checkups p GET YOUR CHILD S CHECKUP: IT S FREE! doral dental changed its name

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1 the key to the good life is a great plan F i r s t Q u a r t e r baby basics doral dental changed its name Doral Dental works with TennCare to make sure you can get the dental care you need. In December 2009, Doral Dental changed its name to DentaQuest. Doral s name may have changed, but its commitment to you remains as strong as ever. g DentaQuest s address remains the same: North Corporate Parkway, Mequon, WI g DentaQuest s phone number remains the same: g DentaQuest s Web site address changed: a publication just for for you you from from Check out checkups p GET YOUR CHILD S CHECKUP: IT S FREE! PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID AmeriChoice United Health Group AmeriChoice 8 Cadillac Drive, Suite 100 Brentwood, TN 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 checkup at the recommended time, shown on page 4 of this newsletter. This will help ensure the health of your child. Call your doctor today and make an appointment. Your child can get a ride to the doctor for TENNderCare health services. An adult may ride with the child. These rides are FREE. For a ride to the doctor, please call the AmeriChoice Transportation Reservation Center at the number for your area on page 7 of this newsletter. CAN T GET IN? If you need help making an appointment, please call AmeriChoice Customer Service at AMC-013-TN

2 6CHRONIC CONDITIONS brisk winter air 5tips for winter asthma control 1 Drink lots of water. Aim for eight 8-ounce glasses a day. 2 Use a humidifier inside. Clean it and change the filter often. 3 Cover your mouth and nose outside. Use a scarf or a mask. 4 Stay away from woodburning fireplaces or stoves. If you use one, keep it clean. Make sure your home is well ventilated. 5 Vacuum and dust often. Keep pets out of bedrooms. Wash bed sheets weekly. CONTROLLING ASTHMA when it s cold Many people with asthma breathe a sigh of relief when winter comes. Outdoor triggers like pollen and weeds go away for a while. But some people feel worse in the winter. Their asthma can be triggered by cold air outside or dry air inside. Indoor triggers like dust mites and pet dander can also build up when windows are closed. TIME FOR A CHANGE Do you have asthma? Talk to your doctor about whether you need to change your asthma action plan seasonally. Remember to carry your rescue inhaler with you. Source: American Lung Association ( 6Behavioral Health no shame DON T BE EMBARRASSED ABOUT DEPRESSION Depression is a medical problem, like having diabetes or needing eyeglasses. It is nothing to be ashamed of. More than 18 million Americans have it. Some signs include: g a sad mood that doesn t go away g not wanting to do things you once enjoyed g eating much more or less than you used to g trouble sleeping or sleeping too much g lack of energy g a hard time thinking g thinking about death or suicide Depression can be treated. Medication can help. So can therapy. You can also try lifestyle changes. Exercising, getting enough sleep and eating healthy may improve your mood. Some people get depressed each winter. This is called seasonal affective disorder (SAD). It s caused by not getting enough sunlight. Sitting by special lamps can help SAD. So can spending time outdoors on sunny days. GET HELP If you have symptoms of depression most of the time for more than a few weeks, talk to your doctor. Sources: National Library of Medicine ( National Alliance on Mental Illness ( ``````` More than 1 out of 7 low-income Americans have depression. 2 health talk

3 6PREVENTION 6Healthy lifestyles 8More than 11,000 women will find out they have cervical cancer this year. HPV and me color me healthy A COLORFUL DIET IS A HEALTHY ONE Eating a rainbow of foods can make you healthy. It can help you prevent cancer, heart disease and other problems. Eat at least one food of each color every day. Fruits and vegetables are just as nutritious fresh, canned or frozen. RED tomatoes, watermelon, pink grapefruit, strawberries WHY May lower prostate cancer risk and blood pressure. WHITE garlic, leeks, white onions WHY May reduce blood pressure and cholesterol. May lower risk of heart attack. YOU CAN PREVENT CERVICAL CANCER About 70 percent of cervical cancers are caused by the human papillomavirus (HPV). HPV is very common. You get it from unprotected sex. Today, there s a vaccine for HPV. Girls and women aged 9 to 26 should consider getting it. It works best when given to girls well before they become sexually active. Cervical cancer is treatable when caught early. Pap tests find cancer early, before there are any symptoms. You should start getting Pap tests at age 21 or three years after you start having sex, whichever comes first. You should get a Pap test at least every three years until age 70. If you have had an abnormal Pap test or are infected with HPV, talk to your doctor about getting the test more often. TAKE CHARGE Talk to your doctor about getting cancer screenings. For more information about cancer, call the National Cancer Institute at CANCER or visit YELLOW cantaloupe, peaches, pineapple, yellow peppers WHY May reduce risk of cancer and heart disease. Helps keep skin, bones and teeth healthy. GREEN broccoli, green peas, leafy greens, cabbage WHY Helps maintain good vision. May reduce risk of breast and prostate cancer. BLUE blackberries, blueberries, purple grapes WHY May lower risk of cancer, heart disease and agerelated memory loss. YOUR PYRAMID Make a plan for eating healthy at This Web site has many tools for people of all ages and sizes. Sources: American Heart Association ( American Cancer Society ( American Dietetic Association ( Sources: Centers for Disease Control ( American Cancer Society ( First quarter

4 6TENNderCare make call the TENNderCARE members can get mental health, vision and dental services without a referral from their PCP. Here s how: stayy go? or g SHOULD PARENTS STAY WITH KIDS IN THE DENTIST S CHAIR? When you take your child to the dentist, you may have a decision to make. Should you go with him or her into the treatment area? Or should you stay behind in the waiting room? What s the best thing to do? It s important to remember that both you and your dentist have a job to do. To get the most out of your child s visit, talk with the dentist about any concerns you have. 4 health talk A healthy smile Dentists have known for a long time that having a healthy mouth helps you have a healthy body. To stay healthy, children should see a dentist every six months. They should also brush and floss their teeth daily. Children on TennCare have TENNderCare (EPSDT) dental services until they reach the age of 21. These services include regular six-month checkups at no charge, fluoride treatments and sealants. Your job as a parent of a child seeing the dentist: g Find a dentist that you and your children like and trust. Make this your dental home and visit every six months. g Make an appointment for your child to see the dentist and keep it. g Tell your child that everyone who has good teeth goes to the dentist so they are not afraid. g Stay positive and set a good example by seeing your dentist regularly. g You may want to go into the dentist treatment area with a very young child, but children over age 3 seem to do better without a parent. The job of the dentist and staff: g The dentist will tell you if you are welcome in the treatment area. g Some dentists welcome parents into their treatment area and some don t. The dentist might need space to work with your child, and can take this time to get to know your child better. g The dentist should help your child feel secure and comfortable during the dental treatment. g The dentist should talk with you about your child s oral care needs and any decisions that need to be made for your child. g The dentist should teach both you and your child good oral health habits. The dentist will make a plan for oral care throughout your child s growth and development. questions? Call DentaQuest Member Services at (TTY ) or visit We can help you find a dentist, answer questions about your TennCare dental benefits and get you interpretation, translation or transportation services. checkup checklist Your child should have checkups at these ages: c birth c 3 to 5 days old c 1 month old c 2 months old c 4 months old c 6 months old c 9 months old c 12 months old c 15 months old c 18 months old c 24 months old c 30 months old c Then, take your child to the doctor for a checkup every year from ages 3 to 20. Your children can also have doctor visits at other times if needed. For example, a teacher might see something that calls for a doctor visit.

5 FOR MENTAL HEALTH CARE Call Americhoice at (TTY ) to be referred to a participating mental health professional. FOR VISION CARE Call Spectera at (TTY ) to find a participating eye doctor. FOR DENTAL CARE Call DentaQuest at (TTY ) to find a participating dentist. well child care how Tennderc are helps keep children Healthy TENNderCare is Tennessee s EPSDT program. EPSDT stands for Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment. TENNderCare is a full program of checkups and healthcare services for children and teens in TennCare. It pays for all medications and care necessary to help your child. Children and teens, from birth until age 21, should get regular doctor visits and other health checkups. what does a child s checkup include? g health history g complete physical exam g lab tests (as appropriate) g immunizations g vision/hearing screening g developmental/behavioral screening (as appropriate) g advice on how to keep your child healthy Do I need permission for a TENNderCare checkup? No. You do not need permission from AmeriChoice for TENNderCare checkups. Just call your child s doctor to schedule one. Your child may need special care from other doctors at times. Your child s doctor will arrange this. Some of these doctors may not belong to our network. In that case, your doctor must first call AmeriChoice for permission. Need help? If you need help scheduling your TENNderCare visit, getting any services recommended at the visit or arranging transportation, please call (TTY ). pregnant? How to get help quitting smoking To help women stop smoking during pregnancy, the Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine is a toll-free service that provides personalized support for Tennesseans who want to quit smoking or chewing tobacco. The Tennessee Tobacco QuitLine links pregnant women who call with quit coaches who understand the special needs and concerns of pregnant smokers. Telephone quitlines have been shown to be one of the most successful ways of helping people quit smoking. g The QuitLine number is QUIT-NOW ( ). It s FREE! It is available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. 11 p.m., Saturday, 9 a.m. 6 p.m., and Sunday, 11 a.m. 5 p.m., Eastern time. Counseling is available in both Spanish and English. g The QuitLine Web site is First quarter

6 6you and your doctor see your PCP GET THE CARE YOU NEED WHEN YOU NEED IT specialcare MAKE SURE YOUR DOCTORS ARE TALKING TO EACH OTHER There are many types of health problems. Some health problems are medical health problems. Medical health problems might be diabetes or cancer. Other health problems affect your behavioral health. Examples of behavioral health problems are depression or drug addiction. Sometimes a person can have both types of health problems at the same time. It is important that all of your health problems are treated. Sometimes having one type of health problem makes another health problem worse. For example, studies have found that people with diabetes are twice as likely to have depression as people without diabetes. This is why coordination of your medical care is very important. Talking with your primary care provider (PCP) is the first step. It s also important for any providers you see to talk to each other. It is important for your PCP to be aware of treatments and medicines prescribed by other providers. Sharing of this information between your PCP and other doctors can help you get the safest and best treatment. If you have a health condition that requires a visit to a specialist, ask the specialist to send information about your condition or treatment to your PCP. If you receive care from a behavioral health doctor or nurse, he or she should contact your PCP or medical doctor you see most often. Before they share your information, they will ask you to sign a form giving them permission. You do not have to sign the form. But, if you do not, they cannot talk about your treatment. The important thing is that you have all of your health problems treated. Having all of your problems treated can help you have a happier life. It can help you have a longer life, too. As an AmeriChoice member, you have many types of providers who can help you. However, most conditions are best treated at your doctor s office. Your primary care provider (PCP) is able to treat almost any condition that is not life threatening. If your condition is not an emergency, it is best to call your PCP. Call or visit your PCP for reasons like these: g earaches g minor cuts g sprains g skin rashes g colds g coughs g sore throats g mild fevers A hospital emergency room is for emergencies only. An emergency is an injury or illness that may cause death. Or, an emergency might cause an injury that will last a long time. Call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room if you are having a true medical emergency. Some examples of emergencies are: g heart attack or stroke g poisoning g broken bone g heavy bleeding that will not stop Nurses on call If you are sick or injured and you re not sure what to do, call our Nurse Call Line. Nurses answer 24 hours a day, seven days a week. The Nurse Call Line can help with your health concerns. They can give you self-care advice or tell you if you need to see your PCP. They can help you decide if you need to go to an urgent care center or hospital. Call the Nurse Call Line at health talk

7 6about your plan need a ride? WE LL TAKE YOU THERE FOR FREE You can get a free ride to the doctor for needed health services. Whenever possible, call three days ahead to arrange transportation. The number you call to ask for a ride depends on where you live. East Tennessee: Anderson, Bledsoe, Blount, Bradley, Campbell, Carter, Claiborne, Cocke, Franklin, Grainger, Greene, Grundy, Hamblen, Hamilton, Hancock, Hawkins, Jefferson, Johnson, Knox, Loudon, Marion, McMinn, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Polk, Rhea, Roane, Scott, Sequatchie, Sevier, Sullivan, Unicoi, Union and Washington counties Middle Tennessee: Bedford, Cannon, Cheatham, Clay, Coffee, Cumberland, Davidson, DeKalb, Dickson, Fentress, Giles, Hickman, Houston, Humphreys, Jackson, Lawrence, Lewis, Lincoln, Macon, Marshall, Maury, Montgomery, Moore, Overton, Perry, Pickett, Putnam, Robertson, Rutherford, Smith, Stewart, Sumner, Trousdale, Van Buren, Warren, Wayne, White, Williamson and Wilson counties West Tennessee: Benton, Carroll, Chester, Crockett, Decatur, Dyer, Fayette, Gibson, Hardeman, Hardin, Haywood, Henderson, Henry, Lake, Lauderdale, Madison, McNairy, Obion, Shelby, Tipton and Weakley counties Local Shelby County: Behavioral Health incrisis BEHAVIORAL HEALTH MOBILE CRISIS SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE Sometimes you or a loved one can experience problems with mental health. Sometimes those problems can become a crisis. A mental health crisis can be an emergency or urgent in nature. Some examples of emergencies are: g a threat of suicide g an attempt of suicide g a threat of serious harm to self or others An urgent condition might be a mental health condition that needs attention or it will get worse. If it gets worse, it might become a mental health emergency. Get help right away if you or a loved one has a mental health crisis. You can call Behavioral Health Mobile Crisis Services. People who can help you will respond. The Behavioral Health Crisis Services number for adults ages 18 years and older is The numbers for children and youth under 18 years of age are: MEMPHIS REGION RURAL WEST TENN RURAL MIDDLE TENN NASHVILLE REGION UPPER CUMBERLAND SOUTHEAST TENN KNOXVILLE REGION NORTHEAST TENN First quarter

8 6Healthy lifestyles 6about your plan less is more START FRESH, GET FIT, LIVE HEALTHY Does BMI just sound like teenage texting jargon? It s not. BMI means body mass index. It is a valuable way to monitor your weight and general health. BMI is a number figured from a person s weight and height. It can help identify possible weight problems in adults. The key to maintaining a healthy weight isn t about fad diets or short-term changes in eating habits. It s about a change in lifestyle. Following these tips can help you maintain a healthy weight. g Eat healthy things like fruits, vegetables, grains and low fat foods. g Control your portions. g Limit your amount of soda and juices with high sugar content. g Drink lots of water. g Get daily exercise. Excess weight can be a health risk. It is important to see your healthcare provider for regular checkups. Your provider will tell you if your weight is a health concern. Your doctor may also talk to you about your diet and how much physical activity you get. LET US HELP AmeriChoice offers a Disease Management Program on weight management. Find out more by calling If you have questions about your weight, talk to your doctor today. Source: Centers for Disease Control ( fraud andabuse IF YOU SEE SOMETHING, SAY SOMETHING Most Medicaid members and providers are honest. However, even a few dishonest people can cause big problems. If you know fraud or abuse is taking place, you must tell someone. You don t have to give your name. FRAUD AND ABUSE by MEMBERS INCLUDES: g Letting someone else use your plan or state Medicaid card or number. g Selling or giving your prescription medicine to anyone else. FRAUD AND ABUSE by PROVIDERS INCLUDES: g Billing for services that were never given or billing twice for the same service. g Ordering tests or services you don t need. HOW TO REPORT FRAUD AND ABUSE: Tell us in one of the following ways. g Call the UnitedHealth Group Compliance Helpline at You can call 24/7. g Contact Customer Service at g Report fraud to the state by calling MAKE A STATEMENT Learn more about how you can prevent or report fraud and abuse. Visit tn.us/tenncare and click on Report Fraud. 8 health talk

9 quality care HOW TENNCARE MEASURES UP AmeriChoice wants you to get the best care and service. That s why we have a Quality Management (QM) program. Our QM program helps us learn what we can do better. Then we use it to improve. Our QM Program has several member health programs. These programs: g help people with health conditions like asthma, diabetes, heart disease, depression, bipolar disorder and schizophrenia. g help pregnant women have healthy babies. g help people stay healthy with shots, screenings and tests. g improve patient safety. g make sure members are happy with the plan. g make sure doctors and other healthcare professionals meet our standards. We use national standards to see how well our QM program works. The National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) writes the standards. NCQA is an independent agency. It compares the quality programs of health plans. We measure our progress meeting our goals using NCQA s: g Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS ). g Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers & Systems (CAHPS ). HEDIS and CAHPS results are given in a national report card. See our 2009 TennCare highlights below. The chart compares our results to national averages. MEASURE AmeriChoice Middle TN AmeriChoice East TN National Average* Rating of Health Plan** 69% 73% 73% Rating of Health Care** 70% 66% 69% Rating of Personal Doctor** 72% 75% 76% How Well Doctors Communicate 87% 86% 87% Timeliness of Prenatal Care 83% 89% 86% Postpartum Care 66% 67% 64% Diabetes Care: A1C Level Testing 77% 80% 81% Diabetes Care: Retinal Eye Exam 29% 37% 55% Diabetes Care: LDL-C Cholesterol Screening Diabetes Care: Monitoring for Kidney Disease 73% 74% 76% 75% 77% 78% * National averages provided by NCQA s 2009 Quality Compass. ** Percentage reflects members who rated their plan 8, 9, or 10 on a scale of 0 10, 10 being best. HEDIS is a registered trademark of the National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA). CAHPS is a registered trademark of the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ). First quarter

10 6about your plan we speak your language Habla español? When you call Customer Service, ask for a representative who speaks Spanish. Our newsletter and other publications are also available in other languages and alternative formats (Braille, large print). Call Customer Service to request them. You can read this newsletter in Spanish at If you are Limited English Proficient (LEP) and have a doctor s appointment, your doctor must provide an interpreter if you ask for one. When you make your appointment, tell your doctor that you need an interpreter. These services are free to TennCare members. Habla español? Cuando llame a Servicio al cliente, pida hablar con un representante de habla hispana. También podemos prestar servicios de interpretación y traducción en diversos idiomas para ayudarle en sus citas médicas. Nuestro boletín informativo y otras publicaciones también se encuentran disponibles en formatos alternativos (Braile, letra grande) y otros idiomas. Llame a Servicio al cliente para solicitarlos. Puede leer este boletín en español en Estos servicios son gratis para los miembros TennCare. at YOURservice give us a call AmeriChoice wants to provide good services to all members. We believe open communication is needed for the best results. It is important we hear from you if you need assistance. We are available to help you better understand our services and how they work. The first step is calling Customer Service. You can ask for help or voice an opinion when talking to our staff. The team is available to work with you at You will reach the right person to help you with questions and concerns. Remember, answering your questions and hearing your input is important to us. Be a part of the team and let us hear from you. report fraud To report fraud or abuse to AmeriChoice, call To report fraud or abuse to the Office of Inspector General (OIG), you can call toll-free or go online to and click on Report Fraud. To report provider fraud or patient abuse to the Medicaid Fraud Control Unit (MFCU), call toll-free nurseline Optum NurseLine is available 24 hours every day for you and your family. With a toll-free call, you ll reach a nurse who can provide information to assist you with health problems. Call Optum NurseLine at give us your feedback We welcome your comments and letters about your experiences and suggestions for AmeriChoice. If you d like to relate a story or suggestion, whether positive or negative, please write us at: Corporate Marketing AmeriChoice 8 Cadillac Drive, Suite 100 Brentwood, TN health talk

11 on themove? Changing Your Address with TennCare Have you moved? Are you planning to move? It is important to change your address with TennCare. You do this by contacting the Department of Human Services (DHS). There are two easy ways that you can change your address: By phone Call the DHS Family Assistance Service Center Help Desk. The toll-free number is You will be asked for your name as it appears in the TennCare or DHS records, your new and previous addresses and your Social Security number. You will need to fax or mail a copy of a bill or lease that has your name and new address on it. You will be given the fax number or address to send it to. In person You may go to any DHS office. Locations are usually listed in the blue pages of your telephone book. You will need the same information as when you call. You will need to bring your Tennessee driver s license or state identification card and a copy of a bill or lease with your name and new address on it. yourrights Fair treatment with TennCare No one is treated in a different way because of race, color, birthplace, national origin, sex, age, disability or religion. Do you think you ve been treated unfairly? Do you have more questions? Do you need more help? You can make a free call to the Family Assistance Service Center at In Nashville, call Nadie recibe un trato diferente debido a su raza, color de la piel, lugar de nacimiento, idioma, sexo, edad, discapacidad o religión. Cree que lo han tratado injustamente? Tiene más preguntas? Necesita más ayuda? Usted puede llamar gratis al Centro de Servicio para Asistencia Familiar al En Nashville, llame al Unfair treatment Federal law says that unfair treatment is not allowed. No one can be treated in a different way because of race, color, birthplace, religion, language, sex, age, beliefs or disability. If you feel that you have been treated unfairly for any of these reasons, you have the right to complain. No one will know. We do not allow unfair treatment in TennCare. If you want to file a complaint, call Customer Service at (TTY ) to speak with a Customer Service Representative; fill out the complaint form in your Member Handbook (located on page 65); contact TennCare at (TTY ); or mail a complaint letter to: AmeriChoice, Attn: Compliance Officer 8 Cadillac Drive, Suite 100 Brentwood, TN La ley federal dice que el trato injusto no está permitido. Nadie puede recibir un trato diferente debido a su raza, color de la piel, lugar de nacimiento, religión, idioma, sexo, edad, creencias o discapacidad. Si piensa que ha sido tratado de manera injusta por alguno de esos motivos, usted tiene el derecho de quejarse. Nadie se enterara. TennCare no permite el trato injusto. Si usted quiere quejarse, llame al serivicio del cliente al (TTY ). UnitedHealthcare does not provide medical treatment or medical advice. Please do not contact UnitedHealthcare regarding medical questions. If you have a medical question, contact your physician or health care professional. In the event of an emergency, go to the nearest emergency room. Insurance coverage provided by or through United HealthCare Insurance Company, UnitedHealthcare Plan of the River Valley, Inc., UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company of the River Valley or their affiliates. Administrative services to self-funded plans provided by United HealthCare Insurance Company, United HealthCare Services LLC or UnitedHealthcare Services Company of the River Valley, Inc. First quarter

12 6sick days 6baby basics what to do ABOUT THE H1N1 AND SEASONAL FLU Flu season hasn t peaked yet. Both the seasonal flu and the H1N1 ( swine ) flu will be spreading for a few more months. You should still be following basic tips for staying healthy. Wash your hands often. Cough or sneeze into a tissue or your elbow. Stay home if you are sick. And don t touch your eyes, nose or mouth. It s not too late to get a flu shot. Follow the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines about who needs vaccines the most. Seasonal flu vaccine H1N1 vaccine g pregnant women g children aged 6 months to 18 years old g people of any age with certain chronic conditions g healthcare workers g people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age or others at high risk for complications from the flu g people who live in nursing homes and other long-term care facilities g people 50 years of age and older THE NOSE KNOWS The seasonal and H1N1 vaccines are also available as nasal sprays for some age groups. But for some people, shots work better. Ask your doctor which type of vaccine is best for you. Source: Centers for Disease Control ( g pregnant women g people aged 6 months to 24 years old g people aged 25 through 64 years with certain chronic conditions g healthcare and emergency medical services workers g people who live with or care for children younger than 6 months of age two by 2 GET YOUR BABY TESTED FOR LEAD Lead is a metal in our environment. Before we knew it was dangerous, it was used in paint, gasoline and plumbing. Today there are laws against using it. Other countries don t have the same laws. ```` 1 in 4 children are exposed to lead in their homes. That s why painted toys or other products made outside the U.S. can have lead. Homes built before 1970 can still have lead in their paint or pipes. Even small amounts of lead can be dangerous to young children. Over time, lead poisoning can lead to problems. Children may have lower intelligence, slow growth, learning disabilities and other problems. Have your child tested for lead at 1 and 2 years of age or when your doctor recommends. Lead poisoning can be treated when caught. GET TESTED Your health plan pays for lead testing. Sources: Centers for Disease Control ( American Academy of Pediatrics ( 6prescription drugs Q A CAN I DRINK ALCOHOL WHEN TAKING MEDICATION? It s usually not a good idea. Having a drink with some medicines can make you very sleepy or upset your stomach. Some medicines don t work as well with alcohol. Others can even get stronger. Drinking alcohol with some medicines can be very dangerous. It could cause liver damage or blood pressure problems. If you have any questions, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Source: Food and Drug Administration ( QAQ A ARE GENERIC DRUGS AS SAFE AS BRAND-NAME DRUGS? Yes. Generic drugs may look different from brand-name drugs, but they act the same. They have the same active ingredients. They meet the same quality standards. In fact, the same company that makes the brand-name drug often makes the generic version, too. IT S LISTED Your plan uses a formulary. This is a list of covered prescription drugs. Using generic or formulary drugs saves money. Find out if your medicine is on the formulary. Call or see 12 health talk