidores hispanos de TennCare. Llame a los servicio del cliente 1-800-690-1606 para más información. OUR WEBSITES UHCCommunityPlan.com Use the online provider directory. Download a copy of your Member Handbook. Read this member newsletter online in English or Spanish. Find out about Healthy First Steps and other programs. UHCRiverValley.com/just4teens Get health information just for teens. NURSELINE 1-866-263-9168 Optum NurseLine is available toll-free, 24 hours, every day. You ll reach a nurse who can help you with health problems. OUR MEMBER APP Health4Me Find providers, call Nurseline, see your ID card, get benefit information and more from your smartphone or tablet. HEALTHY FIRST STEPS 1-877-813-3417 Healthy First Steps helps pregnant women and new mothers have healthy babies. TRANSPORTATION 1-866-405-0238 Get non-emergency transportation to your health care visits. BABY BLOCKS UHCBabyBlocks.com Join a rewards program for pregnant women and new moms. TENNCARE RESOURCES DENTAQUEST 1-855-418-1622 DentaQuest.com DentaQuest provides dental care for members under age 21. HEALTH INSURANCE EXCHANGE 1-800-318-2596 Healthcare.gov Apply for TennCare. TENNCARE 1-866-311-4287 (TTY 1-877-779-3103) Learn more about TennCare. TENNCARE ADVOCACY PROGRAM 1-800-758-1638 (TTY 1-877-779-3103) Free advocacy for TennCare members. They can help you understand your plan and get treatment. TENNESSEE HEALTH CONNECTION 1-855-259-0701 Get help with TennCare or report changes. COMMUNITY RESOURCES CARE4LIFE Care4Life.com Get free text messages to help manage diabetes. KIDSHEALTH KidsHealth.com Get trusted kids health information, written for parents, children or teens. TEXT4BABY Get free text messages to help you through pregnancy and your baby s first year. Text BABY to 511411 or register at Text4baby.org. TENNESSEE SUICIDE PREVENTION NETWORK 1-800-273-TALK (8255) TSPN.org Talk to a suicide prevention counselor. TENNESSEE TOBACCO QUITLINE 1-800-QUITNOW (1-800-784-8669) Quitline.com or 1-877-44U-QUIT (1-877-448-7848) Get free help quitting tobacco in English or Spanish. Special help is available for pregnant women. TENNESSEE DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES 1-866-311-4287 Family Assistance Service Center Help Desk 12 HEALTH TALK