after a fracture...permit no. 44. we’re growing! we want marylanders to have the health care ....

$: After a fracture...Permit No. 44. We’re growing! We want Marylanders to have the health care . coverage they need and deserve. In an effort to bring incredible benefits at little$
Spring 2018

YOU'VE ALREADY BROKEN a bone—and once is enough. Still, if you have osteoporosis, you're at risk for another one. Osteoporosis is a disease that makes bones fragile.

That's why it's so crucial to take steps that can help strengthen your bones. Here are four key ones:

1. Talk to your doctor about osteoporosis medicines. They can help prevent another fracture. Your doctor can explain their benefits and risks and find the one that's right for you.

2. Watch what you eat. A diet rich in calcium and vitamin D protects bones. Good sources of calcium include dairy products, sardines, broccoli and almonds. Many foods—such as cereals and most milk—are also fortified with it. Your doctor may advise supplements too.

3. Stay active. Exercise builds bones. Strengthen yours with weight-bearing exercises like walking. Try resistance exercises

too—for example, lift weights or work out with resistance bands.

4. Guard against falls. Keep your floor clutter free. Wear low-heeled, rubber-soled shoes even at home. Skip slippery socks, stockings and floppy slippers. Keep your home well-lit and find out about the side effects of any medicine you take. Some medicines can make you dizzy.

Sources: National Institutes of Health; Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics

University of MarylandHealth Advantage1966 Greenspring Drive, Suite 100Timonium, MD 21093

Standard U.S. Postage

PAIDWalla Walla, WAPermit No. 44

We’re growing!We want Marylanders to have the health care coverage they need and deserve.

In an effort to bring incredible benefits at little to no cost to more Maryland residents, we’ve expanded our service area to include Charles and Prince George’s counties. For a complete service area listing or more information on our health plan options, visit ummedicareadvantage.org.

After a fracture 4 ways to prevent another one

Avoid unnecessary medical billsBe sure to always use providers in the University of Maryland Health Advantage (UMHA) network and present your UMHA ID card.

Dual members should present both your UMHA ID card and Medicaid card every time you receive service. If you don’t have your ID cards with you, have the provider call us to verify eligibility and provide your ID number.

If your provider refers you to a specific specialist, call us or check the website to ensure that the specialist is in our network.

When you are traveling outside of our service area, you can access dialysis, urgent care and ER services only. We do not cover services out of the country. If you need help finding an in-network provider or specialist, please call Member Services at 844-386-6762 (TTY: 711).

Early treatment is best for rheumatoid arthritis

RHEUMATOLOGISTS DON’T always agree on how aggressively to treat patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). But many believe that aggressive treatment may delay the progression of this debilitating condition, and, in some cases, may help put a person into remission. When RA

goes untreated, the condition progresses and could cause joint erosion and abnormal joints down the road.

Treating RA as early as possible is not a new concept, but the drugs available today allow rheumatologists to be much more aggressive in treating

this condition. Early, aggressive treatment is important, especially for those who have developed a more serious form of RA. Even if you have recently been diagnosed with RA, it is important that you discuss your treatment plan and drug options with your primary care provider (PCP) and/or rheumatologist.

The American College of Rheumatology recommends people with RA begin their treatment with disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (DMARDs), because these drugs relieve symptoms and slow the progression of joint damage. Over-the-counter and prescription ibuprofen only relieves RA symptoms.

Some of the more common DMARDs to treat RA are listed below. If you have been diagnosed with RA and are not taking one of these medications, please ask your doctor if one of these medications would be right for you.

■Humira (adalimumab). ■Hydroxychloroquine. ■ Leflunomide. ■Methotrexate. ■Remicade (infliximab). ■Xeljanz/Xeljanz XR (tofacitinib).

Additional source: Arthritis Foundation

Healthy ADVANTAGE

Are your new medications covered? Our 2018 Online Formulary/Drug List can be searched or downloaded at ummedicareadvantage.org. Prior authorization, step therapy and/or quantity limits may apply.

The importance of taking your meds as prescribedIT’S ESTIMATED THAT 3 out of 4 Americans do not take their medication as directed. Not taking medications as directed takes the lives of 125,000 Americans annually.

There are many reasons why people fail to take their medication. They may forget, be worried it’s not working, fear the side effects, or have difficulty taking the medication. And we all know that the rising costs of prescription medications is a barrier for many. Whatever the reason, you could miss out on quality-of-life improvements or experience serious health complications if you don’t take your medications as prescribed.

Taking your medication as directed gives you the best opportunity to manage your chronic condition and maintain the best possible health.

Talk with your doctor or pharmacist about the medications you are taking. Establishing a strong relationship with your doctor or pharmacist can create an environment where you feel comfortable asking questions or expressing concerns about a medication. Be sure the ones you are taking are effective in treating your condition, and that you are familiar with any side effects they may cause.

Managing your chronic condition may involve taking medications. If you have been diagnosed with one or more of the chronic conditions listed below, and are not taking a medication, please ask your doctor to determine if adding one to your current treatment plan is appropriate.

The following chronic conditions are frequently treated with the drugs listed below:

Diabetes ■ Januvia. ■ Lantus. ■Metformin.

High blood pressure ■Amlodipine. ■ Lisinopril. ■ Losartan.

High cholesterol ■Atorvastatin. ■ Pravastatin. ■ Simvastatin.

Osteoporosis ■Alendronate. ■Raloxifene. ■Risedronate.

Our 2018 Online Formulary/Drug List can be found and downloaded at ummedicareadvantage.org. Prior authorization, step therapy and/or quantity limits may apply.

Remember, if you do not take your medications as directed, you could be putting your health at risk.

Source: American Heart Association

Need help managing your benefits? Would you like to grant someone access to your Protected Health Information (PHI) so they may assist you with managing your health insurance benefits? If so, please log on to our website, navigate to the “Member Forms” area, and download a copy of the HIPAA Privacy Consent and Authorization Form.

Completing and submitting this form will allow you to select individuals to assist you in updating information, asking questions about your benefits, or even filing an appeal or grievance.

If you’d like a form mailed to you, please contact Member Services at 844-386-6762 (TTY: 711).

Spring 2018

If you’re enrolled in the D-SNP plan, don’t forget to use both your Medicaid card and your University of Maryland Health Advantage card at the doctor’s office and pharmacy.

University of Maryland Health Advantagec/o Appeals and Grievance Department1966 Greenspring Drive, Suite 100Timonium, MD 21093Phone: 410-779-9932 or toll-free at 844-386-6762Fax: 844-329-0831

You can file a grievance in person or by mail, fax or email. If you need help filing a grievance, the Appeals and Grievance Department is available to help you. You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf or by mail or phone at:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Ave., SW Room 509F, HHH Building Washington, DC 20201 800-368-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD)

Complaint forms are available at hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html.

—Continued from front

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바랍니다. VIETNAMESE CHÚ Ý: Nếu quy vi nói tiêng Việt, thì có sẵn các dịch vụ trợ giúp ngôn ngữ miễn phí dành cho quy vi. Hãy gọi sô 1-844-386-6762 (TTY: 711). FRENCH ATTENTION: Si vous parlez français, des services gratuits d’interprétation sont à votre disposition. Veuillez appeler le 1-844-386-6762 (TTY: 711).

TAGALOG Pansinin: Kung nagsasalita ka ng Tagalog, mga serbisyo ng tulong sa wika, nang walang bayad, ay magagamit sa iyo. Tawagan ang 1-844-386-6762 (TTY: 711). RUSSIAN ВНИМАНИЕ: Если вы говорите на русском языке, вам будут бесплатно предоставлены услуги переводчика. Звоните по телефону: 1-844-386-6762 (телетайп: 711). AMHARIC ማስታወሻ: የሚናገሩት ቋንቋ ኣማርኛ ከሆነ የትርጉም እርዳታ ድርጅቶች፣ በነጻ ሊያግዝዎት ተዘጋጀተዋል፡ ወደ ሚከተለው ቁጥር ይደውሉ 1-844-386-6762 (መስማት ለተሳናቸው: 711). KRU (BASSA) Dè ɖɛ nìà kɛ dyéɖé gbo: Ɔ jǔ ké m [Ɓàsɔɔ-wùɖù-po-nyɔ] jǔ ní, nìí, à wuɖu kà kò ɖò po-poɔ ɓɛìn m gbo kpáa. Ɖá 1-844-386-6762 (TTY:711) IBO Ntị: Ọ bụrụ na asụ Ibo, asụsụ aka ọasụ n’efu, defu, aka. Call 1-844-386-6762 (TTY: 711). YORUBA AKIYESI: Bi o ba nsọ èdè Yorùbú ọfé ni iranlọwọ lori èdè wa fun yin o. Ẹ pe ẹrọ-ibanisọrọ yi 1-844-386-6762 (TTY: 711).

URDU ،ںیہ ےتلوب یزیرگنا پآ رگا :ہجوت وک پآ تفم ،تامدخ تنواعم نابز لاک 6762-386-844-1 ۔ ںیہ بایتسد ۔ (711 :یئاو یٹ یٹ) ںیرک FARSI

کنید، توجھ: چنانچھ بھ زبان فارسی صحبت میخدمات کمک زبانی، بھ صورت رایگان، در اختیار شما قرار خواھد گرفت. با شماره 1-844-386-6762 (TTY: 711) تماسبگیرید . FRENCH CREOLE ATANSYON: Si w pale Kreyòl Ayisyen, gen sèvis èd pou lang ki disponib gratis pou ou. Rele 1-844-386-6762 (TTY: 711). PORTUGUESE ATENÇÃO: Se fala português, estão disponíveis serviços gratuitos de assistência linguística na sua língua. Telefone para 1-844-386-6762 (TTY: 711). ARABIC مالحظة: إذا كنت تتحدث العربیة، تتوفر خدمات

ویة مجانا من أجلك. اتصل بالرقمالمساعدة اللغ 1-844-386-6762 ) 711(الھاتف النصي: GUJARATI

: જો તમ જરાતી બોલતા હો, તો િ◌ન:

ભાષા સહાય સવાઓ તમારા માટ

ઉપલબધ છ. ફોન કરો 1-844-386-6762 (TTY: 711).






386-6762 (TTY: 711) 로 연락주시기






ના: જો તમ જરાતી બોલતા હો, તો િ◌ન:








386-6762 (TTY: 711) 로 연락주시기






ના: જો તમ જરાતી બોલતા હો, તો િ◌ન:



University of Maryland Health Advantage, Inc., complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. University of Maryland Health Advantage, Inc., does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex.

University of Maryland Health Advantage, Inc.:

■ Provides free aids and services to people with disabilities to communicate effectively with us, such as: ● Qualified sign language interpreters.

● Written information in other formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, other formats).

■ Provides free language services to people whose primary language is not English, such as: ● Qualified interpreters. ● Information written in other languages.

If you need these services, contact Member Services at 410-779-9932, or toll-free at 844-386-6762, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST, 7 days a week from Oct. 1 through Feb. 14 and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday from Feb. 15 through Sept. 30. TTY users should call 711.

If you believe that University of Maryland Health Advantage, Inc., has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex, you can file a grievance with:

Stretch your food budgetWant to get the biggest nutritional bang for your buck? The Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) can help you afford healthy food when you need it. Over 4 million older Americans use SNAP to buy food, and the average senior receives $113 each month. Visit BenefitsCheckUp.org/getSNAP to see if the program can help you.

—Continued on reverse

Veggie

Makes 4 servings

pizzaspita

Ingredients4 whole-wheat pita bread

rounds1 cup prepared pasta sauce

(with vegetables)½ red bell pepper, finely diced1 small zucchini, finely diced1 small yellow summer squash,

finely diced2½- to 3-ounce jar or can sliced

mushrooms, drained1 teaspoon dried oregano1 teaspoon dried basil½ cup shredded part-skim

mozzarella cheese8 teaspoons grated Parmesan

cheeseCrushed red pepper flakes, to

taste (optional)

Nutrition information Amount per serving: 186 calories, 6g total fat (3g saturated fat), 26g carbohydrates, 10g protein, 3g dietary fiber, 755mg sodium.

Directions ■ Preheat oven to 400 degrees. On oven rack or in toaster oven, toast pita bread for 1 minute. Remove and allow to cool. ■ Spread ¼ cup pasta sauce on each pita round. ■ In medium bowl, combine red pepper, zucchini, yellow squash and mushrooms. Spoon evenly onto pita rounds. ■ Sprinkle ¼ teaspoon oregano and basil on each round. Divide mozzarella among pitas. Top each with 2 teaspoons of Parmesan cheese. If desired, sprinkle with a bit of crushed red pepper flakes. ■Broil, watching carefully, until cheese is melted and bubbly and pita is hot. Serve immediately.

Source: American Institute for Cancer Research

4 questions about colonoscopyIT'S A TEST many people dread—but it has the potential to save lives. We're talking about a colonoscopy, which is used to screen for colorectal cancer, one of the top causes of cancer deaths in the U.S. Have you been putting it off? Read on.

1. Why should I get one?Colonoscopy can find cancer—or the polyps (abnormal growths) that may become cancer—early, when treatment is often most successful.

It also gives your doctor immediate access to polyps, so they can be removed right away. That's not true with other colon cancer screening methods, which all

require a follow-up colonoscopy if polyps or other problems are found. 2. When and how often should I be tested?Screening for people at average risk of colorectal cancer starts at age 50. If the first test is clear, get your next one 10 years later. If the test isn't clear, you'll likely need to be retested sooner.

People at higher risk, including people with ulcerative colitis, Crohn's disease or a strong family history of colon cancer, should start earlier. Talk with your doctor about your individual screening plan.

3. How's it done?You'll be given sedatives and pain medicine or anesthesia. The doctor then inserts a long, flexible tube into the colon. The tube is equipped with a tiny light and camera. Your doctor examines images sent from inside the colon on a monitor. Any polyps can be removed with delicate tools inserted through the tube.

Most people sleep through the 30- to 60-minute test.

4. What happens next?You'll be monitored while the anesthesia wears off. You won't be allowed to drive home, so arrange a ride beforehand.

The preventive colorectal screening is covered when you visit a provider that is in-network with University of Maryland Health Advantage. Visit our website at ummedicareadvantage.org or call us at 844-386-6762 (TTY: 711) to locate an in-network provider near you.

Sources: American Cancer Society; National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases

MEMBER SERVICES DEPARTMENT

410-779-9932, 844-386-6762TTY: 711ummedicare advantage.org

Oct. 1–Feb. 14, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, 7 days a week

Feb. 15–Sept. 30, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. ET, Monday–Friday

After hours, listen to our voicemail for information on how to access urgent or emergency care.

You will also hear information on how to access our 24/7 nurse advice line, pharmacy benefits, vision and dental care, behavioral health and substance abuse care, and prior authorization. You can also leave us a secured voicemail. We will return your call the next business day.

24/7 Nurse Advice Line: 844-685-8379 TTY: 711

Visit MyHealth Portal at ummedicare advantage.org to view eligibility, check claims status, view authorizations, request a new ID card or update your information.

2018 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

University of Maryland Health Advantage is an HMO and HMO-SNP plan with a Medicare contract and a State of Maryland Department of Health Medicaid program contract. Enrollment in University of Maryland Health Advantage depends on contract renewal. This information is not a complete description of benefits. Contact the plan for more information. Limitations, co-payments, and restrictions may apply. Benefits may change on January 1 of each year. The Formulary, pharmacy network and/or provider network may change at any time. You will receive notice when necessary.

H8854_18_4009-04_003_OE CMS accepted 2/24/2018

after a fracture...permit no. 44. we’re growing! we want marylanders to have the health care ....

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