We apologize for any confusion you may have experienced related to addressing errors that occurred on a postcard recently sent to HealthChoice members. The postcard was mailed to HealthChoice health plan members (except Medicare members) and contained information about enhanced tobacco cessation benefits. The new benefits include reduced copays for prescription tobacco cessation medications, as well as free over-the-counter nicotine replacement products and telephone counseling and support available through a partnership with the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust and Free and Clear. Read the article below for information about the enhanced benefit.
As part of our commitment to better health, HealthChoice is focusing on tobacco cessation because tobacco is responsible for so many health conditions, including cancer and lung and heart disease. We are encouraging all non-Medicare health plan members* and covered dependents to quit tobacco now. By quitting tobacco, members can improve their health and take advantage of deductible credits that will be available in Plan Year 2012.
HealthChoice reduced the copay for certain prescription tobacco cessation products to $5 per fill which will save members about $150 each year. Covered products include:
- Buproban 150mg SA Tabs
- Nicotrol 10mg Cartridge
- Bupropion HCL SR 150mg Tabs
- Nicotrol NS 20mg/m Nasal Spray
- Chantix 0.5mg and 1mg Tabs
HealthChoice will continue to cover two 90-day courses of a prescription product each plan year.
HealthChoice has also partnered with the Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust (TSET) and Free and Clear to provide members with over-the-counter (OTC) nicotine replacement therapy products (patches, gum, and lozenges) and telephone coaching. Members can receive up to 12 weeks of an over-the-counter nicotine replacement therapy product and up to five one-on-one telephone counseling sessions with a trained Quit Coach. The OTC products and coaching services are available at no charge to health plan members. To take advantage of the benefits available through TSET, which are over and above the benefits offered to the general public, contact the OKLAHOMA TOBACCO HELPLINE at 1-800-QUIT-NOW (1-800-784-8669) and identify yourself as a HealthChoice member. The Helpline hours of operation are 7 a.m. to 2 a.m. seven days a week. Members living outside of Oklahoma call 1-866-QUIT-4-LIFE (1-866-784-8454).
Since studies have shown that a combination of medication and counseling is by far the MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO SUCCESSFULLY QUIT TOBACCO, HealthChoice members are encouraged to take advantage of the coaching and support provided by the Quit Coaches.
HealthChoice hopes these enhanced benefits will encourage members to quit tobacco, improve their health, and take advantage of the deductible credit coming in 2012.
*The tobacco cessation benefits described above will be available to HealthChoice Medicare Supplement Plan members effective January 1, 2011; however, HealthChoice cannot offer a deductible credit to these members.
Psoriasis is a common, chronic, autoimmune disease that appears on the skin. It is caused when the immune system sends faulty signals that speed up the growth cycle of skin cells. Psoriasis can occur on any part of the body. According to the National Institutes of Health, as many as 7.5 million Americans have psoriasis.
There are five types of psoriasis: plaque, guttate, inverse, erythrodermic, and pustular.
- Plaque Psoriasis - This is the most common form of psoriasis. It is characterized by well-defined patches of red, raised skin. It can appear anywhere on the surface of the skin, although it is most commonly found on the knees, trunk, elbows, scalp, and nails.
- Guttate Psoriasis - This type of psoriasis causes small, red dots on the skin.
- Inverse Psoriasis - This type does not cause scaling. The smooth dry areas of red and inflamed skin are often found in folds or creases.
- Erythrodermic Psoriasis - This type of psoriasis is characterized by periodic intense redness and shedding of the skin.
- Pustular Psoriasis - This type involves weeping lesions and intense scaling.
Psoriasis is not contagious, so you can't "catch it” from another person. It can develop at any age, although it most often appears between ages 15 and 35. Some people carry genes that make them more likely to develop psoriasis; however, not everyone who carries the genes will develop psoriasis. Researchers believe there are certain environmental triggers that can cause a psoriasis outbreak. Possible triggers include emotional stressors, injuries to the skin, some types of infections, or reactions to certain drugs.
Generally, psoriasis appears as red, raised patches of skin with a white flaky buildup, but it can cause the skin to appear burned or have pimple-like bumps. Skin cells are normally shed about every 28 days. In persons with psoriasis, the skin cells move to the surface of the skin in three to six days. Because the body can't shed the skin cells that fast, it results in the raised patches, or piles of dead skin cells, also called lesions. Intense itching and burning can also occur.
There isn’t a blood test or other tool available to diagnose psoriasis; however, it is associated with other serious health conditions, such as diabetes, heart disease and depression. Your physician or health care provider can diagnose psoriasis by examining your affected skin.
While there is no cure for psoriasis, there are several treatments that can clear it for periods of time. You’ll need to work with your health care provider to find the appropriate treatment once your condition has been diagnosed.
Source: Psoriasis Foundation
According to the National Weather Service (NWS) flooding causes more damage in the U.S. than any other severe weather related event. Each year flooding causes an average $5 billion in damages. It occurs in all 50 states and can happen anytime of the year.
Once a river reaches flood stage, the NWS categorizes the severity of the flooding as minor flooding, moderate flooding, or major flooding. Each category is defined based on the likelihood of property damage and public threat.
- Minor Flooding –Minimal or no property damage, but possibly some public threat or inconvenience.
- Moderate Flooding –Some flooding of structures and roads near streams. Some evacuations of people and/or transfer of some property to higher elevations.
- Major Flooding – Extensive flooding of structures and roads. Significant evacuations of people and/or transfer of property to higher elevations.
Oklahoma and surrounding states have recently experienced some flash flooding. When there is a flash flood warning or watch in your area, be ready to take action. If you are in a flood prone area, the best advice is to evacuate, and go to higher ground. Don’t wait for instructions from the weather service or your local news station, leave immediately!
Never walk in flood waters, even if the water is below your knees. There could be hidden dangers in the water that you can’t see. Flood waters typically move faster and carry debris which could easily injure you.
If you are in your car, avoid driving through flood water. Even if it’s just a few inches, DO NOT DRIVE THROUGH IT. Your car can easily be swept away, or the road may have washed away underneath which can cause your car to sink.
If you get stranded on a piece of land or in a tree, STAY THERE! Don’t try to swim to shore, or move to a different location. You can easily be swept away by flood waters and put yourself at risk of drowning. There are emergency crews that are equipped to handle these types of situations, so stay put until help arrives.
Other dangers associated with flood waters are the bacteria and pollution that the water picks up as it swiftly moves along. There is also the danger of downed power lines causing electrical shock.
The best thing for you to do is to stay clear of flood waters entirely. If you do get caught up in a flood, don’t panic, keep your wits about you, and follow the advice given above.
Stay aware and stay informed. Listen to your local news, and if you hear about flooding approaching your area, get out quickly!
Sources: National Weather Service and the Oklahoma Office of Homeland Security
Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS) is the name given to a common group of symptoms that affect the large intestine (bowel/colon). While the specific cause of IBS is not known, the disorder disrupts the normal function of the colon by increasing the sensitivity of the nerves and muscles of the bowel. IBS affects about 20% of Americans and is more common in women than men. Some of the symptoms caused by IBS include:
- Abdominal pain or discomfort, with or without cramps
- Swollen or bloated abdomen
- Chronic diarrhea, constipation, or both alternately
- Feeling that bowel movements are incomplete
- Excessive gas
- Mucus in the stool
While IBS can disrupt your daily routine, it does not cause permanent damage to the colon, nor has it been linked to any more serious disease.
Studies have shown that medications, reducing stress and changing your diet can all help manage the symptoms of IBS.
Medications
Medications play a large role in controlling the symptoms of IBS. You doctor may prescribe or recommend over-the-counter medications to help control your symptoms. Commonly used medications include laxatives to treat constipation, anti-diarrhea medications to control diarrhea, anti-spasm drugs to help reduce abdominal pain and cramping, and anti-depressants to help relieve stress. You’ll need to work with your doctor to find the right combination of medications to treat your symptoms.
Stress Reduction
While stress is not an actual cause of IBS, increased stress levels tend to increase both the frequency and intensity of symptoms. Ways to reduce stress include exercise, meditation, counseling and support, hypnosis, and in some cases, prescription medications.
Diet Changes
For many IBS sufferers, diet can plan a big role in controlling symptoms. Certain foods and drinks can make IBS symptoms worse including fatty foods, milk/dairy products, chocolate, caffeinated and/or carbonated drinks, and alcohol. To see whether changing your eating habit might be helpful, begin by keeping a diary of what you eat and the symptoms you experience after eating. This simple process can help you learn what types of foods trigger your IBS symptoms so you can limit or exclude them from your diet.
Foods and drinks that may help ease IBS symptoms include those that are high fiber content such as apples, peaches, raw broccoli, raw carrots, cabbage, peas, kidney and lima beans, and whole grain breads and cereals. You can also add fiber to your diet with fiber additives. When adding fiber to your diet, do it gradually so your body has time to adjust. Be aware that adding fiber, especially too much at one time, can cause an increase in gas production and can actually make your symptoms temporarily worse.
Smaller Meals
Since IBS can cause both diarrhea and constipation, you may get some relief by eating smaller, more frequent meals. Larger meals can aggravate symptoms by giving the intestine too much work to do at once.
If you experience new symptoms or the worsening of your current symptoms, if you notice blood in your stool, develop a fever, experience diarrhea that wakens you from sleep, or have abdominal pain that is not completely relieved by a bowel movement, seek medical attention as these symptoms could indicate a much more serious condition.
Ongoing research continues to yield new treatments and a deeper understanding of IBS. For more information and additional resources visit the National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse website at www.digestive.niddk.nih.gov.
Source: National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse
For claims processed on or after June 2, 2010, HealthChoice members can now access their Explanation of Benefits (EOB) on the HealthChoice website through ClaimLink.
“We’re very excited our members will have electronic access to EOBs,” said Paul King, Deputy Administrator for HealthChoice. “This represents another step in the process of moving toward electronic communications,” he said.
The EOBs available on the website look exactly like the hard copy versions you currently receive, and even though EOBs are available on the website, HealthChoice will continue to mail hard copies. If you prefer to go paperless and stop receiving paper EOBs, please contact HP Administrative Services at 1-405-416-1800 or toll-free 1-800-782-5218. TDD users call 1-405-416-1525 or toll-free 1-800-941-2160. Paper EOBs will be discontinued in mid-July for those who choose to go paperless.
You can access your EOBs by clicking ClaimLink in the left side menu. If you haven’t already registered to access ClaimLink, you will need to create a unique username and password to gain access to your information. Registration only takes a moment, but you will need your Member ID number. A Quick Start Guide is also available in the Resources section of ClaimLink. Adobe Reader is required to view the PDF documents.
For assistance or additional information, please contact HP Administrative Services at one of the numbers listed above.
Since the passage of the Health Care Reform Act and other related legislation, HealthChoice has received numerous calls from members who have questions about how their benefits will be affected. While HealthChoice staff continues to review the legislation to determine its full impact, it’s important that members understand that HealthChoice is already in compliance with many of the legislation’s provisions, such as its restriction on preexisting limitations for children under age 19. Additionally, it’s important to note that many of the law’s mandates will be phased in over the next several years.
Members can expect to see the following changes for the upcoming 2011 plan year:
- Dependent Eligibility – The eligibility age for dependent children will increase to age 26. The new eligibility rule allows members to continue coverage on dependent children regardless of their marital status.
- Lifetime Limits – HealthChoice will eliminate its $2 million lifetime limit to pharmacy benefits. The plan does not place a lifetime limit on health benefits.
While there are many other provisions of the Health Care Reform Act, the two listed above will have the most immediate effect on members. Please note that as more information becomes available, it will be posted to this website. Also, watch for new information in your Option Period materials.
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