Summer News 2015 | 1 GA_SumNewsLtr15

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SUMMER 2015

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Healthy heartsYour heart does a lot for you. Show your heart some love by following these five tips:

1. Quit smoking. Your risk of heart disease drops within a year of quitting. Talk with your doctor about help quitting.

2. Track your blood pressure numbers. Work with your doctor to reach the healthiest levels.

3. Watch your cholesterol numbers. You’ll need to have a blood test to check your cholesterol. Talk with your doctor about your ideal numbers and how to reach them. Take any medications exactly as prescribed.

4. Eat plenty of vegetables, fruits, and fiber. Limit how much dairy, egg, butter and red meat you eat. And cut out the fast food.

5. Manage your diabetes. If you have diabetes and it’s not well controlled, you might be hurting your heart. Talk with your doctor about a better diabetes plan.

What is high-risk medication?Groups like the Pharmacy Quality Alliance say which drugs are considered high risk. A drug is high risk if it causes bad side effects too often.

Some drugs become higher risk as you get older. Here are two examples of drugs that are called high risk for people age 65 and older.

▪ Zolpidem (Ambien) helps people sleep. But it can also cause confusion and falls, which can lead to fractures. If you need a medication to help you sleep, talk with your doctor about trazodone or Rozerem instead of zolpidem.

▪ Cyclobenzaprine (Flexeril) is used to relax muscles when they spasm. It can cause drowsiness, confusion, and trouble urinating. If you often have muscle spasms that require medication, talk with your doctor about baclofen or tizanidine (Zanaflex) instead of cyclobenzaprine.

If you are currently taking a high-risk medication, there may be a different drug that can help you. Ask your doctor for help.

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Eating as you get olderAs we get older, making better food choices is important for our health. Choosing foods and beverages that give you the most nutrients for calories consumed is important. The National Institute of Health for Senior Health recommends avoiding these foods when planning your meals.

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Avoid Empty Calories – food and drinks that are high in calories but low in nutrients

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Saturated fats Trans fatsCholesterolSodiumAdded sugarRefined grains

Your mental health mattersYour mood is just as important as your physical health. In fact, the two are linked. Did you know that exercise can boost your mood?

Try simple exercises like lifting your legs as you sit in your chair. Pump your arms as if you’re boxing. Just a little movement can make a big difference on your outlook. Getting out of your home can also help. Call on friends. Go to a community center or library. Visit a park and enjoy the sunshine.

Exercise your brain with puzzles and games. Keeping your mind busy can improve how you feel.

Call your health plan or your doctor if you feel sad for a few weeks. There’s help available. And there’s no need to suffer alone.

Diabetes and your blood pressureAccording to the American Diabetes Association (ADA), 2 out of 3 adults with diabetes have high blood pressure and can prevent or delay diabetes problems by having their blood pressure checked regularly. Both diabetes and high blood pres-sure raise your risk for heart attack, stroke, and eye and kidney disease. The ADA recommends a target blood pressure of below 140/90 for people with diabetes. Be sure to get your blood pressure taken at each doctor or pharmacy visit.

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Screenings can save livesAre you due for any cancer screenings? They just might save your life.

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For women 50 to 74, a mammogram once a year to screen for breast cancer

For men, a prostate specific antigen (PSA) test once every 12 months to screen for prostate cancer

For people who have smoked, a lung cancer screening.

For both men and women, screen for colorectal cancer in one of these ways:

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Fecal occult blood test (FOBT), which tests for hidden blood in stool, every year.

Flexible sigmoidoscopy, which checks the lower colon, every 48 months

Colonoscopy, which checks the entire colon every 10 years or every 2 years for high-risk patients

Say “yes” to our helpful staffWe are Peach State Health Plan Advantage (HMO SNP), your Medicare Special Needs Plan. You have added ben-efits and services as a Peach State Health Plan Advantage member. We may call to tell you about these benefits and services.

One of the services is called Case Management. This means one of our nurses can help you. The nurse can help you:

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Get all the health care you need.

Understand your doctors and your prescriptions.

Get the most out of both Medicare and Medicaid.

Give you extra information to help make decisions.

Get the most from your pharmacy.

Listen to you and others who help you.

We talk with members like you every day. Case Manage-ment is one way we help. If you want to hear more about this kind of help, please call us at 1-877-725-7748.

Ask your doctorIt’s OK to ask your doctor questions, especially if you don’t understand a medical term, you are afraid of a treatment, or you are prescribed a new medication.

Before you fill a new prescription, ask your doctor these questions:

Why am I taking this drug? Will it improve how I feel? Will it fix or manage my condition?

Is there an alternative to this drug? For example, is there a lifestyle change that may help? Or is there a less-costly generic option?

Will it affect other medications I’m taking?

It’s your health and you can ask the questions!

How to contact your health plan Peach State Health Plan Advantage (HMO SNP)

Member Service 1-877-725-7748 • TTY: 711

HoursCall our Member Services:From October 1 – February 14, 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. From February 1 – September 30, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Website advantage.pshpgeorgia.com

Transportation Please call Member Services: 1-877-725-7748. Call 3 days before medical appointment to schedule pick-up

Vision Please call Member Services: 1-877-725-7748 for assistance in locating a participating provider

Dental Please call Member Services: 1-877-725-7748 for assistance in locating a participating provider

DME and/or Diabetic supplies Please call Member Services: 1-877-725-7748 for assistance

Hearing Please call Member Services: 1-877-725-7748 for assistance

Nurse Advice Line Please call 1-855-696-2612, option 7, TTY 1-800-255-0056 (24-hour nurse service)

We protect your private informationWe are serious about your privacy. Your personal health details are called “protected health information.” We have procedures in place to keep them safe.

We also follow the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) and practice state privacy laws.

Please mail, call or fax any questions or concerns to:

Peach State Health Plan Advantage1100 Circle 75 ParkwaySuite 1100Atlanta, GA 30339

Phone: 1-877-725-7748 • TTY: 711

Peach State Health Plan Advantage is an HMO SNP Plan with a Medicare contract and a contract with the Georgia Medicaid Program. Enrollment in Peach State Health Plan Advantage depends on contract renewal.Our Member Services is available: From October 1 – February 14, you can call us 7 days a week from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. From February 1 – September 30, you can call us Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.©2015 Peach State Health Plan Advantage. All rights reserved.

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