AlaskaCare Wellness News | August 2018
Alaska Department of Administration sent this bulletin at 08/01/2018 08:57 AM AKDTHaving trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
August 2018 | #71
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Vitamin D Vitamin D is important for strong bones and may contribute to overall good health. Alaskans should select foods that are high in vitamin D, such as Alaska salmon, and should talk with their health care provider about vitamin D and the risks and benefits of supplementation. |
August is National Immunization Awareness Month!
| One of the most important things a parent can do to protect their child’s health is getting their child vaccinated. Whether you are sending your baby to daycare, or your child back to school or college, you should check their vaccination records. |
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Child care facilities and schools are prone to disease outbreaks. Children in these settings frequently spread illnesses to one another due to poor hand washing, not covering their coughs and sneezes, along with other factors related to interacting in crowded environments. Serious health consequences can arise if children are not vaccinated. Additionally, states may require children who are entering a child care program or school to be vaccinated against certain diseases. Colleges and universities may have their own requirements as well, especially for students living in residence halls. Make sure your Back-To-School checklist includes a review of your child’s immunization records with your doctor. |
To learn more about which immunizations are 100% covered as part of your AlaskaCare Employee Preventive Care and Screening Services benefits, contact the Aetna Concierge at (855) 784-8646 prior to receiving services.
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Enhanced Travel Benefits with SurgeryPlus—Now Available!
| The State of Alaska has partnered with SurgeryPlus to provide a supplemental surgical travel benefit for AlaskaCare Employees and their eligible dependents. |
With SurgeryPlus, AlaskaCare members with non-emergency surgical needs now have access to a network of 100% Board Certified Surgeons in many major metropolitan areas across the United States. When you need to travel for a medical procedure, a dedicated Care Advocate will assist you with everything from evaluating and choosing a surgeon, scheduling appointments, coordinating travel, transferring medical records, and reviewing benefits. The SurgeryPlus enhanced travel benefit can be utilized for hundreds of non-emergency surgeries. There is no fee for using the benefit and your AlaskaCare Health Plan will waive 100% of your coinsurance when you utilize the SurgeryPlus Provider Network and Travel Concierge Service for surgical services. However, services are still subject to your normal annual plan deductible, and coordination of benefits does not apply. |
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To learn more, call a Care Advocate at (855) 715-1680. |
Reducing the Risk of Opioid Misuse, Abuse and Dependence |
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The Alaska Opioid Policy Task Force, after substantial expert and public input, endorses a public health approach to the prevention and reduction of opioid misuse and abuse in our state. |
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Important Points that impact AlaskaCare Members: Members coming home from a surgery may also be affected if they need more than a seven-day supply of pain medication. Members taking medication on the safety list may need their provider to submit a pre-authorization request and prescriptions will be subject to day supply and quantity limits.
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Click here for Alaska Opioid Policy Task Force information intended to help combat the opioid epidemic in the United States.
| 2018 Health Fairs—Coming Soon! |
| Space is LIMITED at each health fair location, you MUST pre-register online to attend any of the following fairs. Pre-registration closes the Sunday before each fair weekend. |
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Mat-Su Valley: |
Anchorage: |
Pre-registration will close early if a date reaches maximum capacity. Please arrive 15 minutes before your appointment. No Walk-Ins, please. |
Vision Service Provider (VSP) Exclusive Member Extras with TruHearing!
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Like vision loss, hearing loss can have a significant impact on your quality of life. |
August is Preventive Health Month
| It's time to take charge of your health! Schedule an appointment with your health care provider to discuss what screenings and exams you need and when to get them. Remember, if you are seeking medical diagnosis and treatment, and arrive with symptoms, it is not considered a routine annual preventative screening. To learn more about which preventative benefits are covered at 100%, contact the Aetna Concierge at (855) 784-8646. |
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Recipe of the Month |
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Exercise of the Month |
Health Fact of the Month |
| Sleep is the way your body refuels. Getting a good eight hours of sleep every night should be a goal year-round. |
| Alaska Tobacco Quit Line Offers Tobacco Cessation Programs |
| Thinking about quitting? To locate resources in your community, contact the Alaska Tobacco Quit Line. It's free to Alaskans and offers access to free telephone, web and text-based support to help you quit tobacco. Call today 1-800-QUIT-NOW. |
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Not sure if that cold is worth the trip? Call (800) 556-1555 |