Your Advantage - Spring 2017

yourADVANTAGE A newsletter exclusively for FIDELIS MEDICARE ADVANTAGE AND FIDELIS DUAL ADVANTAGE MEMBERS

SPRING 2017 5 Great Things About Dual Eligible Coverage Osteoporosis Testing Schedule Your Cholesterol Screening

We Value Your Feedback As part of our efforts to provide you with the highest quality care, surveys are mailed to randomly selected members each year.

The first survey, the Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS), is under way. If you received a CAHPS survey in the mail from our partner, DSS, please take a few moments to complete and return the survey.

The CAHPS survey gives you an opportunity to assess things like how your doctor communicates with you, your prescription plan, and your access to the care and services you need. A second survey, the Health Outcomes Survey (HOS), will begin shortly.

If you are selected to participate in the HOS, a presurvey letter will arrive in April.

The nationwide HOS survey is conducted by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services. The results are used to improve quality of health care services, program administration and accountability, and the health of Medicare managed care participants.

Fidelis Care does not receive detailed information about which members receive or complete the survey. We receive only a summary of results. If you have any questions about either the CAHPS or HOS surveys, please call Member Services at 1-800-247-1447 (TTY: 1-800-695-8544).

5 Great Things to Know About Dual Eligible Members with Fidelis Dual Advantage coverage get the support they need to manage their health seamlessly between both Medicare and Medicaid without any gaps in coverage, and with one point of contact — all for little to no out-of-pocket cost.

People who meet Medicaid income requirements and manage multiple health issues especially benefit from this type of coverage.

It’s also available year-round, so there is no need to wait for an open enrollment period.

If you are a Dual Advantage member, or want to help someone else get health coverage, remember these five benefits of your Dual Advantage plan:

1

We make sure you get to the doctor.

If you are unable to get to the doctor on your own, your dual eligible benefits allow us to arrange for transportation to and from your doctor appointments at no additional charge to you.

2

We connect you with community services.

From medical supplies, to home health aides, to adequate access to food and housing — your dual eligible benefits allow us to help you find community services that help you live more independently while taking care of your health.

3

You get help managing your health.

Dual eligible benefits ensure you have the support you need to manage any chronic illnesses,

Meet Colleen O’Connor, RN Fidelis Care Nurse Case Manager Colleen O’Connor, a Nurse Case Manager with Fidelis Care, helps members who have health coverage through Fidelis Dual Advantage. We recently sat down to talk with Colleen about how she’s serving our members each day.

What’s a typical work day for you?

I make a lot of calls to members who need our advice or support. For example, I recently spoke to a member with pain issues and recommended an electric scooter to help that member get around more easily. That person just moved to an apartment designed for the disabled, and I was so happy to hear that member is feeling a lot more independent.

I also made one of my bi-weekly calls to a member who recently had back surgery, just to make sure the member’s pain is continuing to get better.

Sometimes, I’m arranging doctor appointments, or finding out if we can get someone help in their home.

Other times I’m just there to listen to a member’s concerns and help calm their fears.

Why did you become a Nurse Case Manager?

My job as a Nurse Case Manager allows me to be effective and productive for others. With the benefit of my experiences over the years, I can relate on a more personal level to a number of the members I help each day, only I’m connecting with people on the phone instead of the traditional settings people are used to seeing nurses like me work in.

What do you like most about your job?

I really feel like I’m truly helping people, especially those in my 50 and older age group. We’re making a difference, and as a nurse, that’s all I could ever want, at any age.

(Medicare and Medicaid) Health Coverage including access to equipment and services that can help you stay safely in your home.

4

We can answer medication questions.

With dual eligible coverage, your Nurse Case Manager can explain your medications to you, help you with dosages, talk to you about side effects, and check in regularly to make sure your medications are working for you.

5

You have a personal health advocate.

As a dual eligible member, your Nurse Case Manager can speak with your providers to ensure you are receiving the most coordinated care possible for your needs. They can also offer you help and advice with your day-to-day health concerns.

“I love to offer encouragement and let my patients know they have the power to help their health along,” said Amanda Wagner, RN, Case Manager.

Osteoporosis Testing As painful as bone fractures are, osteoporosis – a disease known for weakening bones over time and increasing the risk of fractures – is a largely “silent” disease that often doesn’t reveal itself until after a bone fracture.

For people over the age of 50, osteoporosis testing is essential to help identify, and begin managing, the disease before suffering a broken bone.

Osteoporosis can be found through a bone density test, using x-rays to measure the amount of calcium and other bone-strengthening minerals in a select section of bone.

Talk with your primary care provider about your need for a bone density test. Even if you haven’t broken a bone, your doctor may recommend the test based on a number of factors, including family history, a loss in height, and dropping hormone levels.

If someone you know might be interested in learning more about dual eligible coverage through Fidelis Care’s Dual Advantage plan, encourage them to talk with one of our licensed Medicare Sales Representatives. They are able to answer all your questions and help you find out if you qualify.

Call us at 1-800-247-1447 (TTY: 1-800-695-8544) to speak with a Representative over the phone, or arrange an in-person meeting.

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Schedule Your Cholesterol Screening Have you checked your cholesterol lately? Healthy older adults should have their cholesterol levels screened every five years. If you live with a chronic condition such as diabetes or heart disease, your cholesterol might need to be checked more often.

Cholesterol screenings measure the amounts of “good cholesterol” (HDL) and “bad cholesterol” (LDL)

in your blood. The amount of bad cholesterol in your blood can help your provider assess your risk for developing heart disease or stroke.

Remember to talk with your primary care provider at your next appointment about how often your cholesterol should be checked based on your overall health.

Fidelis Care complies with applicable Federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex.

Fidelis Care cumple con las leyes federales de derechos civiles aplicables y no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo.

Fidelis Care 遵守適用的聯邦民權法律規定，不因種族、膚色、民族血統、年齡、殘障或性別而歧視任何人。 ATTENTION: If you speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you.

Call 1-800-247-1447 (TTY: 1-800-695-8544).

ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística.

Llame al 1-800-247-1447 (TTY: 1-800-695-8544). 注意：如果您使用繁體中文，您可以免費獲得語言援助服務。請致電1-800-247-1447 (TTY: 1-800-695-8544)。

Visit fideliscare.org/findadoctor or call 1-800-247-1447 (TTY: 1-800-695-8544) to find participating providers and pharmacies.