SUMMER 2019

HEALTHYADVANTAGE

HIGHLIGHTS

Don’t Wait - A Colorectal Screening Could Save Your Life!Earn a $15 rewards card for getting your colorectal cancer screening

High Blood Pressure? Time to Bring it DownHelpful tips on how you can lower your high blood pressure

Reduce your Sodium Intake, Reduce your Blood PressureYour sodium intake is directly related to your blood pressure. Read about how reducing both can improve your health

Monitor Your Diabetes with the A1C TestTake control of your diabetes and earn a $15 rewards card for completing select preventive screenings.

Questions?

Contact us!

Member Services: 410-779-9932 or 844-386-6763 (TTY:711)

8am - 8pm ET | 7 days a week | 10/1 - 3/31 8am - 8pm ET | Monday - Friday | 4/1 - 9/30 Website: www.UMMedicareAdvantage.org Visit MyHealth Portal on our website to view eligibility, check claim status, view authorizations, see updates to the formulary, request a new ID card, or update your information.

H8854_19_4009-01_002_OE_M Accept: 7/15/19

Don’t Wait. A Colorectal Cancer Screening Could Save Your Life!

The U.S. Preventative Services Task Force recommends screening for colorectal cancer starting at age 50 and continuing until age 75. Colorectal cancer is the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths in the United States and the third most common type of cancer in men and women.

What is colorectal cancer screening? Colorectal cancer almost always develops from abnormal (precancerous) growths in the colon or rectum. Screening tests can find precancerous growths that can be removed before they turn into cancer. There are several test options. So, talk with your Primary Care Physician (PCP) to determine which test is right for you.

Which test is right for me? For men and women, 50 years older, a variety of tests are available. The right test for you, is the one that you will do. Your doctor can help you make the decision about which of the following tests may be best for your situation. More frequent screenings or different types of screenings may be required for people at high risk or as recommended by your doctor.

• Stool-based Tests: recommended every twelve (12) months • Flexible Sigmoidoscopy: recommended every five (5) years • Screening Colonoscopy: recommended every ten (10) years

While we recommend that you get a colonoscopy, as it is the only test that can find and remove pre-cancerous polyps before they become cancerous, we offer a stool-based specimen collection test that can be completed at home annually. If you would like one of these kits mailed to you, please contact our Quality Department at 410-525-5804 (TTY: 711).

Where can I go to have the colorectal screening? A PCP can perform the stool specimen test. A gastroenterologist (GI) specialist can provide the colonoscopy or sigmoidoscopy. Make sure you visit a provider that is in-network with University of Maryland Health Advantage. Visit our website at www.UMMedicareAdvantage.org or call us to locate an in-network provider near you. We have several options available.

Did you know you can earn a $15 reward card for completing a colorectal cancer screening? University of Maryland Health Advantage and your PCP work together to make sure you get the best care possible. Regular screening is the key to preventing colorectal cancer.

To complete your screening and earn your reward:

• Call your doctor, or our Member Service Department, to schedule your colorectal cancer screening visit • Take your Healthy Rewards Program Booklet with you to your appointment • Ask your doctor to complete the Colorectal Cancer Screening form included in your Healthy Rewards

Program Booklet and fax it to 410-779-3957 • Earn your $15 reward card

If you have any questions or need assistance making an appointment, please call us at 410-779-9932 or 1-844-386-6762 (TTY:711).

High Blood Pressure?Time to bring it down

It can be discouraging to hear your doctor say that your blood pressure level isn’t where it should be. After all, high blood pressure is a serious condition—one that can raise the risk of heart attack and stroke.

Blood Pressure Levels

Normalsystolic: less than 120 mmHg diastolic: less than 80 mmHg

At Risk (prehypertension)

systolic: 120–139 mmHgdiastolic: 80–89 mmHg

Highsystolic: 140 mmHg or higher diastolic: 90 mmHg or higher

The good news is, you can take steps to avoid serious consequences by getting your blood pressure under control. What’s the first step? Ask your doctor what your blood pressure goal should be and what you can do to reach that target. Getting to your goal blood pressure might involve steps like these:

1. Improve your diet. A good place to start is to eat plenty of fruits and veggies, along with low-fat dairy products. These foods are often rich in blood pressure-friendly minerals, like potassium. Avoiding too much sodium and salt is a key to better blood pressure. Reading food labels can help you cut back on salty foods, as well as saturated fat (which can hurt your heart).

2. Move your body more. Regular workouts, such as taking brisk walks throughout each week, are a great step toward better blood pressure. Even just 10 minutes of exercise each day can add up.

3. Watch your weight. If you’re overweight, shedding even 10 pounds could help your blood pressure get back on track.

4. Take your medicines. If you’re prescribed a blood pressure medicine, take it just as directed. Different ones work in different ways to lower blood pressure. But they all have one thing in common: they can’t help if you don’t take them. If you’re having any problems with your medicine, tell your doctor.

5. Address your stress. Too much stress may cause you to make unhealthy choices, like eating poorly, that could affect your blood pressure. To stress less, do your best to address problems, like time management, that may be under your control. Exercise is also a stress-buster! So is talking to a close friend. Source: American Heart Association; American Geriatrics Society

Reduce your Sodium Intake,Reduce your Blood Pressure

Dietary intake of sodium and salt affect your body the same. The body only needs a small amount of salt to function. The 2015–2020 Dietary Guidelines recommend Americans consume less than 2,300 milligrams (mg) of salt each day. Yet about 90% of Americans over the age of 2 consume too much salt. The average daily salt intake is more than 3,400 mg.

A lower salt diet can improve your blood pressure and prevent strokes. Heart disease and stroke are the nation’s first and fifth leading causes of death. So if you reduce your salt intake, you decrease your chances of having a stroke!

Eat More Fruit and Vegetables. One of the best ways to reduce your salt intake is to eat more fresh fruit and vegetables and use spices to flavor your foods that do not contain any added salt/sodium. Avoid canned and pre-packaged frozen foods as much as you can...they tend to be packed with salt!

Save Money on your Preventive Prescriptions. The University of Maryland Health Advantage (UMHA) drug formulary covers a variety of brand and generic medications for the treatment of high blood pressure. Most of the high blood pressure medications listed on the UMHA drug formulary can be obtained for up to a 90-day supply at a time. Depending on your income/institutional status, your generic copay could be $0/$1.25/$3.40 and your brand copay could be $0/3.80/$8.50. The copay for a 30-day supply vs a 90-day supply of a formulary medication is the same. You can lower the amount of money you spend on formulary high blood pressure medications by obtaining a 90-day supply of your medication!

Sources: National Center for Chronic Disease Prevention and Health Promotion, Division for Health Disease and Stroke Prevention

Take Control of your Health Today!UMHA Dual (HMO-SNP) members are eligible to receive one at-home fitness kit each quarter to help improve their overall health. With three different kits currently available, one is bound to spark your interest!

1. Sue Grant’s Older and Much Wiser includes a stretch band and focuses on cardio, strength training, balance and gaze stabilization, and stretching.

2. Angie Miller’s Cardio & Strength Training for Seniors focuses on aerobics and toning while developing strength and balance.

3. Kathy Smith’s Body Boomers Workout focuses on low impact cardio to better your heart health and mental focus.

Monitor Your Diabetes with an A1C Test

Take Control. Diabetes is a serious chronic disease. But you can have diabetes and still enjoy life. Diabetes should be frequently monitored to minimize complications and improve outcomes. The A1C test, also known as the hemoglobin A1C or HbA1c test, is a common blood test that measures your average blood sugar level over the past 3 months. In order to reach and maintain your A1C goal, you should get your A1C level checked at least every 6 months.

Know Your Number & A1C Goal. The recommended A1C goal for most people with diabetes is 7% or less. It’s best to speak to your doctor to determine what your A1C goal should be. It’s important that you don’t compare yourself to others. You should know your goal and be clear and honest about your approach in managing your diabetes.

Receive Rewards for Completing your Screenings. Complete the following lab tests in 2019, all at no cost to you, and receive two $15 rewards card:

• HbA1c lab test and Urine Protein lab test (Microalbumin) • Diabetic retinal eye exam

Note: Your provider must fill out the form in your Healthy Rewards Program booklet and send it back to us to be eligible for the rewards card.

If you have further questions, or want to see if you are eligible for this reward, please contact our Quality Department at 410-525-5804 (TTY:711)

9:30 am - 4 pm ET | Monday - Friday

SUN PROTECTION

Protect your skin with sunscreen that has SPF 30 or higher. The sun’s rays are the strongest between 10 am and 2 pm.

Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun’s UV rays.

Wearing a hat will help protect your face, ears, and neck.

Be sure to stay hydrated by drinking plenty of water. It is recommended that you drink at least 64 ounces of water daily.

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:

o Qualified sign language interpreters o 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:

o Qualified interpreters o Information written in other languages

If you need these services, contact Member Services at 410-779-9932, or toll-free at 1-844-386-6762, 8 AM to 8 PM EST, 7 days a week from October 1 through March 31 and 8 AM to 8 PM EST, Monday through Friday from April 1 through September 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: University of Maryland Health Advantage c/o Appeals and Grievance Department 1966 Greenspring Drive, Suite 100 Timonium, MD 21093 Phone: 410-779-9932 or toll-free at 1-844-386-6762 Fax: 1-844-329-0831 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 https://ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf or by mail or phone at: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Avenue, SW Room 509F, HHH Building Washington, D.C. 20201 1-800-368-1019, 800-537-7697 (TDD) Complaint forms are available at http://www.hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html

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