risk for diabetes! to be that type 2 diabetes affected mostly adults, usually over in your family, you can take steps to prevent or delay diabetes. …
Member Newsletter 19
Reduce your risk for diabetes
Over 10 million Americans are at high risk of getting type 2 diabetes
Why? Think unhealthy diet as in fast food burgers and fries and no
exercise and youve got the 2 biggest reasons why there are over 800,000
new cases of diabetes each year
It used to be that type 2 diabetes affected mostly adults, usually over age
45 But today, teenagers and young adults are being affected too As
waistlines get bigger, more people are at risk for this life-threatening
disease
So what can you do to protect yourself from type 2 diabetes?
A new study, sponsored by the National Institutes of Health, found that
diet and exercise can dramatically cut the risk of getting diabetes Even
if it runs in your family, you can take steps to prevent or delay diabetes
Find ways to get more activity into every day If you dont exercise
now, start gently but work up to 30 minutes a day of easy exercise Go
for walks, put your dancing shoes on more often, or go for a swim Mix
it up and make it fun
1 Eat a balanced diet Eat a low-fat diet rich in fruits, vegetables,
and whole grains like whole wheat breads or oatmeal
You can lower fat
by choosing nonfat or low-fat foods, and by avoiding fried foods -
bake, grill, broil, or roast meat and vegetables instead
But most importantly, talk with your Doctor if youre concerned about
diabetes Your Doctor can help you lower your risks And if you have
diabetes, early treatment will help you avoid complications like heart
attacks, blindness, and kidney problems
Also ask your Doctor about the IEHP Weight Management Program and the
Diabetes Self-Management Program Or call IEHP Member Services at 1-800-440-
IEHP 4347/TTY 909 890-0731
Insight to your childs eyesight
Parents of 3- to 7-years-olds might not always know when their child is
having trouble seeing because young children often think that poor vision
is normal Even if children already wear glasses, they might not let
parents know when their eyesight changes
10 signs your child may need an eye exam:
1 Cross-eyed when looking across the room
2 Trouble learning to read
3 Headaches
4 Cant color inside the lines
5 Squints to look at something
6 Sits too close or too far from the television
7 Has trouble catching a ball
8 Complains that eyes ache
and feel tired
9 Cant see objects that you are pointing to
10 Gets colors like blue and brown confused often-especially boys
Make an appointment with a Vision Provider optometrist if you notice any
changes in the way your child sees
Ask the Doctor
Q I started smoking when I was 14 Im 25 now and really want to quit
Ive tried to quit several times in the past year but always end up
smoking again I dont think I can do this on my own Where can I go
for help?
A Congratulations on your decision to stop smoking Most people try
several times before they can finally quit for good But people quit
every day and you can too
Its easier to quit if you have help and support A good place to
start is with IEHP As an IEHP Member, you can enroll in the IEHP Stop
Smoking Program - at no cost Well work with you and your Doctor to
develop a quitting plan that works for you Your Doctor may even
prescribe medication to help you quit
So if youre ready to quit, call IEHP Member Services at 1-800-440-
IEHP 4347/TTY 909 890-0731 to enroll in the IEHP Stop Smoking
Program
For new IEHP Members 120 Day
Health Assessment
You should see your IEHP Doctor within the first 4 months of becoming a
Member
Your Doctor will check you to make sure youre healthy, and youll be able
to ask
any questions you may have If you or your children havent met your Doctor
yet,
call to make an appointment soon Your Doctors phone number is on your
IEHP Card
What to do if YOU lose your Medi-Cal?
If you ever get a notice that your Medi-Cal coverage is ending, the first
thing to do is call your Social Services Caseworker IMMEDIATELY By law,
IEHP cannot enroll or disenroll anyone from Medi-Cal
Many times, for a short while after your Medi-Cal ends, your Caseworker can
put you back on Medi-Cal again
You need to find out from your Caseworker
[a] exactly why your Medi-Cal was stopped and
[b] what you must do to start your Medi-Cal again
Sometimes, it may be as easy as giving them another copy of a report or
document that may have been lost
Or you may need to give them some information that
you, for whatever reason, failed to complete or forgot to send them
Sure its a pain But it is the fastest, most direct way to restore your
Medi-Cal health care with IEHP
Dont Delay Call your Caseworker
RIGHT
AWAY
If your Medi-Cal stopped because you make too much money, the Healthy
Families Program may be able to take care of your childrens Health, Dental
and Vision care IEHP is a participating health plan in the Healthy
Families Program and is available for 4 or 6 per child per month
Your children can keep their same IEHP Doctor, Hospital, and benefits for
4 or 6 per child per month
Call one of IEHPs helpful, bilingual staff to get
FREE Healthy Families Program information
FAST, EASY Eligibility Check by Phone
FREE Application Help by Phone
Call IEHP Today
Know Your Health Care Options
IEHP is all about choices Whether its selecting your Doctor or making
decisions about treatment, we want you to have a say in your health care
Be an active partner with your Doctor and take part in all decisions that
affect your health
If you have a question about the care youre receiving or about a medical
decision, let your Doctor know Very often, talking with your Doctor can
give you the answers you need
If youve spoken with your Doctor and you still have questions, you have
other choices:
V You can ask your Doctor for a second opinion If your doctor agrees,
your
Doctor can send you for a first-time visit with a specialist
using a Doctor-2-Doctor referral No waiting No pre-approvals
V You can ask IEHP Member Services to help you find a solution This
is usually done by filing a grievance See the article How to File
a Grievance for step-by-step instructions
In special situations, we will use an External Medical Review This is a
way for doctors and other health care professionals who are NOT part of
IEHP to look at your medical records to help us find the right answer All
at no cost to you
Have questions or need help? Call Member Services
1-800-440-IEHP 4347/TTY 909 890-0731
Check your IEHP Member Handbook for more information
Need help getting
to your Doctors office?
If youre afraid you might miss a Doctors appointment because you dont
have any way to get there, we may be able to help
Call IEHP Member Services at 1-800-440-IEHP 4347/TTY 909 890-0731 and
well assist you in finding transportation Give us at least 5 working days
before your appointment, especially if you use a wheelchair
When you call, be ready to give us your Member ID, your Doctors name,
and
the date and time of your appointment
4 decisions to make before your new baby arrives
Its never too early to make these important health care decisions for
yourself and your new baby
Ask yourself
1 Who will deliver my baby?
Ask your Primary Care Doctor to help you find an OB Provider either
an OB/GYN, or a Family Practice Doctor that delivers babies Pick a
provider who can see patients at the hospital on your IEHP Card
Otherwise, a different provider will have to deliver your baby at your
Hospital
2 Will I bottle- or breast-feed my baby?
For first-time moms this can be a difficult decision Most doctors
believe that breast-feeding is best for your baby Talk with other
moms, family members, and your Doctor Visit the library to find books
and magazines that can give you a lot of useful information
3 Who will be my babys doctor?
Other moms and your Doctor are also helpful to talk with when picking
a doctor to care for your newborn Your babys doctor-a pediatrician
or family doctor-will also follow your babys development and answer
your questions
4 What kind of birth control
will I use after my baby is born?
Begin talking with your OB Provider now about your options and any
side effects Also, listen to IEHPs Audio Library: 1-888-355-1403,
topic 754 64 in Spanish version of newsletter That way, you will
be ready to decide at your postpartum checkup, 6 weeks after your
babys birth
Call Member Services toll-free at 1-800-440-IEHP 4347/TTY 909 890-0731
if you have any questions or if you would like information on the Healthy
Babies program and free infant seat
You need to deliver your baby at the same hospital where your
Primary Care Doctor sees patients
Heres how to find doctors to deliver and care for your baby:
Look in your Provider Directory Doctors are listed under OB/GYN–
Pediatrician–Family Doctor
Try a Doctor Search on our Web site: wwwiehporg
Call Member Services at: 1-800-440-IEHP 4347 / TTY 909 890-0731
You can choose from hundreds of doctors in IEHPs Network
After choosing a Doctor from the Directory or on the Web site, always
call IEHP Member Services to make sure that Doctor is available
How to file a grievance or complaint
Have any of
these ever happened to you?
Youre not happy with service from an IEHP Provider
doctor, vision provider, pharmacist, or hospital
You believe there was a problem with your medical care
You did not get the service you felt you needed
If youve talked to your Provider and still arent satisfied, or if youre
not comfortable talking with your health care provider, you can file a
grievance with IEHP
Heres how -
Step 1
Let us know what happened You can
Call Member Services toll-free at 1-800-440-IEHP 4347/TTY 909 890-
0731,
Go online to wwwiehporg,
Stop in to see us at 303 E Vanderbilt Way, Suite 400 4th floor, San
Bernardino, CA 92408, or
Ask your Provider for a Member Complaint Form You can give the
completed form to your Provider or mail it to IEHP at PO Box 19026,
San Bernardino, CA 92423-9026
Step 2
You will receive a letter from IEHP within 5 days saying were working on a
resolution We may contact you or the provider for more information
Step 3
Within 30 days, we will send you a letter that explains the decision that
has been made
Have questions? Call
Member Services
1-800-440-IEHP 4347/TTY 909 890-0731
Head to WalMart for all your Vision Needs
Now, you can get your eyes checked AND get glasses at all WalMart Vision
Centers in the Inland Empire
To find a WalMart Vision Center or one of 260 Vision Providers near you
Look in your IEHP Provider Directory
Call Member Services toll free at 1-800-440-IEHP 4347
Visit our Web site at wwwiehporg –click the button for Members,
then Doctor Search
Remember
ALWAYS carry your IEHP Card You need it to get medical or vision care, and
for emergencies If you lose your IEHP Card, call IEHP Member Services and
well send you a new one
TO AVOID BEING BILLED FOR MEDICAL CARE, always go to the Doctor or Hospital
on your IEHP Card
If you have an emergency and are out of the area,
present your IEHP Card at the nearest emergency room
TO CHANGE YOUR DOCTOR, all you have to do is call IEHP Member Services and
choose a new Doctor from the 532 Primary Care Doctors in our network
NEED HELP? Always call IEHP MEMBER
SERVICES at 1-800-440-IEHP 4347/
TTY 909 890-0731
How to Help Your Child Survive
the Coughing and Sneezing Season
It may start with a
little sore throat, but pretty soon your child has a
runny nose, a stuffy head, maybe even fever and body aches Youre not sure
what to do, but you want relief fast
Antibiotics wont work because they fight bacteria, and colds and the flu
are caused by viruses Plus many drug store medicines, like cough syrups,
dont work that well In fact, their side effects may make your child feel
even worse
So what can you do? Here are ways you can make your child more comfortable
while your childs body fights off a virus
For coughs or stuffy noses:
Give your child plenty of clear liquids to drink like water and
juice
Use a humidifier to quiet dry coughs
Sit with your child in a hot, steamy bathroom for about 20 minutes,
but not directly under the shower
Teach your child to use tissues properly and to blow often
Use a bulb syringe to suction mucous from a babys nose
For an older child, use an extra pillow at night to slightly raise
his/her head and chest
For upset stomachs or diarrhea:
Offer clear liquids like water or broth
Avoid milk and sweet drinks like soda, sports drinks, or sugar
water
Give
drinks a little bit at a time Sips may be easier on the
stomach
For a baby, bottle or breastfeed like normal
Try the BRAT diet: Bananas, Rice, Applesauce, and Toast
Read your IEHP Healthy Child Handbook to learn more If you dont have a
handbook, call IEHP Member Services at 1-800-440-4347/TTY 909 890-0731
for your free copy
Call your doctor if your child seems to be getting worse or, if your
Doctors office is closed, call the IEHP After-Hours Nurse Advice Line toll-
free at 1-800-244-4347/ TTY 1-888-880-0833
Paper Bag Reindeer Puppet
You can make a very simple reindeer puppet using a
small
paper lunch bag The antlers are made from handprints
traced on construction paper
Supplies needed:
Paper bags
Red construction paper for antlers and nose
Glue
Scissors
Markers or crayons
Googly eyes optional
1 Make the ANTLERS: Trace two hands
on the construction paper Cut them out
2 Make the HEAD: Fold the 2 square edges
of the paper bag under see picture
3 Assemble:
Glue, tape,
or staple the antlers behind the reindeers head
4 Make EYES: Cut out eyes from construction paper
and glue to face, or draw the eyes, or glue
on googly eyes
5 Make NOSE: Using the red construction paper,
cut out and glue on a large red nose
6 Draw MOUTH: With marker or crayons
———————–
IMPORTANT
V If you need an answer to your problem right away because your health
may be in danger, tell the IEHP Member Services Representative that it
is URGENT If our medical staff agree that your situation is urgent,
You you will receive a decision for an urgent grievance within 3
days
V During the grievance process, you can still use all your IEHP benefits
like doctor visits, prescriptions, Doctor-2-Doctor referrals, and the
After-Hours Nurse Advice Line
V More information about the grievance process and your grievance rights
is in your IEHP Member Handbook
Source:amylin.com
