Paramount Advantage: NCQA Rating & Open Enrollment Communication

Congratulations to our Corporate Partner, Paramount Advantage!

Paramount Advantage Medicaid recently earned a rating of 4 out of 5 in the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s (NCQA) Medicaid Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2019-2020. This is the highest NCQA rating of all five Medicaid managed care plans in Ohio.

“We are very excited about our NCQA results. Paramount is dedicated to consistently providing quality experiences to our Medicaid members and providers. Our employees have impacted this rating through their daily interactions. We are extremely proud of their hard work and dedication,” says Lori A. Johnston, president, Paramount Health Care.

NCQA accredits and certifies a wide range of healthcare organizations and manages the evolution of HEDIS®, the performance measurement tool used by more than 90% of the nation’s health plans. It rates each health plan on dozens of quality measures related to consumer satisfaction, prevention and treatment.

Paramount Advantage members and their families receive the following benefits at no cost to them:

·        Medical coverage

·        Dental cleaning

·        New glasses

·        Flu shots and immunizations

·        Rides to medical appointments

·        Access to many local doctors, hospitals, dentists, and pharmacies

·        Rewards just for going to routine appointments like wellness and prenatal checkups

Medicaid members can switch from other Ohio plans to Paramount during open enrollment from Nov. 1 – 30. All they need to do is call the Ohio Medicaid Consumer Hotline at 800-324-8680 or visit www.ohiomh.com. Representatives are available Monday – Friday, 7 a.m. – 8 p.m., and Saturday, 8 a.m. – 5 p.m.

To learn more about NCQA ratings, visit:
http://healthinsuranceratings.ncqa.org/2019/search/Medicaid.

To learn more about Paramount Advantage, visit:
paramounthealthcare.com/Medicaid

Diabetes Awareness Month

Diabetes Awareness Month

Every November shines awareness on Diabetes. In the US, 30 million people have some form of diabetes and 1 in 4 of them don’t know they have it yet. Most people with this disease have type 2, but others have type one. Over 84 million people have prediabetes too. Diabetes is the 7th leading cause of death in the US. 

Type 2 Diabetes is when your body doesn't respond to insulin properly. This is called insulin resistance. Your pancreas makes more insulin to try to get cells to respond. Since your pancreas can’t keep up, your blood sugar rises thus causing prediabetes and eventually type 2 diabetes. High blood sugar can be damaging to the body and can cause other serious health problems, such as heart disease, vision loss, and kidney disease.

Type 1 Diabetes makes up about 5% of people with diabetes. No one knows how to prevent type 1 diabetes, but it can be managed. By living a healthy lifestyle, controlling your blood sugar, getting regular health checkups, and getting diabetes self-management education, you can live a long healthy life.

Learn More about Diabetes:

•  Beyond Type 1
•  National Institute of Diabetes & Digestive & Kidney Diseases
•  Diabetes.org
• Diabetes Quick Facts

                    

Pancreas Health

First things first. What is your pancreas? It is a large gland that sits behind your stomach and next to your small intestine. Your pancreas releases digestive enzymes into your small intestine to help you digest food properly. It also releases insulin into your bloodstream. What you consume is important to your overall organ health. Overeating, unhealthy eating, smoking, and drinking can put major stress on your pancreas. 

So what can you do to keep your pancreas healthy?

• Eat a balanced diet with whole grains, fruits, and vegetables
• Exercise 
• Avoid rapid weight loss
• Limit alcohol consumption
• Quit smoking
• Have an annual physical

Pancreatitis and Pancreatic Cancer can be difficult to detect so having a yearly physical by a doctor to help you stay on top things, will keep you healthy and can help you in the long run.


Learn about your Pancreas!

• Alex Trebek in Global PSA for World Pancreatic Cancer Day 
• Pancreatitis Diet
• Power Your Pancreas
• What is the Pancreas?

Stay Healthy my Friends.

As cold flu season rapidly approaches us, its time we give ourselves some tlc. The change in the seasons can be rough on anyone no matter what age you are. Whether you are experiencing extreme allergy symptoms, have caught the flu early or just have a plain old sore throat, going through these aches and pains is no fun. Knowing the difference between your symptoms is important too. If you are ever unsure of how you are feeling, consulting your physician would be your safest bet.

Ways that you can stay healthy this season include: 

• Avoid close contact with those who are sick
• Stay home if you are sick
• Cover your nose and mouth
• Wash your hands regularly
• Avoid touching your face
• Practice general healthy habits

This can be the most wonderful time of year and the most stressful time of year all at the same time. Don't let the temperature bring you down with it. Your mental health is just as important as your physical health. Check out this list of 60 fun things you can do this Fall!

Helpful Links:
Tips for Staying Healthy This Fall

Differences between Cold and Flu

Respiratory Hygiene

Respiratory Care Week
CDC tips on Preventing the Flu

Trick or Treat

Boo!

Did you know that the average American will spend approximately $25 on candy to pass out this October 31st? The cost of candy doesn't include decorations, costumes or even greeting cards individuals will pass out this holiday season. The cost of candy alone that Americans will spend comes to almost $2.6 billion cumulatively nationwide. Don't let this frighten you! Halloween is one of the most celebrated holidays in the US. 

As more and more children are being diagnosed with food allergies, sometimes it can be hard to know if what you are passing out will be safe for all kids to consume. Instead of passing out candy, try passing out small trinkets! Children of all ages will enjoy:

• Glow Sticks
• Stickers
• Bubbles
• Water
• Slap bracelets

Many of these items can be found for similar pricing too if you order them ahead of time. If you are still wanting to give out that "sweet treat" but don't want to give candy, they are creative ways you can still treat your little tricksters without overloading them. Wendy's sells Frosty Coupon Boo Books. This way, a parent would have to at least take their child to the restaurant to purchase the frosty instead of the child just having a hoard of candy. 

Helpful Halloween Tricks and Treats:

• Wendy's Jr. Frosty Coupon Books
• Non-Candy Halloween Treats
• Things to Hand out to Trick-or-Treaters on Halloween that aren't Candy
• Halloween Health and Safety Tips

Think Pink for October!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This month puts focus on the number one cancer-causing diagnosis among women in the US. After lung cancer, it is the leading cause of death for women. 1 in 8 women will be diagnosed with breast cancer in their lifetime.

Albeit alarming, there are things you can do to fight breast cancer. A woman can lower her risk by getting frequent breast cancer screenings. It is important for women who are 50 to 74 to get a mammogram every two years. Women who are 40 to 49 should talk to their health care professional about when and how often to get mammograms. If you have a family history of breast cancer, you may need to get exams more frequently than others, again, consulting with a doctor first is best. 

Also doing self-checks is also important. Knowing how your breasts look and feel can help you notice symptoms such as lumps, pain, or changes in size that may be of concern. If you notice any changes, you should report this to your doctor or health care provider. 

Raising awareness and donating your time and money can help in the aid of cancer research to one day find a cure!

For more information about Breast Cancer and How to Raise Awareness:

• Breast Cancer Screening Information
• www.cancer.com
• ww5.komen.org

Listen to your Heart!

The end of September means Heart Awareness! Did you know that heart disease is the leading cause of death for both men and women in the United States? Over half a million people die from it each year. This is also a highly preventable disease. People that are most at risk for heart disease are those that lead to unhealthy lifestyles. This can include but does not limit to those who have a poor diet, are physically inactive, smoke, and have excessive alcohol use.

Heart disease is preventable! 

By making lifestyle changes you can vastly improve your overall well-being.

• Quit smoking
• Control other health conditions, such as high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and diabetes
• Exercise at least 30 minutes a day
• Eat a diet that's low in salt and saturated fat
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Manage stress
• Practice good hygiene

For more heart-healthy tips, visit:
Heart Disease Prevention
World Heart Day
Heart Disease Information
American Heart Association