Advance Care Planning It s about the Conversation

Transcription

1 News for Unity BadgerCare Plus Members Spring 2017 Advance Care Planning It s about the Conversation We take time to plan out the details of our lives such as vacations, family reunions, education and weddings, yet many of us have not taken the time to talk with friends and family about our health care wishes. Advance care planning is a way to make sure that your personal wishes about your health care are known by those close to you or providing care for you. This is especially important if you have a serious or life-threatening illness and are no longer able to communicate your wishes. Advance care planning can help you Understand your treatment options. Define your health care goals. Weigh your options about your care and treatment. Make decisions about choosing a health care agent and / or completing an advance directive. The health care agent is the person you choose to speak for you if you become injured or ill and are unable to communicate. An advance directive is a written statement of your wishes about what medical treatment you would want. This ensures that your wishes are carried out in the event that you are unable to communicate them to a doctor. Discuss your wishes with family, friends and doctors. Advance care planning is important for everyone, no matter your age. So, take a few minutes to talk about advance care planning during your next doctor s appointment!

2 Introducing our new company brand and logo including Quartz Unity Health Plans Insurance Corporation (Unity) is pleased to introduce a new company brand and logo including Quartz. The branding reflects both the evolution and integration with Gundersen Health Plan (Gundersen). It also reflects our vision of the future. Keeping quality care, close to home for 45 years Quartz manages services for the health insurance plans of Unity and Gundersen. Integrated under the Quartz brand, Unity, Gundersen and Quartz are co-owned by UW Health and Gundersen Health System. We also have a proud history of bringing health care resources and expertise to the communities we serve. You will find Quartz offices in Middleton, Sauk City and Onalaska, Wisconsin. Quartz serves 275,000 customers who live in Southern and western Wisconsin Parts of Illinois Iowa and Minnesota What does this mean? As you can see above, we are still using the Unity logo that you know, but now tie Unity to Quartz. Do you see the Quartz corporate logo (shown left)? You will start to see the Quartz logo in our materials. The vibrant red Quartz logo reflects a strong and solid health plan services company. A company whose main goal is to make sure the local communities it serves have access to high-quality health care. Our main focus is you This change will not impact our main focus, which is and always will be you. Unity and Gundersen will remain licensed health plans and continue to use those names. Members of Unity or Gundersen will stay insured by Unity or Gundersen, as affiliates* of Quartz. You can still use your health plan with the same benefits as you have now. The doctors that see you now will not change. We invite you to visit our website at QuartzBenefits.com to learn more about Quartz. You can also find out more on the integration of Unity and Gundersen. You may also get in touch with Customer Service if you have questions or want to learn more. * Unity Health Plans Insurance Corporation, Gundersen Health Plan, Inc., and Quartz Health Solutions, Inc. are separate legal entities. 2

3 Middleton, Wisconsin Sauk City, Wisconsin Onalaska, Wisconsin Stay Informed. Stay Connected. Use our new when trying to reach someone at Unity Health Insurance Use our new Customer Service hours to reach us for help Monday through Thursday from 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., and Fridays from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Member Advocates have a new name and As a Unity member, if you had concerns or problems with your services from Unity, you would contact a Member Advocate. You still can, but they are now called an Appeals Specialist. Sometimes Customer Service staff is not able to resolve an issue you may have shared. This is when an Appeals Specialist can step in and help you with the appeal process. Please visit unityhealth.com/appeals for more information on Unity s appeals process. You can reach an Appeals Specialist Through Customer Service at (800) ; TTY / TDD: 711 or toll-free at (800) By new at AppealsSpecialists@quartzbenefits.com. By new fax at (608) By sending a MyChart message to Customer Service. 3

4 you! Unity Health Insurance and WE RE HAPPY TO HAVE YOU AS A MEMBER. If you have questions regarding your benefits, clinics or practitioners, call Customer Service at (800) Also, there are dedicated BadgerCare Plus staff members to assist you. Important Information about Your Appeal Rights We are dedicated to providing quality service to our members. Our goal is to continuously improve the care and service members receive, so we look to you for comments and suggestions. There may be a time when you have a concern. As a member, you have the right to voice a complaint or appeal a decision made by Unity and to receive a prompt and fair review. You may also have the right to a review of Unity s decision by an external independent review organization. To learn more about important information regarding your rights, visit unityhealth.com/appeals. Member Rights and Responsibilities Statement We are committed to maintaining a mutually respectful relationship with our members and practitioners. Our Member Rights and Responsibilities Statement communicates our respect for your rights and our expectations of your responsibilities, including your right to privacy and confidentiality, your right to be treated with respect and dignity and your responsibility to show consideration and respect to health plan staff and health care practitioners. Please see your Member Handbook for your Member Rights and Responsbilities Statement. It s available online at unityhealth.com. Unity welcomes the growing Latino community. Learn about health insurance in Spanish. Just go to unityhealth.com/espanol. Unity Health Insurance complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. Spanish ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de ayuda con el idioma. Llame al (800) , TTY / TDD: 711 / (800) Russian Если вы говорите на русском языке, то вам доступны бесплатные услуги перевода. Звоните (800) , TTY / TDD: 711 / (800) Hmong LUS CEEV: Yog tias koj hais lus Hmoob, cov kev pab txog lus, muaj kev pab dawb rau koj. Hu rau (800) , TTY / TDD: 711 / (800)

5 You Text. You Pay. Take the Pledge. Each day in the United States, at least eight people are killed and 1,161 injured in car crashes due to a distracted driver. In 2014, 3,179 people died and 431,000 were hurt in car crashes due to a distracted driver. Types of distractions you could live without Texting can be one of the worst distractions to drivers, because it needs your full attention (visual, manual and thinking). However, other distractions that could cause the driver s, passengers and even bystanders harm are Eating and drinking Talking Combing your hair or putting on makeup Using a navigation system Adjusting the radio Pledge to drive phone-free today! Take the pledge for your safety as well as the safety of those you love. You and your loved ones can pledge to drive phone-free at distraction.gov. Sources: National Safety Council, Distracted Driving Educational Materials (accessed 02/03/2017), available at nsc.org/learn. U.S. Department of Transportation National Traffic Safety Administration (2016), Distracted Driving (accessed 01/31/2017), available at crashstats.nhtsa.dot.gov. Distraction.gov (2011), Facts and Statistics (accessed 01/31/2017), available at distraction.gov. 5

6 Get in and Win Unity wants you and your family to have a healthy future! Your child(ren) have a chance to WIN a $25 Walmart gift card. Each time they GET IN for a HealthCheck exam and blood lead test, their name will be entered in a monthly drawing to win a $25 Walmart gift card. We draw eight names each month. Winners will receive their Walmart gift card in the mail! Please call your doctor s office today and make an appointment. If you don t know who your doctor is, please call Customer Service at (800) Look at the schedule for when your child needs a physical / HealthCheck and blood lead test. HEALTHCHECK EXAM Your Child s HealthCheck Schedule VISIT TO PROVIDER Within One Week of Delivery One Month Two Months Four Months Six Months Nine Months 12 Months 15 Months 18 Months 24 Months 30 Months Three Years Every Year after Age 3 HealthCheck is A physical exam for your child / children that is necessary and important. An exam that is done by your child s / children s doctor. A way of making sure your child / children are growing properly. A way of making sure that all shots / immunizations are up-to-date for your child / children. An exam that includes vision and hearing testing. A blood lead test is needed at one and by age 2. You can request to have a test done at your doctor s office or at the Wisconsin Infant and Children (WIC) office in the following counties: Jefferson, Sauk, Columbia, Green, Juneau, Rock, Fond-du-Lac and Dodge. This service is not available at the WIC office in Dane County. Remember that a HealthCheck exam is NOT a WIC visit. If you have any questions, please call Unity Health Insurance Customer Service at (800)

7 Kids Run Better Unleaded! Being exposed to lead is harmful to a child s health. It can cause lead poisoning which is very serious. While fewer children today have high lead levels in their blood, it still does happen. Lead can be found in drinking water, chips of old paint and soil. It can also be found in a lot of imported candies, toys, jewelry, cosmetics, pottery and ceramics. Home repairs, remodeling and using an indoor fire range can also expose children and adults to lead. Since lead is invisible and doesn t smell, it is hard to know if you have been exposed. Lead poisoning is preventable. Side effects can be lowered by trying to keep children from coming into contact with lead. If they have been exposed, it can be treated. Your child s doctor should perform a lead test during your child s one-and two-year HealthCheck exam appointments. After your child receives a lead test he / she will be entered into a monthly drawing Your Child s Blood Lead Tests: for a $10 Walmart Two by Year Two gift card. FIRST TEST SECOND TEST At One Year At Two Years ASK YOUR PROVIDER Lead exposure has been identified in every county in Wisconsin. Please have your child tested for lead before age 2 to ensure his / her safety. 7

8 Ginger Cooler A spicy drink might seem counter-intuitive when temperatures heat up, but spicy foods actually help your body regulate its temperature. This ginger cooler will do the trick nicely! ¼ cup chopped ginger ½ cup chopped mint leaves Juice of one lime 6 cups sparking water Sweetener of your choice, to taste Combine all of the ingredients in a blender and serve chilled. You can strain this drink, if you don t like the texture of the ginger and mint bits. Iced Green Tea with Lemon and Mint Avoid heating up the house with the stove and brew your tea in the sun instead! This takes a bit of planning, but there s not a lot of actual work involved. 15 bags of organic green tea 1 gallon of water ½ cup whole fresh mint leaves Juice of two lemons Sweetener of your choice, to taste Combine the tea bags, water and mint in a clean, gallon-sized container and set it out in the sun for three to four hours, depending on how dark you like your tea. Remove the tea bags and add the lemon juice and sweeten, if you like. Chill and serve over ice. Drinks to ke 8

9 Cucumber Mint Water It might sound like a strange combination, but cold water with a couple of slices of cucumber and a sprig of mint is a delicious, cooling summer drink. You can serve this up one glass at a time or put together a whole pitcher to keep in the fridge. Here s how to make an eight-serving batch of cucumber mint water 1. Combine a half of a sliced cucumber and 1/2 cup of coarsely chopped mint in a 4-quart pitcher. 2. Top the pitcher off with 16 cups of water and chill until you re ready to serve. Melon Puree This drink is incredibly refreshing and simple to make. Melons are a great source of vitamin C, and when you puree instead of juicing, you retain all of that healthy fiber. Here s how to make your own melon puree 1. Slice up a honeydew melon or cantaloupe into chunks. 2. Blend until smooth, adding a bit of water to thin things out if necessary. 3. Chill your puree before serving for extra cooling benefits. Source - Striepe, B, 2011, / (accessed 02/01/2017). ep you cool! 9

10 When to Go to An Urgent Care Clinic or Emergency Room URGENT CARE is medical care that you need sooner than a routine doctor s visit, but is not life threatening. Call your Primary Care clinic. They can help decide how serious your condition is and how soon to get medical care. You might need to use an urgent care clinic when your doctor or nurse isn t available, such as after hours or holidays, or if you are experiencing the following symptoms Sprains and strains Rashes Pink eye or other minor eye problems Bladder infections Minor cuts or burns Ear infections Small animal or bug bites Coughs, colds and sore throats EMERGENCY CARE is for serious or life-threatening problems like Broken bones Severe trouble breathing Loss of consciousness Severe burns Severe bleeding or head injury Chest pain or heart attack Stroke Sudden loss of vision Sudden and severe head pain Drug overdose Suspected poisoning Extreme pain, especially if the cause is unknown 10

11 Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Non-Emergency Medical Transportation is currently provided by MTM to transport BadgerCare Plus members. To schedule transportation Call (866) at least two business days before your visit. If you call less than two business days before your appointment and the trip is not urgent, they might ask you to reschedule. Medical facilities are also able to schedule rides for you. To file a complaint Call MTM, Inc. s WeCare line at (866) if you have a complaint about your service. You may also use their online form. Providing excellent service is important to them. They will follow up on all complaints and contact everyone who was part of your scheduling and transport. If your ride is late Contact MTM, Inc. s Where s My Ride line at (866) if You have been waiting for your ride for more than 15 minutes after your scheduled pick-up time You had a pre-scheduled return ride and you have waited for more than 15 minutes You called the transportation provider after your appointment and have waited for more than one hour 11

12 Tips for Managing Your Seasonal or Not-So-Seasonal Allergies For the more than 35-million Americans who have allergies, it seems as if there are only two seasons: allergy season and winter (unless you have allergies to dust and mold, then it s all year long). According to UW Health Allergist, Mark Moss, MD, there are actually three allergy seasons Spring when trees begin to bud and flower. Late spring when the grasses join in. Late summer / early fall when ragweed starts. Dr. Moss recommends ways you can help ease your allergy symptoms Try to stay indoors when the pollen or mold levels are high. Visit aaaai.org to see the pollen counting station for UW-Madison. It is one of three in Wisconsin that reports to the National Allergy Bureau. Wear a pollen mask if you need to be outside for a long time (when you mow the lawn or work in the yard). Be sure to shower or change clothes afterward. Source: Mark Moss, MD (2012), Tips for Managing Your Seasonal Allergies (accessed 01/26/2017), available at uwhealth.org. Learn CPR the New Way Did you know that there is a new way to do cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR)? You can use CPR to help someone who stops breathing or whose heart stops beating. There s no longer mouth-to-mouth breathing CPR. The new CPR method needs chest compressions only. Experts say to do 100 chest compressions a minute or to the beat of the song, Staying Alive. For health insurance benefit questions, please call Unity Health Insurance Customer Service at (800) They will gladly assist you. 12 unityhealth.com UH01421 (0417)