tm · 2. place your arms to your sides. 3. extend your right leg out straight and flex your foot....

myhealthmylife

WHAT’S INSIDE

2015 ISSUE 3

Women– 3 Ways to Live a Healthier Life 16

New Dental Benefits Coming Soon 3

11Try this Low-Sodium Recipe

TM

Learn the Truth About Your Child's Diabetes 9

We've Got You Covered-

You don't have to do a thing!See Page 2

Medicaid's open enrollment is October 19th to December 11th and we want you to know that we’ve got you covered!

You don’t have to do a thing

to stay with Passport, and we look forward to being your health plan for as long as you need us.

We've Got You Covered!When it comes to choosing a health plan, we know you have a lot of options. We are so glad you chose Passport, and just in case you didn’t know, we want to say it again … THANK YOU!

Thank you for being a valued member and for taking the time to ASK for Passport. We hope you are …

enjoying the doctors in our network,

taking advantage of the gift cards you can earn by making healthy choices,

and feeling the kindness from our staff who talk with you on the phone and in person.

Help Us Spread the Word We hope you will join us in spreading the word about Passport to your friends and family. If you know someone who’d like to enjoy our benefits and service, tell them to give us a call at 1-800-578-0603 and ASK for Passport. Passport is available to anyone who qualifies at no cost. All they have to do is ASK!

Visit us online at www.passporthealthplan.com2

Dental Benefits Coming Soon

Here’s Something to Sm

ile About! NEW

Starting January 1, 2016, both children and adults will be

able to get a dental cleaning

every 6 months — that’s a total of two (2)

cleanings each year! Having regular dental cleanings can help

your overall health and give you a great looking smile. Now, with 2 cleanings each

year, you can help yourself and your children avoid costly dental issues and

get the most from your Passport benefits.

3Member Services 1-800-578-0603, TDD/TTY 1-800-691-5566

Work Out WHILE SITTING DOWNTo help lessen those aches and pains, try doing some of these chair exercises. Doing just a little each day can make a big difference over time.

Safety Tip: Check with your primary care provider (PCP) or other doctor

before starting an exercise program. If anything hurts or

makes you feel dizzy, stop right away.

Source: www.grandparents.com/health-and-wellbeing/exercise-and-de-stress/chair-exercises; www.nhs.uk/

exercises-for-older-people

Doing elbow curls can open up your chest and shoulder muscles.

1. Raise your arms at your sides and bend your elbows. Your knuckles should be at your temples.

2. Move your elbows together and then back to the starting position.

3. Do this about 30 times at a moderate speed — not too fast and not too slow.

Extending your leg can strengthen your thigh and hip muscles.

1. Sit on the edge of a chair.

2. Place your arms to your sides.

3. Extend your right leg out straight and flex your foot. Do this so that your right heel is on the floor.

4. Lift your leg up as high as you can without rounding your back. Keeping your foot flexed works the muscles in your shins and ankles.

5. Hold for 3 counts and then lower your leg.

6. Work your way up to 3 sets of 10 reps on each leg.

ELBOW CURLS1 2

Seated Leg Extensions

HOW TO


If you cannot reach your PCP, you may call our Care for You Nurse Advice Line at

1-800-606-9880. Registered nurses are here for you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. They can give you medical advice and

help you decide what to do.

When you get sick or hurt, call your primary care

provider (PCP) first. Your PCP is the best place to start because he or she knows your health

history and can decide the best treatment for you. You can call your PCP any time of the day or night. If the office is closed, be sure to leave a message.

The doctor on-call will call you back shortly.

The next time you have a non-emergency, here’s what you can do:

If you have a true emergency, you should go to the emergency room (ER).

A true emergency is when a medical problem is a threat to your life or can harm your health if you do not get care right away. Head or eye injuries, high fever, motor accidents with an injury and trouble breathing are some examples of a true emergency.

Choosing the Right Care for a Non-EmergencyGetting the right care for a non-emergency can save you a lot of trouble and time. Sore throats, stomach aches, colds, minor cuts and bruises, and sprained muscles are all non-emergencies.


Did you know just a small amount of lead can hurt your child’s growth and IQ? Children who are around lead may have reading problems, miss more school days and are less likely to finish school.

Protect Your ChildYou can protect your child with a lead test. Ask your child’s primary care provider (PCP) to do a lead test at your child’s next checkup. Our Early and Periodic, Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment (EPSDT) program covers your child’s checkups.

Children and teens need checkups at these ages:

Source: American Academy of Pediatrics

What can parents do to help?

• If you rent a home or apartment, talk with your landlord

about fixing any peeling paint.

• Keep children away from chipping paint.

• Remove any lead-based products

from the home.

How do children get lead in their bodies?

Eating paint flakes. Older paint may have lead in it. Children can put things in their mouths that have paint flakes or paint dust on them.

Playing in dirt. Some dirt may have lead in it.

Drinking hot water from faucets in homes built before 1978. Some old pipes have lead in them.

Children and LeadDon't Mix!

1 month 9 months 24 months

2 months 12 months 30 months

4 months 15 months Every year from age

3 to 206 months 18 months


✓ Choose a PCP if you haven’t already

• The name of your PCP is listed on your Passport ID card. If you don’t want to see this PCP, you can change it! All you need to do is call our Member Services team at 1-800-578-0603 and give us your choice.

• You can choose any PCP on our list of doctors by visiting www.findapassportdoctor.com. Or, you can also call Member Services at the number listed above and we’ll help you find one.

There’s No Place Like a

One of the best ways to take care of your health is to have a primary care provider (PCP). Your PCP is the main doctor who gives you most of your care and makes referrals when you need them. Your PCP gets to know your health history and knows what’s right for you and how to best treat you.

Think of your PCP as your “Medical Home” — the place that knows you the best! And, as you know, there’s really no place like home.

Medical Home

✓ Choose a PCP you can trust

• It’s important to choose a PCP you feel comfortable seeing and one that can really get to know you.

• When you trust your PCP, you can build a long-term relationship and feel comfortable talking about anything.

✓ Set up a “well visit” with your PCP

• Visit your new PCP right away, even if you aren’t sick. The purpose of this visit is to meet your new PCP. At this visit, your PCP will get to know you and get an idea of how to treat you.

• The more your PCP can learn about your health history, the more he or she can help you. When you do get sick, your PCP can then get right to the problem and set up referrals and get prior authorizations more quickly (if needed).

My To-Do List :


Sometimes we all need a little help, and that was just the case for Passport member Jen*.

Jen and her four children began living in an apartment through the Section 8 Housing Program. It wasn’t long before Jen’s children started having a lot of trouble breathing. The children had never had asthma or any other breathing problems in the past.

The problem was right

there in the apartment —

Jen’s children were getting

sick from breathing in mold.

When Jen filed a written complaint, her landlord simply painted over the mold. Jen couldn’t stand the thought of letting her children live this way. So, she filed another complaint with the Section 8 Housing Authority. When her complaint was received,

Jen was wrongly evicted from her apartment. On top of being kicked out, she lost her Section 8 benefits and most of her belongings.

Jen was able to find a new home, but she had one very big problem. She didn’t have any way to pay the rent.

Thank goodness for

Passport’s Case Manager,

Robert.

When Robert took on Jen’s case, hope was on the way! Robert talked with Jen’s new landlord and got her rent due date extended. He worked with local agencies to get donations to help Jen pay for two month’s rent.

But Robert didn’t stop

there.

He got Legal Aid involved and worked with Jen’s Section 8 case

worker to regain her housing benefits. He organized efforts that gave Jen’s family almost everything they needed to start over again — a queen-sized bed, two bunk beds, a desk and many other basic kitchen and household goods. Robert even found an agency that could give Christmas gifts to all of the children!

Robert made sure Jen’s basic needs were met first. Then, he helped her children get on track with preventive care and dental and eye care.

Robert kept hope alive the

whole time he was helping

Jen. Thanks to his efforts,

Jen and her children are

doing better and living

healthier!

*The member’s name has been changed to protect

their privacy.

What Makes Passport So Special?

Jen’s story is just one example of how all of us here at Passport are working to help improve your health and quality of life!

Helping Jen* Regain Stable Housing


Learn the Truth about Your Child’s DiabetesThere are “myths” out there about childhood diabetes that are simply not true. Knowing the truth can help you feel better about taking care of diabetes.

Diabetes is a life-long disease. Children do not outgrow it.

• Children with type 1 diabetes will always need to take insulin because their bodies cannot make it.

• Your body needs insulin because it helps control your blood sugar. It also turns sugar, starches and other foods into the energy you need to live.

• When children have type 2 diabetes, their bodies can make insulin but it doesn't work like it should. These children may see their blood sugar levels get better after puberty or with lifestyle changes. They may always have high blood sugar, especially if they are inactive or overweight.

Right now, there is no cure for diabetes. Taking insulin helps control your blood sugar, but it won’t cure diabetes.

Children may feel thirsty or weak if their blood sugar levels are high or low, but the only way to know for sure is to test them. Blood sugar levels must be very high to make you feel thirsty or weak. If you're not testing your blood sugar often, your levels could be high enough to harm your body.

Myth #1 — Children can outgrow diabetes.

Myth #2 — Insulin cures diabetes.

Myth #3 — Children with diabetes can feel when their blood sugar levels are high or low.

Sources: http://www.kidshealth.org, Mayo Clinic, http://www.diabetes.org, ADA, NIH


Voting Is Your Right, Your Duty

To vote in Kentucky:• You must be a U.S. Citizen

and live in Kentucky

• You must be at least 18 years old by the date of the next general election (November 3, 2015)

• You cannot be a convicted felon, unless a court of law has given back your civil rights

• You cannot be judged mentally incompetent by a court of law and have your voting rights removed

• You cannot sign up to vote anywhere outside of Kentucky

The next general election will be held on Tuesday, November 3, 2015. You’ll get the chance to vote for offices such as the: • Governor• Attorney General• Secretary of State

To learn more about voting, visit www.elect.ky.gov. You’ll find details about how to register to vote, how to find your polling location, the candidates, and much more. We all have both the right and the duty to get out and vote. Make your voice heard!

• Auditor• Treasurer• Agriculture Commissioner

Save

the

Date


Try This Low-Sodium (Salt) RecipeEating foods that are low in salt is good for everyone — and especially people with Congestive Heart Failure (CHF). Eating low-salt foods may help control high blood pressure, lower swelling (edema) and improve any breathing problems.

Daily Goal for People with CHF• Try to eat less than 1,500 mg of salt per day, if possible• Do not eat more than 2,000 mg (2 grams) of salt per day

To meet your daily goal, try out this tasty low-salt recipe. Who knew you could eat good ole’ macaroni in a healthy way?!

Baked Macaroni with Red Sauce Serves 6

Ingredients½ pound extra-lean ground beef1 small onion, diced, about ½ cup1 box (7 ounces) of whole-wheat elbow macaroni

1 jar (15 ounces) of reduced sodium spaghetti sauce6 tablespoons of parmesan cheeseDirections1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Lightly coat a baking dish with cooking spray.

2. Cook ground beef and onion until the meat is browned and the onion is translucent (you can see

through it). Drain well.3. Bring a large pot of water to a boil. Add pasta and cook until tender, about 10 to 12 minutes.

Drain pasta.4. Add cooked pasta and spaghetti sauce to the meat and onions. Stir to mix evenly.

5. Spoon into a prepared baking dish and bake until bubbly, about 25 to 35 minutes.

6. Divide macaroni among plates and sprinkle each with 1 tablespoon of

parmesan cheese. Serve immediately and enjoy!1 serving (about 1 cup) = 290 calories and 94mg salt

Source: http://www.mayoclinic.org/healthy-lifestyle/recipes/baked-macaroni-with-red-sauce/rcp-20049637?p=1

Voting Is Your Right, Your Duty


Source: www.grandparents.com/health-and-wellbeing/exercise-and-de-stress/chair-exercises; www.nhs.uk/exercises-for-older-

people

Seek-n-Find Puzzle

Answers on the next page!

Healthy Heart Words

Doctor VisitsMedicationFruits VegetableFiberExerciseWeight Management

Sick Heart Words

SmokingHypertensionDiabetesHigh CholesterolOverweightInactivity

L V S E N M T U V Z G N S F O W O E E P S Z E R F N F T Y V X E R G T O G I N D I M I I E A K I E E E S E O C K I S K R B F K G T T B B P T O R I C W K C E I H S A A G F M C V E E A L X R R J E B I R S D R V I X C T G D S U L L D V A O Y G Z H E D I K X I O E E V T M H F U L M W X O A R H S I C Y T I V I T C A N I N E C B O Q F R U I T S N B I P I E H D H Y P E R T E N S I O N S W G J N S M O T W W C H Y L E D Q I O M O M H H J P R I A R I U I H P F H P G E T J B A V Q Y J E T N E M E G A N A M T H G I E W

Answers on page 14!

Healthy Heart

Final Message: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

Asthma

Unscrable each of the clue words. Take the letters that appear like this: ___ and unscramble them for the final message.

1. GUOHC ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

2. KAEP FOLW TEEMR ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___ ___

3. STHAAM ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

4. TOCDOR ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

5. RAHILNE ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

6. SGRERTIG ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

7. ROCNOTL ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

8. DSTU ___ ___ ___ ___

9. MYOTMPSS ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

10. ZEEHEW ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___


Allergy season can be tough for many of us. But, if you have asthma, it can be even harder on you. To help keep your symptoms low and your breathing at

its best, try following these tips:

Asthma and Allergies? ACHOO!

Is there something in the air causing you to

sniffle, sneeze or cough up a storm? Well, it’s that time of year —

allergy season is here again.

Always take your daily asthma and allergy controller medicine.

Carry your rescue inhaler with you at all times.

Pay close attention to high pollen count days. Try to stay indoors or limit your time outside, if possible.

Try not to rub your eyes even though they itch! This can cause scratches and even eye infections.

Know What to Do!

Questions?If you need help this allergy

season or if you have questions about your asthma, give us a

call at 1-877-903-0082.

Final Message: ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

1. GUOHC ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

2. KAEP FOLW TEEMR ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

___ ___ ___ ___ ___

3. STHAAM ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

4. TOCDOR ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

5. RAHILNE ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

6. SGRERTIG ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

7. ROCNOTL ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

8. DSTU ___ ___ ___ ___

9. MYOTMPSS ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___

10. ZEEHEW ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___


Source: www.grandparents.com/health-and-wellbeing/exercise-and-de-stress/chair-exercises; www.nhs.uk/exercises-for-older-

people

Healthy Heart

ANSWERSL V S E N M T U V Z G N S F O W O E E P S Z E R F N F T Y V X E R G T O G I N D I M I I E A K I E E E S E O C K I S K R B F K G T T B B P T O R I C W K C E I H S A A G F M C V E E A L X R R J E B I R S D R V I X C T G D S U L L D V A O Y G Z H E D I K X I O E E V T M H F U L M W X O A R H S I C Y T I V I T C A N I N E C B O Q F R U I T S N B I P I E H D H Y P E R T E N S I O N S W G J N S M O T W W C H Y L E D Q I O M O M H H J P R I A R I U I H P F H P G E T J B A V Q Y J E T N E M E G A N A M T H G I E W

Want to get a copy of our pdl? Our Preferred Drug List (PDL) is a list of all the medicines we cover and any limits that apply. We also cover some over-the-counter (OTC) medicines when your doctor gives you a prescription.

We make changes to our PDL from time to time. To find the most up-to-date list, please visit www.passporthealthplan.com and click on Pharmacy:

• To view our PDL, click on Printable Formulary.

• To view our Over-the-Counter drug list, click on Over-the-Counter Drug List.

If you don’t use a computer and would like some help, just call Member Services at 1-800-578-0603.

Important Reminders — Getting Your New Baby EnrolledAs soon as your new baby is born, you'll need to call the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS) right away at 1-855-306-8959. Let them know your baby has been born and that you need to get him or her enrolled. The best time to call is right before you leave the hospital. If you do not call, your baby will not have coverage.

If you have any questions or need help, you may also call us at 1-800-578-0603. TIP:

Remember, the best time to call is during your hospital stay.

Final Message Answer: H E A L T H Y


Most people with Type 2 diabetes start out with prediabetes. Prediabetes is when your blood sugar level is high, but not high enough to be diabetes. Some people call this “a touch of sugar.”

Source: American Diabetes Association, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

Diabetes–AREYOUAT

RISK

WAYS TO LOWER YOUR RISK FOR DIABETES!

Keep a healthy weight (ask your doctor if you need to lose weight)

Stay active and exercise daily*

Eat healthy well-balanced meals

*Check with your doctor

before starting any weight

loss or exercise program.

RISK FACTORS are things that raise your chances of getting diabetes. Having prediabetes is a risk factor. Other risk factors are when:

✓ You have a mom, dad, brother or sister with diabetes

✓ You weigh too much

✓ You are age 45 or older

✓ You had diabetes during pregnancy (gestational diabetes)

✓ You had a baby weighing 9 pounds or more

✓ You do not get enough exercise

✓ You have high blood pressure

✓ You are an American Indian, Alaska Native, African American, Asian American, Hispanic/Latino or Pacific Islander

Need Help?If you have any questions or want help with diabetes, please call us at 1-877-903-0082. We are happy to help you!

What are the warning signs of

prediabetes?Prediabetes usually has no warning signs. You can have it and not even

know it. You’ll need to ask your doctor to check you for prediabetes, especially if you have any of

the risk factors listed on this page.


Women: 3 Ways to Live a Healthier Life!

We want to help all of our members live healthier lives. But, for all of you women out there, we have some special advice. Here are 3 ways to start living a healthier life:

Source: March of Dimes, Women’s Health Continuum

The best way to start living healthy is to find a “medical home.” This means getting set up with a primary care provider (PCP). Your PCP is the main doctor who sees you the most. Your PCP keeps track of your care, gets to know your health history and makes referrals for you. Think of your PCP as your medical home — the place that knows you the best!

It’s best to make small changes one at a time so you can stick with them. Work towards adopting these healthy habits:

• Don’t smoke

• Eat healthy foods

• Exercise daily

• Get to a healthy weight and stay there

You can start making these changes at any age. The younger you start, the more you can enjoy a longer life!

If you are a healthy mom, you are more likely to have a healthy baby. Remember: • It’s important to start a new pregnancy with a healthy weight and a healthy body. • You should wait at least 3 years in between pregnancies. This gives your body

time to heal and increases your chances at having a healthy baby. • If you smoke, try to quit right away. Your health and your unborn baby’s

health will be much better if you don’t smoke.

Find a Medical Home

Be a Healthy Mom

Adopt Healthy Lifestyle Habits

We’re Here to Help!We can give you information on how to live healthy and help you get transportation to and from your doctor’s visits. If you need our help, please call us at 1-877-903-0082.

1

2

3


Can Lower Your Chances of Preterm Birth

17P is a drug that can help you lower your chances of having a preterm (early) birth. 17P works by giving your body more progesterone. Your body makes progesterone during pregnancy, but you may need extra progesterone to have a full-term birth.

Is 17P right for me?17P can help you carry your baby full-term if:

• You’ve had a spontaneous preterm birth in the past.

• You’re pregnant now with a single baby.

• There was no known medical reason that caused you to deliver early in a previous pregnancy.

17P doesn’t have any serious side effects, and only some women will have bruising, soreness and itching at the injection site.

How can I get 17P?• You can get 17P at your doctor’s

office or a nurse can come to your home if your doctor orders it.

• 17P is given as a shot each week into your hip or thigh. Your doctor or nurse will inject you in a different area each week.

• You would start getting 17P shots between your 16th and 20th weeks of pregnancy.

• Most of the time, you will receive weekly shots until your 37th week.

• Once you start treatment, do not miss any shots! Please talk to your doctor about why this is important.

When do I call my OB doctor? Call your OB doctor right away if you have any signs of preterm labor. These signs may include regular contractions, low backache, pelvic pressure, cramping, leaking of fluid or bleeding.

Source: March of Dimes, National Institute of Child

Health and Human Development Maternal-Fetal

Medicine Units Network, American College of

Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG)

17P may not be right for

every woman. Talk to your OB doctor to see if it’s right

for you.


Let

Your

Bod

y He

al A

fter

You

Hav

e a

Baby

For MommiesAfter you give birth, the key is to focus on you. Your body is still going through huge changes and you need to heal properly.

It’s normal for you to bleed vaginally for about six (6) weeks after delivery. The blood will change colors from red to pink to yellow or white.

Call your OB doctor if you:

• Fill a pad of blood in one (1) hour or less

• Have any foul or bad smell with vaginal bleeding

If you’ve had an episiotomy or a vaginal tear, your vagina may feel sore for a few weeks. To help your tear heal faster:

• Put an ice pack or chilled witch hazel pad (Tucks Pad®) on your tear to cool it and relieve any burning or itching

• Use a squirt (peri) bottle to spray warm water over your vagina while you urinate or have a bowel movement

• Always wipe from the front to the back

Things to Keep in Mind

Key WordsAn episiotomy is when your doctor cuts the opening of your vagina to make it larger and easier for your baby to be delivered.

A vaginal tear is when the area between your vagina and anus (perineum) naturally tears while pushing during delivery.

1

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Let Your Body Heal After You Have a Baby

If you’ve had a C-section, take care of your incision (cut) by:

• Showering daily with anti-bacterial soap —let the water run over your cut, don’t scrub it

• Making sure your cut stays dry Call your OB doctor if you have:

• A temperature of 100.5 or more

• More pain that is not going away

• Redness around the edges of your cut

• A warm-feeling

• Any separations in your cut

• Any fluid coming out of your cut or a bad smell

Visit Your OB Doctor After Delivery

• If You Had a Vaginal Birth: Visit your OB doctor for a follow-up 6 weeks after delivery.

• If You Had a C-section: Visit your OB doctor for a follow-up 1 to 2 weeks and 6 weeks after delivery.

3

4

For Mommies

Source: Medicine Plus, Mayo Clinic, AMerican Pregnancy Association, American COngress of Obstetricians and Gynecologists


Marketing and Community Engagement Department5100 Commerce Crossings DriveLouisville, KY 40229

Passport does not guarantee the availability or quality of care. We are not responsible for any act or omission of any provider.

All providers contracted with Passport are independent contractors and not employees or agents of Passport.

Any information included in this newsletter is not intended to replace medical care or advice from your doctor. Any

references to other companies or internet sites are not an endorsement or guarantee of the services, information or products

provided. Passport does not take responsibility for anything that may result from the use, misuse, interpretation or

application of the information in this newsletter.

Helping Kentuckians

Live Healthier Lives™

MARK-51324 10/8/2015

Don’t Risk Losing Your Benefits Over a Bad Address

Questions?If you have any questions, you may call your Passport Member Services team at 1-800-578-0603.

To keep your Passport benefits, Medicaid must have your most recent address on file at all times. You’ll need to report any address changes to the office where you applied for Medicaid — the Department for Community Based Services (DCBS), Social Security Income (SSI) or Kynect.

What You Need to DoIf you move, update your address RIGHT AWAY by calling one of these offices:

✓ If you applied for Medicaid at DCBS, call 1-855-306-8959.

✓ If you applied for Medicaid at SSI, call 1-800-772-1213.

✓ If you applied for Medicaid at Kynect, call 1-855-459-6328.

WARNING! If you do nothing and

your mail is returned to Medicaid, you will be

dis-enrolled from Passport and no longer have your

benefits paid for until your address is

updated.

tm · 2. place your arms to your sides. 3. extend your right leg out straight and flex your foot....

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