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University of MarylandHealth Advantage1966 Greenspring Drive, Suite 100Timonium, MD 21093

Standard U.S. Postage

PAIDWalla Walla, WAPermit No. 44

Spring 2017

Get OutsideKeeping active at any age

THE SUN is shining. Birds are singing. All in all, it’s a lovely day. So why not get out and take a walk in the fresh air?

Being outdoors can boost your well-being. For one thing, regularly stepping out for a stroll is a good way to get some exercise. And activity is an essential part of a healthy lifestyle.

Getting older doesn’t have to slow you down—or keep you from developing an exercise habit. And experts say there’s an activity for nearly anyone.

Getting startedIf you aren’t used to being active or have other health problems, you should check with your doctor before starting a new activity.

Once your doctor gives the go-ahead, choose a type of exercise

you enjoy and can work into your daily routine. Most moderate-intensity activities—such as brisk walking, swimming or gardening—are safe and easy to do.

Plus, feeling sunshine on your shoulders just might bring your spirits up. Even if it’s cloudy, the fresh air can be energizing. If you’re feeling down, try stepping out for a quick walk.

Membership perkYour health plan includes a fitness center membership, which gives you 24-hour accessto designatedgyms. ContactMemberServicesfor details.

Healthy ADVANTAGE

Diabetes

6 key testsIF YOU HAVE diabetes, getting health checks is important. Here are six you should get regularly.

A1C. This test measures your average blood sugar for the past two or three months. It gives a big picture of how well your diabetes treatment plan is working.

You should have an A1C test every three to six months. The goal for many people is an A1C of 7 percent. Ask your doctor what number you should be aiming for.

Blood pressure. High blood pressure is hard on your heart. It can cause a heart attack or stroke. And it can damage your kidneys and eyes.

You should have your blood pressure checked every time you see your doctor.

Cholesterol. Cholesterol is a fat-like substance in your blood. There are two types:

LDL is the bad kind of cholesterol that can build up in your arteries. High LDL levels are linked to heart attack and stroke. You want a low LDL number.

HDL is the good kind of cholesterol. It helps move bad cholesterol out of your body. A higher HDL number is better. And a lower number is a risk factor for heart disease.

You should have a cholesterol test at least once a year.

Dilated eye exam. You should have this test at least once a year. An eye doctor will put drops in your eyes to make the pupils bigger—and make problems easier to spot.

Foot checks. Your doctor should look at your feet every time you visit. He or she will check for blisters, sores and other problems. You should also have a more detailed foot exam

with your doctor every year to check blood flow, numbness, and your foot muscles and bones.

Urine kidney test. The best way to check the health of your kidneys is with a urine test. It looks for a protein called albumin in your urine. You should have this test every year.

Sources: American Diabetes Association; American Heart Association; National Diabetes Education Program

KEY SCREENING TESTS By age for MEN

These recommendations are for most men. Talk with your doctor about what’s right for you.

BLOOD PRESSUREBe screened at least every 2 years.

CHOLESTEROLBe screened every 4 to 6 years.

DIABETESBe screened at least every 3 years (or earlier based on risk factors).

COLORECTAL CANCERTalk with your doctor about screening options.

LUNG CANCERBe screened annually based on your history of smoking.

ABDOMINAL AORTIC ANEURYSMBe screened once between ages 65 and 75 if you’ve ever smoked.

Sources: American Cancer Society; American Diabetes Association; American Heart Association; U .S. Preventive Services Task Force

Living Smart If you are living with a chronic condition, you may be able to benefit from the Living Smart chronic condition management program.

This program is designed with you in mind:

● To help you understand the day-to-day management of your condition. ● To help you follow your doctor’s plan of care. ● To help you improve your quality of life.Visit MyHealth Portal at

ummedicareadvantage.com to take your wellness screening assessment today. You can also call 844-283-0271 (TTY: 711) and ask to speak to a Living Smart health coach.

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Spring 2017

Colorectal cancer

Don’t skip this lifesaving test

ARE YOU BETWEEN the ages of 50 and 75? If so, here’s a gift you could give yourself and those who care about you: Make a plan to start getting tested for colorectal cancer.

But you’re feeling fine, you say. So why bother with that?

As you likely know, cancer of the colon or rectum is a serious disease. Your risk for it rises after age 50. And it doesn’t always cause symptoms at first. That’s why it’s important to get timely tests on a regular basis, which saves lives in two ways:

■ Screening can find colorectal cancer before it gets bigger or starts to spread. That’s when treatment works best. ■Getting tested can even help prevent colorectal cancer. Here’s an example: A colonoscopy is one type of test that uses a thin lighted tube with a camera to check the rectum and entire

colon for tumors or growths called polyps. Polyps can turn into cancer. So removing them stops the disease before it starts.

There are other ways to get screened for colorectal cancer as well. How often to do so depends on the type of test you have and your risk for the disease. For instance, a colonoscopy may only be needed every 10 years. Other tests need to be done more frequently. Talk to your provider about which test is right for you.

And one more thing: Even if your 50th birthday is still a way off, you should tell your provider if colorectal cancer runs in your family. The reason? You may need to get tested sooner than age 50.

Sources: American Cancer Society; U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Make an appointment with your PCP today for your annual wellness visit.

You need a PCPThere’s the quarterback on the football field, the director backstage and the conductor in the symphony hall. What do they all have in common?

They’re the people who take charge and see the big picture. With their guidance, those they lead know their individual roles, and they all work together to achieve a common goal.

You can think of a primary care physician (PCP) in much the same way. He or she keeps tabs on your overall health and makes sure care you receive from other providers is coordinated and effective.

Watching out for youYou might see a cardiologist for your heart and, if you have diabetes, an endocrinologist too. When you go to different doctors, each may prescribe different medicines and have separate treatment plans. But sometimes they don’t mesh.

A PCP watches over all of your medical conditions and makes sure treatments work well together.

And if you need preventive care, like an immunization, or have an unexpected medical problem, you know right away where to turn.

If you don’t have a PCP, call 844-386-6762. We’d be happy to help you find one.

Sources: American Academy of Family Physicians; American College of Physicians

University of Maryland Health Advantagec/o Appeals and Grievance Department1966 Greenspring Drive, Suite 100Timonium, MD 21093Phone: 410-779-9932 or toll-free at 844-386-6762Fax: 844-329-0831

You can file a grievance in person or by mail, fax or email. If you need help filing a grievance, the Appeals and Grievance Department is available to help you. You can also file a civil rights complaint with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Office for Civil Rights, electronically through the Office for Civil Rights Complaint Portal, available at ocrportal.hhs.gov/ocr/portal/lobby.jsf or by mail or phone at:

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services 200 Independence Ave., SW Room 509F, HHH Building Washington, DC 20201 800-368-1019, 800-537-7697 (TTY)

Complaint forms are available at hhs.gov/ocr/office/file/index.html.

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ENGLISH ATTENTION: If you speak English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 1-844-386-6762 (TTY: 711). SPANISH ATENCIÓN: Si usted habla español, tenemos servicios de asistencia lingüística disponibles para usted sin costo alguno. Llame al 1-844-386-6762 (TTY: 711). CHINESE

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URDU ،ںیہ ےتلوب یزیرگنا پآ رگا :ہجوت وک پآ تفم ،تامدخ تنواعم نابز لاک 6762-386-844-1 ۔ ںیہ بایتسد ۔ (711 :یئاو یٹ یٹ) ںیرک FARSI

کنید، توجھ: چنانچھ بھ زبان فارسی صحبت میخدمات کمک زبانی، بھ صورت رایگان، در اختیار شما قرار خواھد گرفت. با شماره 1-844-386-6762 (TTY: 711) تماسبگیرید . FRENCH CREOLE ATANSYON: Si w pale Kreyòl Ayisyen, gen sèvis èd pou lang ki disponib gratis pou ou. Rele 1-844-386-6762 (TTY: 711). PORTUGUESE ATENÇÃO: Se fala português, estão disponíveis serviços gratuitos de assistência linguística na sua língua. Telefone para 1-844-386-6762 (TTY: 711). ARABIC مالحظة: إذا كنت تتحدث العربیة، تتوفر خدمات

ویة مجانا من أجلك. اتصل بالرقمالمساعدة اللغ 1-844-386-6762 ) 711(الھاتف النصي: GUJARATI

�ના: જો તમ જરાતી બોલતા હો, તો િ◌ન:

લ� ભાષા સહાય સવાઓ તમારા માટ

ઉપલબધ છ. ફોન કરો 1-844-386-6762 (TTY: 711).






386-6762 (TTY: 711) 로 연락주시기














386-6762 (TTY: 711) 로 연락주시기









University of Maryland Health Advantage, Inc., complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. University of Maryland Health Advantage, Inc., does not exclude people or treat them differently because of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex.

University of Maryland Health Advantage, Inc.:■ Provides free aids and services

to people with disabilities to communicate effectively with us, such as: ● Qualified sign language

interpreters. ● Written information in other

formats (large print, audio, accessible electronic formats, other formats).

■ Provides free language services to people whose primary language is not English, such as: ● Qualified interpreters.● Information written in other

languages.If you need these services,

contact Member Services at 410-779-9932, or toll-free at 844-386-6762, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST, 7 days a week from Oct. 1 through Feb. 14 and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST, Monday through Friday from Feb. 15 through Sept. 30. TTY users should call 711.

If you believe that University of Maryland Health Advantage, Inc., has failed to provide these services or discriminated in another way on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex, you can file a grievance with:

—Continued on reverse

Chicken and pear salad with mint dressingMakes 4 servings

Ingredients3 firm, ripe pears, cut into approximately 1-inch cubesJuice of 1⁄2 lemon2 cups cooked chicken breast, cut into 1-inch cubes1 cucumber, peeled, sliced thin and coarsely chopped4 tablespoons red onion, finely chopped1 teaspoon cinnamon4 large lettuce leaves

Dressing1⁄4 cup white vinegar 1 teaspoon lemon juice1 to 2 tablespoons honey⅓ cup minced fresh mint1⁄8 teaspoon salt1⁄8 teaspoon black pepper

Directions ■Drizzle freshly cubed pears with lemon juice. ■ In large mixing bowl, combine pears, chicken, cucumber and onion. Set aside.

■Blend vinegar, lemon juice, honey, mint, and salt and pepper in food processor or blender until smooth. ■Drizzle dressing over fruit and chicken mixture, and toss gently to coat. ■ If not serving immediately, cover and refrigerate. ■ To serve, retoss gently, sprinkle with cinnamon and arrange on plates with beds of lettuce.

Nutrition informationServing size: 1⁄4 of recipe. Amount per serving: 231 calories, 3g total fat (less than 1g saturated fat), 31g carbohydrates, 23g protein, 5g dietary fiber, 131mg sodium.

Source: American Institute for Cancer Research

Pears and chicken are a tasty one-two punch to your cancer risk, through increased dietary fiber and the limiting of red meat.

MEMBER SERVICES DEPARTMENT

410-779-9932, 844-386-6762TTY/TDD: 711ummedicare advantage.com

Oct. 1–Feb. 14, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST, 7 days a week

Feb. 15–Sept. 30, 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. EST, Monday–Friday

After hours, listen to our voicemail for information on how to access urgent or emergency care.

You will also hear information on how to access our 24/7 nurse advice line, pharmacy benefits, vision and dental care, behavioral health and substance abuse care, and prior authorization. You can also leave us a secured voicemail. We will return your call the next business day.

Visit MyHealth Portal at ummedicare advantage.com to view eligibility, check claims status, view authorizations, request a new ID card or update your information.

HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE can be a classic calm before a storm: One day you feel fine; the next, you’re on your way to the hospital. All along, blood pressure was silently affecting the inside of your body without giving you any symptoms.

Having a stroke or heart attack is not the way you want to find out that your blood pressure is high. The best way to know if your pressure is in a healthy range is to have it checked regularly.

Older adults; non-Hispanic African Americans; and adults with diabetes, obesity or a disability are at higher risk for hypertension.

Lower your high blood pressure risk: ■ Lose weight, if you are overweight. ■Keep your cholesterol levels in a healthy range. ■Cut down on salt. ■ Exercise every day for at least half an hour, with your doctor’s approval. ■Don’t smoke. ■Maintain normal blood sugar levels.If your doctor orders medicine,

take it exactly as prescribed, without missing even one day. Ask your doctor or pharmacist about getting a 90-day supply of your routine blood pressure medicines.

Source: American Heart Association

Changes to preferred lab and DME vendorsAs of July 1, 2017, Laboratory Corporation of America (LabCorp) will be the preferred laboratory provider for University of Maryland Heath Advantage. Quest Diagnostics will not be a participating laboratory provider. To receive in-network lab services, choose a LabCorp location or a hospital-affiliated laboratory. LabCorp is the world’s leading health care diagnostics company, with over 100 draw sites located in Maryland. See our online provider

directory for a full listing of locations.

Please note the preferred durable medical equipment (DME) providers for items like walkers, wheelchairs, hospital beds, diabetes supplies, ostomy supplies, etc., is either Medi-Rents and Sales (410-327-7252) or Home Care Delivered (800-867-4412). An order from your physician may be necessary for some DME items and supplies.

Regular testing is the best way to know if blood pressure is normal.

High blood pressure

Are you at risk?

2017 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved.

University of Maryland Health Advantage is an HMO and HMO-SNP plan with a Medicare contract and a Maryland Department of Health and Mental Hygiene (Medicaid) program contract. Enrollment in University of Maryland Health Advantage depends on contract renewal.H8854_17_4009-01_003_OE CMS Accepted: 5/6/2017

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