Need a ride? Food? Financial assistance? Find what you need on Findhelp, a local resource hub that can help you identify resources available in the community. Whether you’re seeking help for yourself or someone else, Findhelp makes it easy. Find and make referrals for a variety of services with dignity and ease.
How it works:
Visit BSWHealthPlan .Findhelp.com.
Type in your ZIP code.
Hit the “search” button and discover hundreds of social service organizations at your fingertips.
You can also create an account for access to other free tools and features.
Hello! I’m Dr. Robert L. Waterhouse, and I’m honored to serve you as the new chief medical officer (CMO) of Baylor Scott & White Health Plan.
My journey in healthcare began at age 7 when I was hit by a car. The accident sent me to the hospital where I met doctors and nurses who would care for me over the next three years. Their compassion and care for a stranger left an impression and fueled my interest in medicine. For me, it’s not just a career but a calling. My specialty is urology. Early in my career, I was working in academic medicine when I first became exposed to quality measures. After leaving academics, I started an independent urology group. My interest in population health and quality grew beyond urology and led me to work for United Healthcare and Blue Cross of North Carolina. In 2022, I joined Baylor Scott & White Health as CMO of the Baylor Scott & White Quality Alliance and now fill the same role for Baylor Scott & White Health Plan.
After more than 30 years in healthcare, my goal is still to bring people—like you—the best possible healthcare journey. We do this by leveraging as many valuable resources as possible:
1. Access to a high-quality provider and hospital network
2. Support before, during and after engagement with healthcare delivery
3. Aligning your coverage policy with resources that produce the best possible outcomes for your well-being
Healthy Life is our way of helping you stay informed with wellness tips and insight about your benefits. With spring upon us, be mindful if you are having flu-like symptoms and seek medical attention to address them, as flu season has been very challenging. Also, if you haven’t already, schedule your annual wellness visit for no additional cost. Learn more on page 8.
I look forward to serving you and supporting your wellness journey.
Robert Waterhouse, MD, MBA, HSM Chief Medical Officer/Senior Vice President
Baylor Scott & White Value-based Care and Baylor Scott & White Health Plan
Get Ready for the Health Outcomes Survey
Keep an eye on your inbox, or mailbox, this summer. You may be chosen to take part in an important survey that can impact your health plan and future healthcare policies.
The Health Outcomes Survey (HOS) is a member-focused survey used by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) to assess the quality of care provided to individuals enrolled in Medicare Advantage (MA) plans. Members are randomly selected to receive the survey by Press Ganey, a third-party vendor selected by Baylor Scott & White Health Plan to conduct the survey as required by CMS.
As a member-focused initiative, the survey gathers insights directly from beneficiaries like you to evaluate how well your health plan and providers are meeting your needs. Completing the HOS is essential for improving healthcare services, measuring member experience, and ensuring the
continuous improvement of the Medicare program.
The time frame for the HOS is JulyNovember 2025.
Goals of the HOS
The primary objectives of the HOS include:
1. Measuring health plan performance: The survey evaluates how well Medicare Advantage plans manage chronic conditions, address physical and mental health needs, and improve the quality of life for beneficiaries.
2. Assessing health outcomes: The survey focuses on changes in health status over time, such as improvements or declines in physical and mental health.
3. Promoting accountability: Results are used by CMS to publicly report plan performance, empowering beneficiaries to make informed decisions when selecting a health plan.
4. Supporting quality improvement efforts: Medicare Advantage plans use the survey results to
identify areas for improvement and implement targeted interventions.
Why It’s Important to Complete the HOS
1. You help shape future healthcare policies. Your feedback helps CMS understand what is working and what needs improvement. This information is used to shape policies and allocate resources to ensure the Medicare Advantage program remains effective and efficient.
2. You help improve your health plan. Your responses provide Baylor Scott & White Health Plan with actionable insights into our strengths and weaknesses. This allows us to design better care programs and enhance services that directly benefit you and other members.
3. You support accurate performance ratings. CMS uses survey results to calculate Star Ratings for Medicare Advantage plans. These ratings are publicly available and help beneficiaries compare plan quality. Plans with higher ratings may receive additional funding and incentives, which they can reinvest in member services.
4. You make your voice heard. The HOS is an opportunity for you to share your healthcare experiences and outcomes. Your input directly impacts the care provided to you and other beneficiaries, ensuring that patient needs remain the priority.
If you’re chosen for the HOS, you’ll receive an email or letter from Press Ganey and CMS in July. To learn more about the survey, visit hosonline.org
MEDICATION MADNESS
Feeling overwhelmed by all the pills you have to take? Try these tips to stay on track with your medications.
Let’s be honest—keeping up with medications can feel like a juggling act. That collection of pill bottles on your counter, each with its own set of instructions for how and when to take them, can be overwhelming.
Whether you take regular medications for diabetes, blood pressure, cholesterol, or any other condition, understanding how to manage your medications is essential—not just for protecting your health but for simplifying your day-to-day life. Here’s how to set yourself up for success.
Chart the Course
Start with a clear outline of your medications. This should include each prescription, over-thecounter drug, vitamin, and dietary supplement. Record the name, dosage, and when to take it. Doing this work up front means you’ll always have a guide to reference.
Fill Prescriptions Right Away
Whether you’re just starting a prescription or you’ve been refilling for a while, getting medication right away is critical to improving and protecting your
health. Once you start taking a medication, take it exactly as prescribed.
Find out if you can schedule one pickup date for all your refills or if some drugs are available in 90-day supplies through the mail.
Ask your pharmacist how to sign up for telephone or text messages that remind you to take a medicine or pick up a refill.
Never stop taking medicine without consulting your
healthcare provider. Wondering if you really need a certain drug? Having concerns about possible side effects or interactions with other prescription and overthe-counter drugs, vitamins, or foods? Talk with your provider or pharmacist.
Take the Correct Dose
You shouldn’t take pills less frequently or break them in half to make a prescription last longer unless instructed by your healthcare provider, even if you don’t have symptoms and feel well. Doing so lowers the dosage and may be dangerous.
Know what to do if you accidentally miss a dose. Write this information down.
If you’re concerned about being able to pay for your medicine, ask your healthcare provider or pharmacist about lowercost alternatives.
Follow a Routine
Taking your medication around the same time each day can help it become a habit so you’re less likely to forget. Bedtime, breakfast, and dinner times can be good options.
Consider buying a tool to help you keep track of your medicine. Pill organizers and products that fit on top of pill bottles may help. Ask a friend or family member to help.
Use your smartphone’s alarm or download an app that allows you to set reminders. If you’re not sure which app to use, ask your provider or pharmacist for suggestions.
Plan ahead if you know your routine will change, such as when traveling across time zones. Ask for help creating a temporary schedule. Keep a hard copy of it handy and a picture of it on your smartphone.
1. Men can get osteoporosis just like women.
2. All men should get a prostate-specific antigen test starting at age 55.
3. Erectile dysfunction can be a warning sign of heart disease.
4. You only need to visit your healthcare provider when you’re sick.
Answers
1. True. While it’s more common in women, men do develop osteoporosis.
2. False. Men 55 to 69 years old should ask their healthcare providers about the benefits and risks of screening for prostate cancer.
3. True. Erectile dysfunction often shows up before heart problems. Even if it feels awkward, you should tell your provider if you notice any issues in the bedroom.
4. False. Regular checkups are important for maintaining health, not just for treating illness.
Tips for Tracking
Pillboxes, charts, calendars, and medication reminder apps are great tools for staying organized. Other strategies you can add to your routine include:
Using visual cues: Write reminders on sticky notes. Place them in areas of the house you see frequently, like your refrigerator door or bathroom cabinet.
Color coding: Put colored labels on your bottles based on the time of day you need to take the medicine—for example, blue for morning, red for afternoon, and yellow for bedtime.
Syncing your habits: If you can, schedule doses around daily events. Reach for your morning pills before pouring that first cup of coffee and take your evening dose right after brushing your teeth.
Smoothie Bowl
Ingredients
½ cup unsweetened freeze-dried strawberries
1 cup nonfat Greek yogurt
½ cup sliced fresh strawberries
½ cup diced fresh pineapple
½ banana, sliced
1 tbsp. sweetened dried cranberries
1 tsp. dried, unsweetened coconut
Directions
1. Place dried strawberries in a food processor fitted with a standard blade and process for one minute or until powdered.
2. Add Greek yogurt and process for one minute or until well blended.
3. Divide Greek yogurt into two bowls. Top each with half of the following: strawberries, pineapple, banana, and dried cranberries. Sprinkle half of the dried coconut over each bowl. Makes two servings.
Per Serving
A serving is one bowl. Each serving contains about 165 calories, 1 g fat (1 g saturated fat, 0 g trans fat), 5 mg cholesterol, 44 mg sodium, 28 g carbohydrates, 19 g sugars, and 13 g protein.
Beware Distracted Eating
Scrolling through your phone while eating? A new meta-analysis pooling 23 studies gives reason to put down the screens during lunch.
Researchers found that screen time while eating could increase food consumption by as much as 15% during the meal. Watching a screen while eating can also increase calories consumed later in the day by an additional 10%. This could sum up to more than 150 extra calories in a day.
Distraction by screens while eating might decrease the brain’s awareness of the body’s satiety signals—signals that tell us we have eaten enough. Missing satiety signals during a meal
may lead to eating more during that setting. And, concerningly, missing these signals may prompt feeling “numb” to further calories and thus eating more later in the day.
To compound this problem, foods chosen during screen time are often high-calorie, low-fiber foods. Consumption of these foods lends to overeating.
Is there a different way to dine? Consider turning to conversation and turning off the screens during meals. If you crave a crunchy snack during a show, perhaps opt for celery instead of potato chips—healthy choices are always important, but simultaneous screen time ups the stakes.
Most importantly—give thanks, savor your meal, take your time. And turn off the screen.
–Dr. Kael A. Kuster BSWHP Behavioral Health Medical Director
Keeping the Beat
No matter your age, ethnicity, or gender, heart disease can happen to anybody. Heart disease is the number one cause of death among men and women in the United States, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. But following a rhythm of healthy lifestyle choices can help your heart stay on tempo.
Heart Disease Types
Heart disease is a group of diseases and disorders that cause cardiovascular issues. Common types of heart diseases include:
Arrhythmia: An abnormal or irregular heart rhythm
Cardiomyopathy: A disease that causes the heart’s muscle to harden or grow weak
Congenital heart disease: Heart abnormalities that are present at birth
Coronary artery disease (CAD): Accumulation of plaque in the heart’s arteries
Heart infections: Can be caused by bacteria, viruses, or parasites
Heart valve disease: Occurs when one or more of the valves in the heart does not work well
Early Warning Signs and Symptoms
Your heart is the beat you need to listen to, so be aware of the signs and symptoms of heart disease:
Arm or jaw pain
Chest pain
Dizziness or lightheadedness
Fast or irregular heartbeat
Shortness of breath
Swelling in the legs
Unexplained tiredness
Healthy
Heart Habits
Risk factors such as age, family history of heart disease, gender, menopause, and race are
considered uncontrollable, but there are risk factors that you can control based on your lifestyle choices. Below are a few habits that can help you in your journey to a healthier heart.
Eat healthy meals by reducing your sodium intake, saturated fat, and added sugar and incorporating more fruits and vegetables, fish, and whole grains.
Maintain a healthy weight and aim for 30 minutes of moderate exercise at least five times a week.
Watch your cholesterol by aiming for a level lower than 200 mg/dl.
Live smoke-free and limit alcohol.
Control your blood pressure by learning healthy ways to manage stress.
Manage your blood sugar by following a healthy routine such as regular exercise, being mindful of your carbohydrate intake, increasing your fiber intake, and striving for a fasting blood glucose lower than 100 mg/dl.
When detected early, heart disease can be easy to treat, so speak with your healthcare provider about your risk factors, such as diabetes, hypertension, and high cholesterol.
Get care from the comfort of your home, or anywhere in Texas, available 24/7 at no additional cost to you. Virtual care is available to BSW SeniorCare Advantage members through MyBSWHealth and Teladoc, and Covenant Health Advantage members through Teladoc.
Scan the QR code to learn more.
Now Available at No Cost to You: 360 Visits
Baylor Scott & White Health is offering a new way for BSW SeniorCare Advantage members to check Annual Wellness Visits off their list—a 360 Visit. Available at no additional cost to you, you’ll get up to an hour with an advanced practice provider who specializes in caring for Medicare Advantage patients. They’ll review your entire health history and can even connect you with helpful resources that you might not know exist. And they’ll keep your chosen primary care provider updated so that they can pick up right where things left off. Our care teams may contact you to schedule this 360 Visit.* Similar to a standard Annual Wellness Visit, your provider will:
Review your medical and family history
Check height, weight, blood pressure, and other routine measurements
Offer personalized health advice related to:
Fall prevention
Nutrition
Physical activity
Tobacco use and cessation
Social engagement
Weight loss
Cognition
Provide a list of risk factors and treatment options for you, plus referrals for lab tests or to specialists when appropriate
Provide a screening schedule (like a checklist) for appropriate preventive services
Review and update current providers
Ask nonmedical questions to address food insecurity, housing instability, transportation needs, utility difficulties, and interpersonal safety, and to give you resources or referrals to local and community sources for help when appropriate
Note: If you wish to discuss items that are NOT covered in the Annual Wellness Visit, you may incur additional fees decided by your insurance, such as a copay, coinsurance, or deductible, as your health plan may not cover services related to current or chronic health issues.
If you need assistance finding or changing your provider, or have additional questions, call us at 866.334.3141 (TTY: 711) .
*360 Visits are geographically limited to certain clinics in Central and North Texas at this time. Baylor Scott & White Health reserves the right to modify or change this program at any time.
