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In May, more than 30 social workers and care coordinators from our OneCare Kansas partners (OCKP) gathered to participate in the OneCare Kansas (OCK) Community of Practice session. Participants discussed how they are supporting OneCare members through the Medicaid unwinding process and how the end of the public health emergency is impacting service delivery. The participants also discussed new ways of approaching care as a result of the change in restrictions.
WSU-CEI will host the next Community of Practice session for social workers and care coordinators on August 15 at 3:00 pm. Please keep a look out for the invitation to join the next session.
The next mandatory Learning Collaborative session will be held on July 18 at 3:00 pm for directors and managers. We look forward to seeing you there!
The State team is pleased to welcome two new managed care organization (MCO) partners, Deirdre Marquez of United Healthcare and Teresa Snow of Sunflower Health Plan. They have recently assumed the role of the OCK lead for their respective MCO.
Deirdre and Teresa are both experienced professionals who bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise in the industry. With their experience and dedication, the state is confident they will be valuable assets to the team and our OCKPs in providing services and support to OCK members.
The State looks forward to working in partnership with them to best support program service delivery to members enrolled in OCK. Please join us in welcoming Deirdre Marquez and Teresa Snow to the team!
The University of Kansas School of Medicine is hosting an eight-week tobacco treatment specialist training from August 14 through October 13. The training format is virtual and self-paced. Some scholarships for the training program may be available, with priority given to those that serve rural areas or in behavioral health settings.
The deadline to register for the training is July 11. Those interested in participating in the training can register here. Please visit the University of Kansas Tobacco Treatment Education webpage for more information.
The state continues to gather stories regarding the OneCare Kansas program and how it is helping KanCare members. This month’s success story comes from Chara at the Training and Evaluation Center of Hutchinson (TECH INC).
“Amber is one of our OCK members who has met her health goals with the support of our OCK staff. Amber had been advised to use a continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machine, which continuously delivers positive air pressure to keep her airways open while she sleeps. However, she did not adjust well to wearing it every night and did not understand the benefits that it would offer her with daily use.
Amber benefits from setting short-term goals. As part of her Health Action Plan (HAP), she set the short-term goal of wearing her CPAP machine every night. Our staff supported Amber in attaining her goal by educating her on the benefits of using the CPAP machine and providing her with guidance and encouragement to overcome any obstacles she encountered while adjusting to the device.
Amber achieved her goal after six months of hard work and dedication. She is now correctly using the device every night and notices an improvement in her overall health and wellbeing. She is more rested and her outlook on life has improved. Our team is proud of Amber's accomplishment and hope that she will continue to benefit from regular CPAP use.”
Thank you, Chara, for sharing this success story and for your efforts in assisting this member. Keep up the great work!
If you would like to submit an OCK success story, please email the OneCare Kansas State Team.
There are more opportunities during the summer to enjoy outdoor activities in the sun with friends and family. However, overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light from the sun and other artificial sources, including tanning beds, may increase an individual's risk of developing skin cancer. Individuals and their loved ones can still enjoy the outdoors while reducing their risk of skin cancer by taking precautions to protect their skin from sun exposure.
Skin cancer is the most common type of cancer in the United States. The two most prevalent types of skin cancer are basal and squamous cell carcinomas, both of which are often curable. Melanoma is the third most comment type of skin cancer, but it also has a high fatality rate due to the cancer's tendency to spread to key organs. Anyone can develop these forms of skin cancer, although some individuals are at higher risk than others. An individual’s risk of developing skin cancer increases with age, lighter skin tone, skin prone to burns and freckles, blonde or red hair, blue or green eyes, specific types and large number of moles, and personal and family history of skin cancer.
Individuals who are at risk should be on the lookout for general warning signs of skin cancer and should consult their healthcare provider if any of these signs are present. The most typical indicators of skin cancer include changes to the skin, such as new growths, sores that do not heal, or changes in a mole’s appearance or size. Individuals can easily remember and detect warning signs of melanoma by referring to the A-B-C-D-Es of melanoma, which are listed below.
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Asymmetrical: Is the mole or spot uneven in shape, with two distinct parts?
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Border: Is the border of the mole or spot irregular or jagged?
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Color: Does the mole or spot have uneven coloring?
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Diameter: Is the mole or a spot larger than the size of a pea?
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Evolving: Has the mole or spot changed during the last few weeks or months?
Individuals can reduce their risk of developing skin cancer by protecting their skin from UV rays throughout the year. Skin protection is necessary even on cloudy days because UV rays can damage skin when they reflect off water, cement, and sand. It is also important to increase skin protection between 10 am and 4 pm, when UV rays are at their strongest. Individuals who spend time outdoors can best protect their skin by wearing clothing that covers their arms and legs, wide-brimmed hats, wraparound glasses, and broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) of 15 or higher. Individuals should also avoid using indoor tanning beds to protect their skin from artificial sources of UV rays.
Understanding the risk factors and warning signs of skin cancer, as well as how to protect the skin from UV rays, are essential for skin cancer prevention and early detection. For more information on skin cancer and UV ray protection measures, visit the Skin Cancer webpage on the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website.
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