THE 1014 HEALTH LINE ISSUE 15 Winter 2021 Protecting Firefighters & Their Families...FOR LIFE INSIDEBoard of Trustees FluLegislativeMessageUpdateFluvs.COVID-19PreparednessKit Year of Healthy Living
BOARD OF TRUSTEES MESSAGE
Finally, as part of our commitment to provide comprehensive and complete care for our members, we are announcing 2022 as the Year of Healthy Living for The Local 1014 Health Plan. Next year, we will be rolling out our yearlong campaign to encourage a healthy lifestyle for our members and their families. Healthy living begins with healthy eating. Please enjoy the enclosed recipe for Immune-Boosting Turkey Soup! It is a perfect soup for holiday leftovers. We will have more tips on staying healthy and eating well next year!
As we close out 2021, we are thankful for the continued sacrifice and work our members have done this year to protect our Los Angeles communities.”
MESSAGETRUSTEESOFBOARD
Board Members Xavier "X" Campos, Chairman xcampos@local1014.org Jason Cervantes, Trustee jcervantes@local1014.org John Bishop, jbishop@local1014.orgTrustee Dave Gillotte, daveg@local1014.orgTrustee Don Lassig, dlassig@local1014.orgSecretary David Morse, dmorse@local1014.orgTrustee Gerardo Silva, gerrysilva@local1014.orgTrustee Reg Cyrus, Plan rcyrus@local1014.orgManager
In this edition of the Health Line, we have offered a detailed explanation of the “No Surprises Act” which is a new federal regulation that will benefit our members when they need out-of-network emergency care and prevent surprise billing from providers. We have also provided a comprehensive guide to flu season for our members and their families including a guide to what the difference is between COVID-19 and the flu, and getting your home ready for flu season.
The Local 1014 Health Trust is pleased to present the Winter 2021 Edition of the Health Line.
As we close out 2021, we are thankful for continued sacrifice and work our members have done this year to protect our Los Angeles communities. Thank you for placing your trust in us and we look forward to continuing to work together to create a healthy and bright future for our members and their families. We wish you a Healthy and Happy New Year.
• Ancillary Care – By Out-of-Network Providers at In-Network Facilities: Surprise billing can also occur in non-emergency care situations when patients at an in-network hospital or other facility receives care from ancillary providers (such as anesthesiologists or radiologists) who are not in-network and whom patients do not specifically choose.
• Emergency Care - At Out-of-Network Facilities: Surprise billing often occurs in an emergency care situation where patients have little or no choice in where they receive care. Examples of this would be emergency care at a non-participating hospital or air ambulance services furnished by a non-network provider.
The law outlines new requirements and restrictions for many billing situations; however, the major focus on the bill is on three major categories of care, those where patients are most vulnerable to surprise billing.
*Source: “The No Surprises Act Explained”, Vita Forhttps://www.vitacompanies.com/blogs/the-vita-blog/no-surprises-act/Companies,moreinfoontheNoSurprisesActvisitTheAmericanHospitalAssociation https://www.aha.org/system/files/media/file/2021/01/detailed-summary-of-no-surprises-act-advisory-1-14-21.pdf.website
2022.*
LEGISLATIVE UPDATE: THE NO SURPRISES ACT EXPLAINED
The Local 1014 Health Plan is committed to ensuring that our members have the most up-to-date information in their rights.
The new law becomes effective on January 1,
The No Surprises Act (NSA) was enacted in December 2020 as part of the Consolidated Appropriations Act of 2021. The rule bans the practice of surprise-billing for out-of-network medical care, including from air ambulance providers, hospitals, facilities, and individual providers. “Sur prise billing” can happen when you can’t control who is involved in your care—like when you have an emer gency or when you schedule a visit at an in-network facility but are unexpectedly treated by an out-of-network provider.
UPDATELEGISLATIVE
• Notice Required When Out of Network Provider is Selected: When a patient voluntarily seeks care at an out-of-network provider, the provider/facility must provide patients with a plain-language consum er notice. Patient consent is required before that provider can bill at out-of-network rate (and collect any balance billed amount).
• Air Ambulance: Air ambulance services are usually furnished by nonparticipating providers, and the service is called upon when patients have essentially no choice of provider. The problem of “balance billing” occurs when a provider charges a patient the remainder of what their insurance does not pay. This practice is currently prohibited by both Medicare and Medicaid. The No Surprises Act extends similar protections to insureds covered under employer-sponsored and individual health plans.
Continued
For your reference we have included short FAQ below from John Hopkins Medicine* on the difference between the flu and the COVID-19 virus.
Don’t forget the kids. It’s important to ensure your children (over 6 months old) get flu shots — and any other vaccines they need. Care for yourself and your family with good nutrition, plenty of rest, proper hydration, regular exercise and stress management. And always stay home if you don’t feel well.
The winter months are the prime flu season. COVID-19 has similar symptoms to the annual flu.
Get vaccinated for coronavirus. Three types of COVID-19 vaccines have been approved or authorized for emergency use among specific age groups by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). All approved or authorized COVID-19 vaccines as highly effective at preventing serious disease, hospitalization, and death from COVID-19.
In most cases, serious disease and death due to COVID-19 or the flu can be prevented by vaccines. In addition, mask-wearing, frequent and thorough hand washing, coughing into the crook of your elbow, staying home when sick and limiting contact with people who are infected are effective safety precautions. Physical distancing limits the spread of COVID-19 and flu in communities.
WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE? HOW CAN WE PREVENT THE SPREAD OF BOTH VIRUSES? FLU VS. COVID-19 Flu and Coronavirus Symptoms: How do I tell them apart? Can you have the coronavirus and the flu at the same time? What do I do if I have symptoms? What can I do to prevent the flu?
*Information taken from John Hopkins Medicine, “Flu Season and the Coronavirus: How to Prepare” by Lisa Lockerd Maragakis, M.D., M.P.H.; https://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/health/conditions-and-diseases/coronavirus/flu-season-and-the-coronavirus-how-to-prepare
*Information taken from John Hopkins Medicine, “Flu Season and the Coronavirus: How to Prepare” by Lisa Lockerd Maragakis, M.D., M.P.H.; You can’t. If you come down with any kind of illness, the best thing to do is call your doctor, explain your symptoms and self-quarantine until you know what’s going on. Because some coronavirus symptoms are similar to those of bronchitis, the common cold, the flu and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), it is likely that a test will be necessary to tell the difference. Unfortunately, yes — and if you have the coronavirus and the flu at the same time, the resulting impact could be even more severe than having either infection alone. Call your doctor. If you or your child has a fever, cough, congestion, sneezing, sore throat, runny nose, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or any other symptoms of infectious illness, stay home, call your doctor and follow his or her recommendation. It is likely that he or she will recommend that you are tested for the flu and COVID-19.
THE FLU VS. COVID-19
Get a flu shot. Even if you usually skip a flu shot, this is the year to make sure you get one. Ask your doctor if you should get a pneumonia shot, too.
SYMPTOMSOF SYMPTOMS OF FLU OR COVID COVID
The Local 1014 Health Plan has partnered with Express Scripts to provide an enhanced Pharmacy Vaccination Program. This program saves our members money by allowing pharmacists to administer vaccinations at a reduced cost. PHARMACY VACCINATION BENEFIT VACCINES ARE THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO BOOST YOUR IMMUNITY AND PREVENT ILLNESS THIS FLU SEASON. Be sure to use The Local 1014 Health Plan’s Pharmacy Vaccination Benefit to get your flu shot and stay up-to-date on all your vaccines!
Continued Getting sick can hit quickly. Be sure your home is stocked with the following items in case you or a family member gets sick. oHandoWoTissuesaterSanitizer (at least 60% alcohol) oDisinfecting oElectroThermometerWipesolytes(likePedialyte or Coconut Water) oPoLozengesrotective Mask (use disposables or be sure to wash your cloth masks regularly) oHome Cleaning Products oFever- Reducing Medicine (like Tylenol) ASSEMBLE A PREPAREDNESSFLUKITFLUPREPAREDNESS
As part of our commitment to provide comprehensive and complete care for our members, we are announcing 2022 as the Year of Healthy Living! We will be rolling out our yearlong campaign to encourage a healthy lifestyle for our members and their families.
Healthy living begins with healthy eating. This simple, clean turkey soup is full of vegetables and shredded turkey, making it perfect for after the holidays when you have leftovers on hand.
Step 2
Remove and discard the Parmesan rind before serving.
Nutrition Facts Serving Size: 2 cups Per Serving: 289 calories; protein 26.9g; carbohydrates 30.9g; dietary fiber 4.2g; sugars 3.9g; fat 7g;
broth • 4 cups water • 1 (2 ounce) Parmesan rind • 8 ounces whole-wheat fusilli pasta • 4 cups shredded cooked turkey breast • 3 tablespoons lemon juice • 3 tablespoons chopped fresh flat-leaf parsley • 2 tablespoons chopped fresh chives • 1 tablespoon chopped fresh tarragon Turkey, Pasta & Vegetable Soup
Heat oil in a large heavy pot over medium-high heat. Add leeks, celery, carrots, salt and pepper. Cook, stirring often, until the vegetables have softened, 8 to 9 minutes.
KICKING OFF THE YEAR OF HEALTHY LIVING WITH IMMUNE-BOOSTING TURKEY, PASTA & VEGETABLE SOUP!
SOUP RECIPE
saturated fat 1.2g; cholesterol 49.9mg; vitamin a iu 5994IU; vitamin c 9.9mg; folate 55.3mcg; calcium 59.2mg; iron 2.2mg; 76.5mg; potassium 586.8mg; sodium 600.4mg; thiamin 0.2mg. broth or chicken
Step 1
magnesium
Add broth, water and Parmesan rind to the vegetables. Increase heat to high; bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Reduce heat to medium-high; add pasta and cook until al dente, 9 to 10 minutes. Reduce heat to medium-low; stir in turkey, lemon juice, parsley, chives and tarragon. Cook until the turkey is warmed through, about 2 minutes.
*Source: Eating Well, https://www.eatingwell.com/recipe/278309/turkey-pasta-vegetable-soup/ Cook Time: 35 mins Servings: 8 Ingredients: • 3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil • 2 cups chopped leeks • 2 cups chopped celery • 2 cups chopped carrots • 1 ½ teaspoons kosher salt • ½ teaspoon ground pepper • 8 cups unsalted turkey
CONTACT INFORMATION: The Local 1014 Health Plan 3460 Fletcher Avenue El Monte, CA 91731 local1014medical.orgmedicalplan@local1014.org800-660-1014 Photo by Bernie Deyo
