Volume 18, No. 4 » WINTER 2013/14 www.HealthTradition.com or Customer Service 1-877-832-1823

Healthmate Health Tradition Health PlanA Mayo Clinic Health System Choice in Wisconsin

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Supporting Healthy LifestylesYou Can Earn up to $200 in 2014!

Tips for Soothing Your Sore Throat Do I Need to See a Doctor for This Sore Throat?

Sore throats are often painful, annoying and one of the largest reasons adults miss work and children miss school. When you get that tight, scratchy feel-ing, how do you know if it’s just a cold or a sign of something more serious?

Cold/flu – Viral infections are usually the source of common colds and the flu. A sore throat caused by a virus resolves on its own with at-home care. Antibiotic medications are not effective in treating viral infections. Common symptoms are: » Sore or scratchy, dry feeling » Hoarseness » Coughing and sneezing » Running nose » Mild fever or no fever

Strep throat – Bacterial infections aren’t as common as viral infections, but they can be more serious. Strep throat is the most common bacterial infection. Often a person with strep was exposed to someone else with strep throat in the past two to seven days. It is generally spread by nose or throat secretions. Strep throat requires medical treatment. Common symptoms are: » Swollen tonsils and lymph nodes » Back of throat is bright red with white patches » Pain when swallowing » Fever, often more than 101º F, and often accompanied by chills

How to care for your sore throat » Rest » Drink fluids » Try warm beverages and cold treats

» Gargle saltwater » Humidify the air » Avoid irritants such as cigarette smoke and cleaning fumes

» Treat pain and fever with ibuprofen or acetaminophen» Consider lozenges

If your sore throat is caused by a bacterial infection, your doctor may prescribe antibiotics. It’s important to take the full course of antibiotics as prescribed even if the symptoms go away. Learn more at mayoclinic.com.

If you have Health Tradition insurance through your employer, you may be eligible to receive up to a $200 Eat Well Move More rebate. Here are just some of the items that qualify for the rebate:

» Fitness center memberships » Weight WatchersTM memberships » A New Me: Healthy Balance Matters participation » Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) farm memberships » Camp Wabi – for children looking to achieve healthy weight

We want to help you better understand health insurance, so a requirement of the program is to watch the Health Insurance 101TM video clip series. The brief video is available at healthtradition.com.

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» Find ways to move more. Take a walk to enjoy the crisp winter air. Try a new winter activity like snowshoeing or cross country skiing, or simply play in the snow with your kids!

» Take a breather. Make some time for yourself. Spending 15 minutes alone may refresh you enough to handle your everyday challenges. Listen to soothing music. Find something that reduces stress by clearing your mind, slowing your breathing, and restoring your inner calm.

» Give of yourself. Be present with whatever you are doing and whomever you are with. Close up your computer. Don’t text for awhile. Give your whole attention to what you’re doing right now.

» Ask for help. Feeling over-whelmed at times? Prioritize what you really need to do – and be clear as to where you’d like help. Don’t expect others to read your mind.

Just for You!Take Time

Affordable Care ActHealth Tradition is Prepared for 2014We are sure you’ve heard a lot about the changes from the Affordable Care Act and getting enrolled on healthcare.gov for the Health Insurance Marketplace. We know it hasn’t been the smoothest process, but we are hopeful that the folks at Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services can get the bugs worked out soon. Fortunately, we have a fantastic team here at Health Tradition and Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare who can help you through it.

Health Tradition continues to provide affordable health insurance options for medical care that meet or exceed the new federal mandates, including proactive preventive and wellness services that help keep you healthy. Whether you enroll via the Health Insurance Marketplace or directly with Health Tradition Health Plan, you will benefit from the excellent, compassionate care of Mayo Clinic Health System physicians in your own community. For help with the Health Insurance Marketplace, please contact a Certified Ap-plication Counselor (CAC) at Mayo Clinic Health System-Franciscan Healthcare at (608) 392-4374.For future updates about the Affordable Care Act, read the Healthmate newsletters and visit our website at healthtradition.com. To learn more about the Health Insurance Marketplace, visit healthcare.gov. We thank you for your continued trust in us.

Answering Your Questions

Health Insurance 101TM

Research shows that 73% of consumers are confused about health care and health insurance. Health Tradition wants to help!Knowledge is Power Health Tradition Health Plan makes health insurance easier – with excellent customer service, award-winning member resources, a great website, and now, the Health Insurance 101TM video clip series.By watching this series of short, simple videos, we hope you’ll find plain answers to questions many people have about health insurance. Health insurance can seem complicated. This series provides an easy-to-understand overview of the basics. The Health Insurance 101TM series includes these video clips:

» Preventive Care» Referrals» How to Read an EOB» Managing Medications » The 4 Things to Know

Want to better understand your health plan? These short, informative video clips are a great place to start. The videos are available on the homepage of the Health Tradition website at: healthtradition.com.

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Take Care of Your Heart!Women: Do You Know The Warning Signs?

Keep Your Heart In ShapeDon’t Hibernate this Winter – Stay Active!

It’s not too late to get a flu shot!One of the most effective ways to stop the spread of the flu and protect your family is to receive a flu shot. Seasonal flu shots are available at Mayo Clinic Health System sites. Call your healthcare provider or local clinic for more information.Chronic condition?Integrative therapies such as massage, acupuncture, Reiki and meditation can improve outcomes for many health conditions. To learn more, visit mayoclinichealthsystem.org and search “Center for Health and Healing.”

By Monique Freund, MDCardiologist

Mayo Clinic Health System in La Crosse

More women die of cardiovascular disease than from the next four causes of death combined, including all forms of cancer. But 80 percent of cardiac events in women could be prevented if women made the right choices for their hearts involving diet, exercise and abstinence from smoking. Make it your mission to learn all you can about heart attacks and stroke – don’t become a statistic.

Recognize these Heart Attack Signs» Uncomfortable pressure, squeezing, fullness or pain in the center of your chest. It lasts more than a few minutes, or goes away and comes back.

» Pain or discomfort in one or both arms, the back, neck, jaw or stomach.» Shortness of breath with or without chest discomfort.» Other signs such as breaking out in a cold sweat, nausea or lightheadedness.» As with men, women’s most common heart attack symptom is chest pain or discomfort. But women are somewhat more likely than men to experience other common

symptoms, particularly shortness of breath, nausea/vomiting and back or jaw pain.

Recognize these Stroke Symptoms» Sudden numbness or weakness of the face, arm or leg, especially on one side of the body.

» Sudden confusion, trouble speaking or understanding.

» Sudden trouble seeing in one or both eyes.

» Sudden trouble walking, dizziness, loss of balance or coordination.

» Sudden severe headache with no known cause.

If you have any of these signs, don’t wait more than five minutes before calling for help. Call 9-1-1 and get to a hospital right away. For more information, contact your primary health care provider or Cardiology Services at 608-392-9862 or 800-362-5454, ext. 29862.

While it’s tempting to wrap up in a blanket and hibernate in front of the TV during the winter, remember that regular exercise can reduce your risk of heart disease, help you control your weight, and strengthen your bones and muscles. It can even improve your self-esteem, energy level and overall outlook.

» Take 10 – Don’t have time for a full workout? Break your exercise into 10- or 15-minute segments. As long as you make the time to move, your body will reap the benefits. Every little bit helps.

» Get off the treadmill - Cardio exercise will burn fat, but stretching and strength training will help your muscles look taut and toned. Flexibility is essential to a healthy body, and stretching will help your muscles prepare for and recover from exercise. Try mixing up your cardio routines with Yoga or Pilates – both great workouts that challenge your muscles while increasing your flexibility. When you strengthen your muscles with weight training, they will work more efficiently and burn more fat. As the fat burns off, toned, firm muscles will emerge to make you look slim and fit. Try to incorporate push-ups, planks and lunges into your weekly fitness plan. For more information – including videos demonstrating proper strength training, core training exercises and much more – visit mayoclinic.com.

State of Wisconsin Members Only: All of the Mayo Clinic Health System - Northland, Eau Claire, Oakridge, Chippewa Valley and Red Cedar providers and facilities are NOT included in the Health Tradition Health Plan network for State of WI employees and dependents.

Steven M. Kunes, Executive DirectorAlan Krumholz, MD, Medical Director Martha Binn, MD, Associate Medical Director Tiffany Gulinson, DO, Associate Medical Director Michael Eckstein, Director of Sales & MarketingDavid Weichert, Director of Administration

The purpose of Healthmate is to inform and communicate with health plan members. Please submit suggestions or ideas to: 1808 East Main Street / Onalaska, WI 54650

Health Tradition Health PlanA Mayo Clinic Health System Choice in Wisconsin

Need Help Staying Motivated?Get a Fitness Partner

BARRONMayo Clinic Health System Northland – Barron Campus» Timothy Berkseth, MD General Surgery» Charles Mikow, PA-C Family Medicine» Lindsay Berkseth, MD Family MedicineBLOOMERMayo Clinic Health System Chippewa Valley – Bloomer» Aminu Mohammed, MD Family MedicineCHIPPEWA FALLSMayo Clinic Health System Chippewa Valley – Chippewa Falls» Kyle Van Dyke, MD Family Medicine» Sarah Liddell, PA-C Family MedicineDECORAH, IAWinneshiek Medical Center» Scott Chapman, MD General SurgeryEAU CLAIREMayo Clinic Health System – Clairemont Campus» Fawad Aslam, MD RheumatologyMayo Clinic Health System –Luther Campus» Karen Reimers, MD Behavioral Health» Gabriela Palecek, MD Women’s Health» Wilson Igbrude, MD Behavioral HealthLA CROSSEMayo Clinic Health System – Franciscan Healthcare» Brian Withers, DO Occupational Medicine

» Jonathan Ticku, MD Oncology/Hematology» Jennifer McElroy, DO OB/GYN» Thomas Dunigan, MD Pediatrics» Monika Krzesniak-Swinarska, MD Physical Medicine and RehabREEDSBURGReedsburg Physicians Group» Allison Brey, PA-C Physician Assistant

RICE LAKEMayo Clinic Health System Northland – Rice Lake Campus» Debbra Spexet, NP Family Medicine» Filza Hussain, MD PsychiatryWINONA, MNWinona Health Services» Gil Freeman, MD Orthopedic Surgery» Lora Briese, RN, CNP Family Nurse Practitioner

New Providers

IMPORTANT:

HTHM097 © 2012, Health Tradition, Inc.

P.O. Box 188La Crosse WI 54602-0188healthtradition.com

pg. 4 | HealthTradition.com or Customer Service at 1-877-832-1823

Health Tradition Health PlanA Mayo Clinic Health System Choice in Wisconsin

Providers Leaving our Network

Need a boost to your workout? Get a fitness partner. Partners tend to stick to their fitness plans better than those who try to go it alone. Here’s why:» Time flies – When you’re able to chat with a workout

partner and catch up on each other’s lives as you exercise, time flies by and you tend to actually look forward to the occasion.

» Don’t Miss Out – If your workout partner is counting on you to be there for an exercise session, you’ll be less likely to cancel.

» Pick Each Other Up – Partners tend to have positive energy and remind each other of the progress they’re making. Having that validation can help bolster your self-esteem and keep your motivation levels high.

» Celebrate Your Successes – You and your partner can set goals for yourselves and celebrate every few weeks after you’ve met those goals.

For a current list of provider updates, visit: healthtradition.com and click on the mmsiservices.com link.

Note: The providers in Hillsboro (St. Joseph’s Hospital and Clinics) can only be accessed at a St. Joseph’s Hospital or Clinic location. Health Tradition may not provide coverage by these providers at other locations.

CHIPPEWA FALLSMayo Clinic Health System Chippewa Valley – Chippewa Falls» Sabina Morissette, MD Family MedicineDECORAHWinneshiek Medical Center» Daniel Mansfield, MD General SurgeryEAU CLAIREMayo Clinic Health System – Luther Campus and Chippewa Valley» Stefan Lorincz, DPM, PodiatryMayo Clinic Health System – Clairemont Campus» Gina Adel, MD, Rheumatology» Richard Misischia, DO Rheumatology» Sandra Nelson, MD Behavioral HealthLA CROSSEMayo Clinic Health System – Franciscan Healthcare » Michael Colgan, MD Dermatology

» Daniel Clayton, MD Neurosurgery» Jun Koike, MD, OB/GYNMAUSTONMile Bluff Medical Center, Inc.» Allison Brey, PA-C Physician Assistant» Eric Heaney, MD Family MedicineMENOMONIEMayo Clinic Health System – Red Cedar » Frank Springer, MD Family MedicineTOMAHMayo Clinic Health System –Franciscan Healthcare » Krista Scharer, MD Family MedicineWABASHAMayo Clinic Health System Lake City - Wabasha Campus» Lizabeth Larson, MD Family Medicine