Sweeten Your Life the Healthy Way

Transcription

1 SPRING 2014 A Publication for L.A. Care s Adult and Special Needs Members Sweeten Your Life the Healthy Way Spring time brings the sweetness of fruits, flowers and honey, as the birds and bees get busy. Sweeten your life the healthy way with the right amount and right choice of sweets. Sugar makes food taste good, but calories and blood sugar levels can add up fast. With sweeteners such as sugar, honey, sucralose, agave nectar and Stevia, less is better. Sugar substitutes can help you lower the sugar in your blood, but be careful of the health risks they may have. Even if you have diabetes, you can still have sweet-tasting food and drinks without risking your health. It is just a matter of knowing which sweeteners are safe and do not spike your blood sugar levels. Make the healthy choice. Try to eat more healthy foods such as fruits, veggies and whole grains. And make water your go-to drink. That way, you won t have to worry about having sweet treats once in a while. Sweet Tips for a Healthy Smile Your teeth are important to your health! Here are some tips to keep your smile looking great: Brush and floss your teeth regularly. Teeth should be cleaned after each meal, or at least twice per day. Avoid too many sugary foods and drinks. Sugar can destroy the enamel that protects your teeth, sometimes causing teeth to rot. Try to stay away from sugary foods like cookies, cake, candy, and sodas. They are bad for your health and can also cause you to gain weight! See a dentist regularly. Your dentist will check your teeth for signs of cavities, tooth damage, cancer, and gum disease. Learn About Dental Services L.A. Care wants to help you keep a healthy smile. To learn more about dental services or to find a dentist near you, call L.A. Care Member Services at (TTY ). We are here to help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

2 Ask the Doc: What is Asthma? Q: What is asthma? A: Asthma is a chronic disease. Your airways can narrow and swell. They produce extra mucus, which makes it hard to breathe. The most common symptoms are constant coughing, wheezing, tightness in the chest, and shortness of breath. Q: What causes it to flare-up? A: Asthma can come and go. Things that can make it worse include: dust, pollen, animal dander, cold dry air, mold, exercise, hay fever, infections, air pollution, strong emotions, stress, some preservatives, allergies, menstrual cycle, smoking, acid reflux, some drugs, chemical fumes, and being overweight. Q: What can I do about my asthma? A: Asthma can be hard to live with and can be life-threatening. Although there is no cure for asthma, it can be controlled. Treating it early, especially in children, may prevent long-term lung damage and help keep it from getting worse. To keep asthma under control, it is best to: Avoid what causes asthma to flare-up (such as smoking) Use medicine your doctor suggests to prevent flare-ups Use inhalers to quickly control symptoms when they start Work with your doctor. Tell your doctor if you get worse. Asthma can be hard to live with, but if your doctor suggests it, taking your medicine every day (even when you don t have symptoms) can help you feel well and stay active. When You Need Special Care Your doctor that is your Primary Care Provider (PCP) is the first person you go to when you need any kind of health care. Your doctor knows when you have special needs and will make sure you get the right care, in the right place, and at the right time. At times, your doctor may want you to see a specialist. This is an expert in one part of the body or one type of illness. Examples are cardiologists and surgeons. Your doctor may also want you to go to a hospital, clinic, or other place for tests like lab work or x-rays. The care given by the specialist and other places is called specialized care. If your doctor (PCP) wants you to get specialized care, the doctor will make sure you are sent to the right kind of specialist or place to get the care you need. You doctor will work with your health plan to ask for your specialized care to be approved. 2 LIVE WELL SPRING 2014

3 Talk to Your Doctor About Asthma If you have Asthma, use these tips to get ready for your next doctor visit. Write down your questions. Don t be afraid to ask questions. Your doctor is there to help you control your asthma. Keep a list of your triggers. Write down what causes (triggers) your asthma and how you react (coughing, wheezing, hard time breathing). Bring all your medicines and your asthma action plan to each visit. An asthma action plan tells you when and how to use your medicines. If you don t have one, ask your doctor. Ask for health education materials. Health education materials tell you what asthma is and how you can control it. Call your doctor if you have questions. If you get home and have more questions, call your doctor s office and ask to speak to someone who can help. Call L.A. Care if you have questions about Asthma. Asthma Resource Line: , TTY/TDD Line: L.A. Care s 24/7 Nurse Advice Line: The Steps to Getting Specialized Care If you need specialized care, your doctor must ask for approval before you go. This request is known as a referral. These are the steps to get a referral and access the specialized care you need: Your doctor makes a referral and submits a request to your health plan to approve your specialized care. Your health plan will process the referral request within one week. If the doctor asks for a rush referral, it will be processed within 3 days or less. If the referral is not approved, you will receive a letter telling you why it was not approved. The approved specialist or place will make your appointment based on their availability and the type of care you need. If the time or date does not work for you, you can call to ask for another time. If you feel that your appointment is not soon enough, call your doctor. You go to your appointment for care. Your doctor will work with the specialist or place to get you the care you need. If you have a problem getting access to specialized care, the first thing you should do is talk to your doctor. If you still have questions, you can also call L.A. Care s Member Services Department at (TTY/TDD ). Get Mental Health Care in Your Reach 24/7 When you need mental health care, you may call Beacon Health Strategies for care. Beacon is available any time day or night. For L.A. Care, Healthy Families and PASC-SEIU Plan, L.A. Care Medicare Advantage (HMO SNP): , 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. SPRING 2014 LIVE WELL 3

4 New Program Connects Medi-Cal and Medicare Benefits for Seniors and People with Disabilities Looking for New L.A. Care Volunteers! You can be part of two unique groups with L.A. Care that help L.A. Care meet the needs of the neighborhoods we serve. We are seeking new people to help with our Regional Community Advisory Committees (RCACs) and Health Promoters Program. RCAC members bring the voice of their communities to L.A. Care s Board of Governors, which guides programs for over 1 million members. Health Promoters are trained in health topics and share their knowledge through workshops and health fairs. We invite people over 18 years of age of diverse backgrounds and offer a special welcome to seniors and people with disabilities. Please call to find out more. Health care (along with doctors and hospitals) Medicine Mental health services Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) In June 2012, Governor Brown signed into law California s Coordinated Care Initiative. If you have Medi-Cal, this will mean a change in the way you get your health care and supportive care. Starting as early as January 2014, if you have both Medi-Cal and Medicare, you will be able to get all of your Medi-Cal and Medicare benefits in one new Cal MediConnect health plan. This new plan will cover: Nursing home care Hospice DME and supplies Rides to see the doctor If you are eligible for Cal MediConnect, the State will send you details on your options to join a plan within the next few months. The benefits of joining L.A. Care s Cal MediConnect plan include: One telephone number to call, one health plan card, and one set of benefits Access to a care team that will help you coordinate your health care and supportive services Dental and vision coverage Access to nurse advice lines and free health workshops No additional cost If you decide not to join Cal MediConnect, you will still need to have a Medi-Cal health plan for your Medi-Cal and supportive services. To learn more, please read the next story California s Coordinated Care Initiative Impacts Supportive Services and visit lacare.org/duals. 4 LIVE WELL SPRING 2014

5 California s Coordinated Care Initiative Impacts Supportive Services Starting as early as April 2014, the Coordinated Care Initiative (CCI) will call for nearly all people who have Medi-Cal to sign-up with a Medi-Cal Managed Care Health Plan, like L.A. Care. Health plans will be in charge of taking care of all of your health services under Medi-Cal. Because of CCI health plans will also cover any Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) you receive like: In-Home Supportive Services (IHSS) Community Based Adult Services (CBAS) Multipurpose Senior Services Program (MSSP) Long Term Care (LTC) in a skilled nursing facility. Other than CBAS, these services are not part of your health plan right now. The way you get most Long Term Services and Supports (LTSS) will not change when they become covered by your health plan. For example, if you get IHSS, a county IHSS Worker will still assess your need for care, and you will keep your right to hire and supervise the homecare worker of your choice. The Health Plan will work with you to arrange all of your care to make sure that you get what you need. More news on these services will be published in the fall and winter editions of this newsletter. Stay Healthy with Regular Health Screenings L.A. Care wants to help you live well. Stay healthy by taking care to have regular health screenings. This chart can help you remind you of some of the health screenings you may need. Your doctor may want you to start some tests earlier or have them more often. Ask your doctor about other tests or vaccines you might need. Type of Screening Frequency and When to Start Wellness Visit Medical and family history, physical exam, height, weight, blood Every Year pressure, and Body Mass Index (BMI, a measure for a healthy weight) Bone Density Screening for 65 years and older or as recommended by your doctor Breast Cancer Every two years from ages 50 to 74 Colon Health Starting at age 50 Check for diabetes and pre-diabetes When your blood pressure is higher than 135/80 and as recommended by your doctor L.A. Care mailed Preventive Health Guidelines (PHGs) to all members in September New members receive the PHGs when they join us. If you want to learn more or get a new copy mailed to you, please call L.A Care at SPRING 2014 LIVE WELL 5

6 Important Phone Numbers Do you have questions about your health plan or your benefits? Call your health plan directly or call L.A. Care Health Plan. Medi-Cal Members Anthem Blue Cross Care1st Health Plan Kaiser Permanente L.A. Care Health Plan (TTY/TDD ) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and holidays L.A. Care Health Plan Medicare Advantage (HMO SNP) (TTY/TDD ) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and holidays L.A. Care Healthy Kids (0-5) L.A. Care Compliance Helpline L.A. Care Family Resource Centers Inglewood or Lynwood L.A. Care Covered Do You Have a Mobile Phone? Would you like to get member news on your mobile phone or get health help by text from L.A. Care? Send us your or cell phone number and tell us what you want to know to editor@lacare.org. Be sure to like us on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Know About Common Sugar-Free Sweeteners Look for hidden sources of sugar-free sweeteners. Read the labels on your food products. See what sweeteners are used, if any. Under the Carbohydrate (carbs) section, you can see how many carbs the food has. You can also see how much of the carbs are in the form of sugar. Take care to know about the health risks from sweeteners such as these. Type of Sweetener Aspartame (Equal, Canderel, NutraSweet ) Saccharin (Sweet n Low ) Sucralose (Splenda ) Stevia (Pure Via, Truvia ) Health Risks The guide set by the EPA is 7.8mg per day. (One can of soda has ~56mg.) Too much may cause headache, dizziness, stomach problems, and more. Do not use if you have phenylketonuria (PKU). (This is a rare illness). These sweetners can cause mental problems, seizures and worse in people with PKU. It can raise insulin in blood and cause allergic reactions in people intolerant of sulfa drugs. It can cause cancer in children and unborn babies. Pregnant women, babies and children should not eat saccharin due to these health risks. No proven health risks or harmful results. Sucralose is a fairly new product. Long term health effects of using sucralose are unknown. No proven health risks or harmful results. If you are allergic to daisies, ragweed, or certain other flowers, you may experience an allergic reaction with wheezing, shortness of breath, sneezing, headache and/or itching. 6 LIVE WELL SPRING 2014

7 The Highs & Lows of Diabetes and Blood Sugar Everyone s blood sugar goes up and down during the day. People with diabetes need to be extra careful that their blood sugar doesn t go too high or too low. Blood sugar that goes too high is called hyperglycemia. It is caused by eating more than usual or missing a dose of diabetes medicine. Blood sugar that falls too low is called hypoglycemia. It is caused by skipping a meal or taking too much diabetes medicine. More things that can cause blood sugar levels to change for diabetics include: Causes of High Blood Sugar (Hyperglycemia) Eating too many carbohydrate (sugar) foods Not taking your diabetes medicine Not getting enough exercise Being sick or in pain Some medications Stress Causes of Low Blood Sugar (Hypoglycemia) Waiting too long between meals Exercising hard without eating a snack Drinking alcohol (for some people with diabetes, even a small amount of alcohol can cause low blood sugar) Taking too much diabetes medicine Know the Signs of High & Low Blood Sugar It s a good idea to know the signs of high and low blood sugar. If you have had any signs of high or low blood sugar, talk to your doctor about it. Signs of Hyperglycemia (High Blood Sugar) Signs of Hypoglycemia (Low Blood Sugar) Headache Tired Weight loss Increased hunger and thirst Frequent need to go to the bathroom Dry mouth, dry itchy skin Blurred vision Slow healing of wounds and cuts Shaking Sweating Fast heart beat Irritability Faintness (pass out) Hunger Drowsy/sleepy Headache Talk to your doctor about how best to manage diabetes. Make a plan for what to do if your blood sugar goes too high or too low. Your doctor will also make sure you have your A1c tested as well as your eyes, feet, and kidneys. The L.A. Cares About Diabetes program can help you learn about diabetes and how to control it. You can also talk with a nurse. Call (TTY/TDD ) to learn more. SPRING 2014 LIVE WELL 7

8 Surprising Ways to Boost Your Health Which of these are vital for good health? a. Exercise b. Having friends c. Eating healthy d. Learning e. All of the above The answer is e. Physical and mental health go together. Good health involves taking care of your body AND your mind. Two big ways to promote mental health are being engaged and feeling purpose. People are also happier when they feel they are growing and learning. Learning can take place in a formal setting like a class, but learning can happen any time you try something new. Strong social relationships also help us thrive. This means feeling close to family, friends or others. And helping others is a major way to promote happiness. When we help others, our bodies release chemicals that make us feel good. One of the places people can find these things being engaged, learning and socializing is through work or by volunteering. You can also help a non-profit cause of your choice. Search your favorite causes on the web. Also, here are some sources for both working and volunteering: Activity Resource Contact Volunteer Los Angeles volunteerlosangeles.org California Volunteers californiavolunteers.org VOLUNTEERING L.A. Care s Regional Community Advisory Committees (RCACs) and Health Promoters Program CareerOneStop careeronestop.org WorkSource California worksourcecalifornia.com WORK Managed Care Solutions Workforce Development Division - mcscareergroup.com CA Dept. of Rehabilitation (DOR) dor.ca.gov/vred/employment-resources.html (Employment Resources for Seniors and People with Disabilities) A - Your PCP B - Nurse Advice Line 8 LIVE WELL SPRING 2014 Who Will You Call? C - Beacon Health Strategies D - Urgent Care E ER F - L.A. Care For a life-threatening condition, like chest pain For specialized care, such as from a Cardiologist For help in your language A sprained ankle or minor broken bone For a routine physical exam For health advice after midnight For mental health care [Answers: 1-E, 2-A, 3-F, 4-D, 5-A, 6-B, 7-C]

9 Health Knowledge Check & Word Search Test your knowledge and find the hidden words. M I Q S N A F Z E G U C M O I K R G B H P Q S Y A I T Y E M B R U S H L N W J D A X H Y P E R V O Medi-Cal Incentives to Quit Smoking ( ) Diabetes medicine helps your level of blood. The Advice Line is open 24/7 to help you. Shaking and sweating are signs of -glycemia. High blood sugar is called -glycemia. If you have, dust and pollen can make it flare up and hard for you to breath. To keep a healthy smile, and floss your teeth at least twice per day. Check the answers ( A ) on page 11. Quitting smoking just got simpler for Medi-Cal members! If you have Medi-Cal, quitting smoking just got simpler! Now through December 2015, the Medi-Cal Incentives to Quit Smoking (MIQS) Project offers more incentives to Medi-Cal members who want to quit smoking or using other tobacco. Call NO-BUTTS and sign up for a counseling session. You will get a starter kit of free nicotine patches mailed straight to your home. To get a bonus $20 gift card, you must have Medi-Cal and a Beneficiary Identification Card number. Call and ask for the gift card, and you must also go to your first counseling session. Go to nobutts.org/medi-cal to learn more. Get Help in Your Language Is your main language something other than English? Are there times when you have trouble talking with your doctor because of your foreign language? L.A. Care offers free interpreters to help you. To get an interpreter for office visits, call L.A. Care s Member Services Department at (TTY/TDD ). You have the right to have help in your main language. L.A. Care is here to help you get the care you need and make sure you understand your health and your doctor. Also, if you speak Cantonese, Khmer, Korean, Mandarin, Tagalog, Thai and Vietnamese, L.A. Care is proud to offer Know Your Rights, What You Need to Know about Interpreting Services. This DVD shows how easy it is to get help talking to your doctor in your language. To request a copy of the DVD, call L.A. Care Member Services Department at SPRING 2014 LIVE WELL 9

10 March is National Nutrition Month! Make MyPlate Your Plate When was the last time you looked really looked at your plate before eating? You might be surprised at what you see. L.A. Care registered dietitian, Janine Souffront, encourages members to follow an easy eating guide called MyPlate. MyPlate is made up of 5 food groups. Each group has its own key message: Make half your plate fruits and vegetables. Make at least half your grains whole grains. Switch to fat-free or low-fat (1%) milk. Go lean with protein. Oils are not a food group, but we need a little each day. The key message here is just enough, not too much. Oils are found in nuts, fish, salad dressing and cooking oil. Not many of us can afford to consume empty calories from foods like sweets and soda. MyPlate recommends cutting back on candy and other sweets and drinking water to quench thirst. The foods you eat play a large role in your health. To make MyPlate your plate, go to choosemyplate.gov. Memory & Aging: Exercise Powers the Brain Forgetfulness is a normal complaint among older adults. You can keep your brain sharp and prevent memory loss. Help your brain produce new brain cells at any age with exercise. Exercise helps to keep you healthy. It also helps the brain to think and remember. This is because exercise promotes blood flow in the brain. One study looked at seniors who exercised 40 minutes a day for three days a week. They did better in memory tests than seniors who hadn t exercised. And after a year of exercise, the part of the brain involved with memory had grown. If you haven t been active before, you can begin any time. Start slowly and work up to 150 minutes of brisk activity each week. Do something that gets your heart to beat faster. Walking, swimming, biking and dancing are all good choices. Want more reasons to get moving? Exercise also helps prevent stroke. It reduces the risk of diabetes. It lowers blood pressure and stress. And, it helps your balance. So give your body and your brain the power they need. Start getting active today and follow these tips to help prevent memory loss: Exercise at least five days each week. Stay social to activate your mind. Reduce stress. Sleep well, at least seven to nine hours each night. Eat a well-balanced and healthy diet. And if you have any questions about your brain health or mind, be sure to ask your doctor. 10 LIVE WELL SPRING 2014

11 Things to Remember 1. Always keep your I.D. card with you. Show your I.D. card when you: Go to a doctor s office Go to the hospital Need emergency services Pick up a prescription Keeping the Road Safe as We Get Older There is no escaping it. We are all going to get older, and as we do, the ability of our body, eyes and mind may start to decline. The California Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) shares that by taking a few basic precautions, we can help make sure to keep the road safe as we get older. The DMV says that as a senior who drives, you should: Have your eyesight and hearing checked on a regular basis. Talk to your doctor about the effects of your medicine Do not drive after taking any medicine that makes you sleepy. Make sure the car you are driving is comfortable and has power steering. Let your doctor know of any troubles you have while driving. If you are over the age of 70, you may need to take a driving test, vision test, or written test before you can renew your license with the DMV. To find out more, visit your local DMV office or visit their website at dmv.ca.gov. A Answers to Knowledge Check & Word Search (from page 7) : 1-MIQS 2-SUGAR 3-NURSE 4-HYPO 5-HYPER 6-ASTHMA 7-BRUSH M I Q S N A F Z E G U C M O I K R G B H P Q S Y A I T Y E M B R U S H L N W J D A X H Y P E R V O Don t give your I.D. card to anyone else to use. If you lose or damage your I.D. card, call L.A. Care. 2. You have the right to receive service and information in a language or format you understand. If you need a FREE interpreter for a doctor s visit, or member information in another language or format (like Braille, large print, or audio), call L.A. Care. 3. You can talk to a nurse for free, any time day or night, 7 days a week. Check your I.D. card for the phone number. Nurse advice lines also provide pre-recorded information on many health topics. There is a list of these topics at the end of the Member Handbook we mailed to you. 4. Visit our website at lacare.org. You can: Find a doctor Learn about your benefits Look into our health education services and Family Resource Center classes Find out about your rights and responsibilities File a complaint, called a grievance 5. Do you have questions, need an I.D. card, or interpreter? L.A. Care is here to help you get the care and service you need. Call our Member Services department at (TTY/TDD ) 24 hours a day, 7 days a week (open holidays). SPRING 2014 LIVE WELL 11

12 Live Well is a member news publication by L.A. Care for L.A. Care s Adult and Special Needs Members. L.A. Care Health Plan is a Coordinated Care Plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the California Medicaid program. Enrollment in L.A. Care Health Plan depends on contract renewal. This information is available for free in other languages. Please call our Member Services number at for additional information. TTY/TDD users should call Hours are 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, including holidays. Esta información está disponible de forma gratuita en otros idiomas. Comuníquese con Servicios para los miembros al número para más información. Los usarios que utilizan TTY/TDD deben llamar al El servicio está disponible las 24 horas del día, los 7 días de la semana, incluso los días festivos L.A. Care Health Plan. All rights reserved. IN THIS ISSUE: The Steps to Getting Specialized Care 3 Know About Common Sugar-Free Sweeteners 6 The Highs & Lows of Diabetes and Blood Sugar 7 Memory & Aging: Exercise Powers the Brain 10 And more! SPRING 2014 A Publication for L.A. Care s Adult and Special Needs Members PRSRT STD U.S. POSTAGE PAID ANAHEIM, CA PERMIT NO. 288 Health and wellness and prevention information LA /14