- Summary of Wellness Benefits
- You may help prevent or control illness by making wise health and lifestyle choices. BHP supports and covers preventative health care services. Immunizations help prevent illness and epidemic in our community. Routine screenings and physical exams help to discover illness early when it is easier to treat.
"An ounce of prevention is a pound of cure."
Well-baby care Routine tests and examinations given to children up to age two Routine tests and examinations Routine annual physical exam after age two $150 maximum paid per year. The routine services listed below follow current medical standards and the American Cancer Society Guidelines, are paid in addition to the $150 maximum for an annual physical exam.
Immunization for infants and children Yes Immunization for adults Yes, including flu vaccine. Pap smears Annually starting at age 18 for women or earlier if the doctor recommends. Mammograms One baseline from age 35-39. Annually after age 40 for women. One per calendar year. Colon Rectal exams Annually starting at age 50 for men and women a fecal occult blood test plus one of the three screening options below: • Flexible sigmoidoscopy every 5 years*,
• Colonoscopy every 10 years*, or
• Double contrast barium enema every 5-10 years*.*Digital rectal examination should be performed at the time of each screening.
Prostate screening Annually starting at age 50 for men a prostate-specific antigen (PSA) blood test and the digital rectal examination. Smoking/tobacco cessation treatment Benefits will be paid at 50% of usual and customary costs, up to a lifetime maximum of $300 for all Participants.Receipts for services must be sent to Allied for reimbursement. Health evaluation and flu shots at your school or worksite Scheduled annually by your wellness coordinator. Covered 100% for covered employees and spouses.
- You may help prevent or control illness by making wise health and lifestyle choices. BHP supports and covers preventative health care services. Immunizations help prevent illness and epidemic in our community. Routine screenings and physical exams help to discover illness early when it is easier to treat.
- How do I know what the current recommended guidelines are for routine screening and immunizations?
- Our plan keeps with the current national medical standards and the American
Cancer Society guidelines.
You may review the latest routine cancer screening guidelines and self breast and testicular exams from the American Cancer Society web site. www.cancer.org
You may print the latest Immunization and Vaccine Recommendations for
Infants, Children, and Adults from the Center for Disease Control www.cdc.gov/vaccines/.
- Our plan keeps with the current national medical standards and the American
Cancer Society guidelines.
- What is the difference between a routine screening mammogram or a diagnostic mammogram?
- A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast. Screening mammography is used to look
for breast disease in women who are asymptomatic, that is, they appear to
have no symptoms.
Diagnostic mammography is used to diagnose breast disease in women who have symptoms such as development of a lump or swelling in the breast or underarm area, skin irritation or dimpling, nipple pain or retraction (turning inward), redness or scaliness of the nipple or breast skin, or a discharge other than breast milk.
Following the American Cancer Society's guidelines for the early detection of breast cancer improves the chances that breast cancer can be diagnosed at an early stage and treated successfully.
Women aged 20 or older should perform breast self-examination (BSE) every month. By doing the exam regularly, you get to know how your breasts feel and you can more readily detect any change. If a change occurs, see your health care provider as soon as possible for evaluation. However, remember that most of the time, these breast changes are not cancer. Annual routine mammograms are recommended after age 40 along with the BSE every month.
- A mammogram is an x-ray of the breast. Screening mammography is used to look
for breast disease in women who are asymptomatic, that is, they appear to
have no symptoms.
- What tests are included in the employee health screening?
- The provider recommends the health screening tests for apparently healthy
adults without symptoms. These are based on the current guidelines from the
U.S. Preventive Health Service Task Force and national norms. A health risk
appraisal questionnaire is given to participants to complete. The
participant receives a personalized Health Risk Report based on the
individual's health status, health history and lifestyle with national
norms. The report gives the individual the information he/she needs to
freely choose his or her own lifestyle improvement goals.
Remember, the employee health screening will include tests that may be completed at the work site such as resting heart rate, blood pressure, blood cholesterol, and blood sugar. Digital rectal exams or pap smears would not be included in an employee health screening.
A work place health screening is a positive benefit but gives you a "general" read on your health. This screening should not replace a routine physical with your physician.Click here to view a sample Health Screening Report.
- The provider recommends the health screening tests for apparently healthy
adults without symptoms. These are based on the current guidelines from the
U.S. Preventive Health Service Task Force and national norms. A health risk
appraisal questionnaire is given to participants to complete. The
participant receives a personalized Health Risk Report based on the
individual's health status, health history and lifestyle with national
norms. The report gives the individual the information he/she needs to
freely choose his or her own lifestyle improvement goals.
- I tried to get a prescription drug, Zyban, for smoking cessation, but the pharmacy denied my card.
- All smoking cessation treatments must be paid up front to the provider
by you and then the receipt may be submitted to Allied
for reimbursement. The benefit is paid at 50% of U/C costs up to a lifetime
maximum of $300. Treatment covered includes hypnosis and smoking cessation
sessions conducted by the American Lung Association, American Cancer
Society, a hospital, physician or certified group leader. Treatment not
covered includes: tapes, books, nicotine gum, videos and mail order
programs.
Remember the Caremark drug card will not work for prescription smoking cessation drugs. Receipts for prescription smoking cessation drugs, nicotine patch, or completion of a class should be attached to a Allied claim form and submitted to Allied. Contact Allied at 1-800-288-2078 if you have questions about the benefit.
Check out quitting tobacco tips web sites.
www.lungusa.org
www.nicotine-anonymous.org
- All smoking cessation treatments must be paid up front to the provider
by you and then the receipt may be submitted to Allied
for reimbursement. The benefit is paid at 50% of U/C costs up to a lifetime
maximum of $300. Treatment covered includes hypnosis and smoking cessation
sessions conducted by the American Lung Association, American Cancer
Society, a hospital, physician or certified group leader. Treatment not
covered includes: tapes, books, nicotine gum, videos and mail order
programs.
- 20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors
- 1. The single most important way you can help to prevent errors is to be an active member of your health care team. This means taking part in every decision about your health care. Research shows that patients who are more involved with their care tend to get better results.
Medicines
2. Make sure that all of your doctors know about every medicine you are taking. This includes prescription and over-the-counter medicines, and dietary supplements such as vitamins and herbs.
• At least once a year, bring all of your medicines and supplements with you to your doctor. "Brown bagging" your medicines can help you and your doctor talk about them and find out if there are any problems. It can also help your doctor keep your records up to date, which can help you get better quality care.
3. Make sure your doctor knows about any allergies and adverse reactions you have had to medicines.
4. When your doctor writes a prescription, make sure you can read it. If you can't read your doctor's handwriting, your pharmacist might not be able to either.
5. Ask for information about your medicines in terms you can understand-both when your medicines are prescribed and when you receive them.
• What is the medicine for?
• How am I supposed to take it, and for how long?
• What side effects are likely? What do I do if they occur?
• Is this medicine safe to take with other medicines or dietary supplements I am taking?
• What food, drink, or activities should I avoid while taking this medicine?
6. When you pick up your medicine from the pharmacy, ask: Is this the medicine that my doctor prescribed? A study by the Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Allied Health Sciences found that 88 percent of medicine errors involved getting the wrong drug or the wrong dose at the pharmacy.
7. If you have any questions about the directions on your medicine labels, ask. Medicine labels can be hard to understand. For example, ask if "four doses daily" means taking a dose every 6 hours around the clock or just during regular waking hours.
8. Ask your pharmacist for the best device to measure your liquid medicine. Also, ask questions if you're not sure how to use it.
• Research shows that many people do not understand the right way to measure liquid medicines. For example, many use household teaspoons, which often do not hold a true teaspoon of liquid. Special devices, like marked syringes, help people to measure the right dose. Being told how to use the devices helps even more.
9. Ask for written information about the side effects your medicine could cause.
• If you know what might happen, you will be better prepared if it does-or, if something unexpected happens instead. That way, you can report the problem right away and get help before it gets worse.
Hospital Stays
10. If you have a choice, select a hospital at which many patients have the procedure or surgery you need.
• Research shows that patients tend to have better results when they are treated in hospitals that have a great deal of experience with their condition.
11. If you are in a hospital, consider asking all health care workers who have direct contact with you whether they have washed their hands.
• Hand washing is an important way to prevent the spread of infections in hospitals. Yet, it is not done regularly or thoroughly enough. A recent study found that when patients checked whether health care workers washed their hands, the workers washed their hands more often and used more soap.
12. When you are being discharged from the hospital, ask your doctor to explain the treatment plan you will use at home. This includes learning about your medicines and finding out when you can get back to your regular activities.
• Research shows that at discharge time, doctors think their patients understand more than they really do about what they should or should not do when they return home.
Surgery
13. If you are having surgery, make sure that you, your doctor, and your surgeon all agree and are clear on exactly what will be done.
• Doing surgery at the wrong site (for example, operating on the left knee instead of the right) is rare. But even once is too often. The good news is that wrong-site surgery is 100 percent preventable. The American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons urges its members to sign their initials directly on the site to be operated on before the surgery.
Other Steps You Can Take
14. Speak up if you have questions or concerns. You have a right to question anyone who is involved with your care.
15. Make sure that someone, such as your personal doctor, is in charge of your care. This is especially important if you have many health problems or are in a hospital.
16. Make sure that all health professionals involved in your care have important health information about you. Do not assume that everyone knows everything they need to.
17. Ask a family member or friend to be there with you and to be your advocate (Someone who can help get things done and speak up for you if you can't). Even if you think you don't need help now, you might need it later.
18. Know that "more" is not always better. It is a good idea to find out why a test or treatment is needed and how it can help you. You could be better off without it.
19. If you have a test, don't assume that no news is good news. Ask about the results.
20. Learn about your condition and treatments by asking your doctor and nurse and by using other reliable sources.
* Internet Citation: 20 Tips to Help Prevent Medical Errors: Patient Fact Sheet. AHRQ Publication No. 00-PO38, February 2000. Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality, Rockville, MD. http://www.ahrq.gov/consumer/20tips.htm
- 1. The single most important way you can help to prevent errors is to be an active member of your health care team. This means taking part in every decision about your health care. Research shows that patients who are more involved with their care tend to get better results.
- Making Wise Health Decisions
- Throughout your life you will make decisions for your health. The daily lifestyle habits you choose and the decisions you make with your doctor will influence your overall well being and quality of care. Common goals, shared effort, and clear communication are the basis of a good doctor-patient relationship. You can make wise health care decisions working in partnership with your doctor.
Be Involved in Your Health Care
BeAdopt good health habits and get regular check ups.
BePrepare for your doctor's visit.
BeCommunicate clearly and honestly with your doctor.
BeIf you are not satisfied with the quality of your care, you have the right to discuss it with your doctor, change doctors or get a second opinion.
- Throughout your life you will make decisions for your health. The daily lifestyle habits you choose and the decisions you make with your doctor will influence your overall well being and quality of care. Common goals, shared effort, and clear communication are the basis of a good doctor-patient relationship. You can make wise health care decisions working in partnership with your doctor.
- Surfing the Web Wisely
- Not all health information on the Internet is accurate. If you or your family use online health information to make health decisions, learning how to identify reliable information is important. Discussing the health advice you find on the Internet with your health provider is always a good idea.
- Not all health information on the Internet is accurate. If you or your family use online health information to make health decisions, learning how to identify reliable information is important. Discussing the health advice you find on the Internet with your health provider is always a good idea.
- Health Care Links
- Here are health web sites that may have information of interest to you. These links are provided for your general education and information only, and should not be relied upon for personal diagnosis or treatment. If you have any questions, please contact your health care provider.
Agency for HealthCare Research and Quality
http://www.ahcpr.gov/clinic/prevenix.htm
American Academy of Family Physicians
http://familydoctor.org/
American Academy of Pediatrics
http://www.aap.org/
American Association of Retired Persons
http://www.aarp.org/
American Cancer Society
http://www.cancer.org
The American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology
http://allergy.mcg.edu
American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists
http://www.acog.org/
American Council on Exercise, Fit Facts
http://www.acefitness.org
American Diabetes Association
http://www.diabetes.org
American Heart Association
http://www.americanheart.org
American Heart Association Recipe Book
http://www.deliciousdecisions.org/
American Lung Association
http://www.lungusa.org
American Medical Association- General Health
http://www.ama-assn.org/
American Psychological Association
http://helping.apa.org/
Arthritis Foundation
http://www.arthritis.org/
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
http://www.cdc.gov
Food & Drug Administration - Information on FDA Approved Drugs
http://www.fda.gov/
Health Finder - U.S. Department of Health and Human Services
http://www.healthfinder.gov/
March of Dimes - Resource for Healthy Pregnancy
http://www.modimes.org
Mayo Clinic Health Oasis
http://www.mayohealth.org
National Heart, Blood & Lung Institute
http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/
National Institute of Drug Abuse
http://www.nida.nih.gov/
National Institute of Health -
National Center for Complementary & Alternative Medicine
http://nccam.nih.gov/
Ohio Department of Health
http://www.odh.state.oh.us
State Medical Board of Ohio
http://www.state.oh.us/med
Web MD Health Topics
http://my.webmd.com/
Wellness Newsletter, University of California, Berkeley
http://www.berkeleywellness.com
- Here are health web sites that may have information of interest to you. These links are provided for your general education and information only, and should not be relied upon for personal diagnosis or treatment. If you have any questions, please contact your health care provider.