Health Care Reform Bill and Dependent Eligibility

One of the provisions of the health care reform bill recently signed into law is that a dependent can remain on his/her parents’ or guardians’ health plan up to age 26. Many recent news accounts make it appear that this change is immediate.

However, the law actually states that the age increase will not be effective until the beginning of the next plan year. In OSEEGIB’s case, the next plan year begins January 1, 2011.

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Healthy Feet Are Happy Feet!

You may not know it, but your feet are a work of art. They each consist of 26 bones, 33 joints, and over 100 tendons, muscles, and ligaments. An average day of walking can bring a force equal to several hundred tons on your feet. Your feet are your best friends in getting you where you want to go, until you start taking them for granted.

Foot ailments are among the most common health problems and are mostly self-inflicted according to the American Podiatric Medical Association (APMA). Ladies, on average, you are squeezing your feet into shoes that are two and a half sizes too small. You can check this out by taking you shoe off and setting it on the floor next to your foot. Is your foot wider than your shoe? Men, you tend to ignore foot problems until the pain slows you down. Foot pain isn’t normal and it’s easier to treat the problem earlier rather than later.

The APMA has put together a list of things you can do to help keep your feet healthy:

• Don't ignore foot pain—it's not normal.
• Inspect your feet regularly. Pay attention to changes in the color and temperature of your feet. Look for thick or discolored nails (a sign of developing fungus) and check for cracks or cuts in the skin. Peeling or scaling on the soles of feet could indicate athlete's foot. Any growths that may appear on the foot are not considered normal.
• Wash your feet regularly, especially between the toes. Be sure to dry them completely.
• Trim your toenails straight across, but not too short. Be careful not to cut nails into the corners or on the sides; it can lead to ingrown toenails.
• Make sure your shoes fit properly. Purchase new shoes later in the day when feet tend to be at their largest and replace worn out shoes as soon as possible.
• Select and wear the right shoe for the activities you are engaged in (i.e., running shoes for running).
• Alternate shoes—don't wear the same pair of shoes every day.
• Avoid walking barefooted—your feet are more prone to injury and infection. (If you have diabetes, poor circulation, or heart problems your feet are more prone to infection.)
• At the beach or when wearing sandals, apply sunscreen to your feet just like the rest of your body.
• Be cautious when using home remedies for foot ailments; self-treatment can often turn a minor problem into a major one.
• If you are a person with diabetes, it is vital that your doctor examine your feet at least once a year.

If you develop one of the following conditions, see your doctor about treatment options:

• Bunions are misaligned big toe joints that can become swollen and tender.
• Hammertoe is a condition that causes any of the toes to bend in a claw-like position.
• Heel spurs are growths of bone on the underside of the heel bone.
• Ingrown toenails occur when the edge of the nail grows down and into the skin of the toe.
• Neuromas are enlarged, benign growths of nerves that most commonly form between the third and fourth toes.
• Warts.

Some foot problems can be traced to heredity, but most foot problems come from the cumulative effect of years of neglect or abuse. By practicing preventive foot care, you can help keep your feet healthy and happy for years to come!

Sources: American Podiatric Medical Association National Institutes of Health

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Raynaud's Phenomenon

Raynaud’s phenomenon is a rare disorder that causes the arteries in your fingers and toes to narrow in response to cold exposure. Fingers and toes can turn from shades of white to blue to red. The areas affected can become numb, tingly, or sore. This phenomenon can last for a few minutes, up to several hours. Other extremities of your body can also be affected, such as your nose or lips, but primarily Raynaud’s affects your digits (fingers and toes).

Approximately 5 percent of the U.S. population develops Raynaud’s and women are more likely than men to be affected. In most cases, Raynaud’s is nothing more than a bothersome condition; however, in severe cases, you can suffer from skin sores or gangrene (gangrene refers to the death or decay of body tissues).

Raynaud’s was discovered in 1862 by a French physician named Maurice Raynaud. Even though it has been more than 100 years since the first documented case of Raynaud’s, there is still no known cause or cure.

There are two categories of Raynaud’s which include:

Primary Raynaud’s

Primary Raynaud’s refers to vasospasms, or temporary narrowing of your smaller arteries that occurs due to exposure to cold or stress. There is no underlying health condition associated with Primary Raynaud’s and no long-term tissue damage or disability.

Secondary Raynaud’s

Secondary Raynaud’s is associated with an underlying condition or disease. Conditions and circumstances that can cause Raynaud’s include: carpal tunnel syndrome, repetitive trauma, smoking, injuries, and certain medications.

The diseases that are usually associated with Raynaud’s are: scleroderma (a disease that leads to hardening and scarring of the skin), lupus (an autoimmune disease that affects the skin, joints, blood vessels and organs), rheumatoid arthritis, and other illnesses.

Prevention or Treatment of Primary and Secondary Raynaud’s

If you suspect Raynaud’s, make an appointment with your doctor. Your doctor will need to know what circumstances trigger your symptoms, how often they occur, your gender, where you live, what type of work you do, the types of medications you take, your family history, and any underlying diseases you may have. Based on this information, your doctor can determine if further testing is needed and whether or not your diagnosis is Primary or Secondary Raynaud’s.

Regardless of your diagnosis, your doctor may recommend you:

• Quit smoking - smoking causes skin temperature to drop and your blood vessels to constrict
• Exercise - exercise increases your circulation and helps with blood flow through your arteries
• Control stress - learning to control your stress can help keep your condition under control
• Avoid caffeine - caffeine constricts blood vessels
• Wear proper clothing - if you are going to be exposed to cooler temperatures, wear a coat and cover your hands with gloves or mittens

If your condition is severe enough to require treatment, your doctor will prescribe medications such as calcium-channel blockers or alpha blockers to widen blood vessels and promote circulation. In the rarest of cases, surgery is performed to cut the nerves that control the contraction of the arteries. The main goal of any treatment is to reduce the severity and number of attacks in order to avoid tissue damage to the affected area(s). Without proper treatment, your fingers and toes can become deformed, and ulcers can develop and under the worst cases gangrene can develop.

Although Raynaud’s is a lifelong condition, you can manage it by following the prevention measures mentioned above, and getting the ongoing care you need!

Sources: Mayo Clinic and the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute

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EDS is now HP Administrative Services, LLC.

Many of you may already be aware that in August of 2008, HP acquired EDS Administrative Services, the HealthChoice health and dental claims administrator. Even though the acquisition took place during 2008, it wasn’t until recently that the name was officially changed to HP Administrative Services, LLC. All future communications sent to you will use the new company name. Please note that while the company’s name has changed, all other aspects of its business remain the same. If you have questions regarding a health or dental claim, contact HP Administrative Services, LLC. at 1-405-416-1800 or toll-free at 1-800-782-5218.

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Drinking Water and Water Bottle Safety

If you have kids in sports, visit your local gym, go for walks, etc. you probably carry or purchase bottled water. Whether you purchase bottles for one-time use, refill those plastic bottles, or own a bottle designed for reuse, the safety of the water in your bottle, and the safety of the plastic bottle itself has been debated for years.

About the Drinking Water…

Many people are not aware that the safety of water provided to the public, whether tap water at home or convenient bottled water, is overseen by two government agencies. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) oversees the safety of public water supplies. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) oversees the safety of bottled water based on EPA guidelines for public water supplies.

A study released by the Government Accountability Office reported that the FDA has less authority and is less stringent in their enforcement of the safety of bottled water (than the EPA over municipal water quality). The FDA cannot require water bottlers to use certified labs for water quality testing or to report test results when violations are found. FDA inspectors only review testing records when the bottling companies are inspected. In contrast, the EPA is responsible for notifying the public and state Department of Environmental Quality within 24 hours if serious violations are found in public water supplies. Many people are unaware that water bottled and sold locally (within a state) does not even have to be inspected.

Put more simply, public water sources are tested more regularly than the bottler of water. Does this mean you should give up buying bottled water? No. Does it mean that drinking tap water is safer than drinking bottled water? Not necessarily. If you are concerned about the water that you drink, you can get the latest test results by contacting the appropriate agent:

• For information about tap water, contact your local water supplier and ask for the annual consumer confidence report
• For information about bottled water, contact the bottler and ask for their latest testing results
• If you are on a well, you can and should have your well water checked periodically – contact your local Department of Environmental Quality for testing information

Whichever water you choose to drink, remember, there will be differences in taste and almost all water contains some contaminants. Tap water and bottled water are most always put through one or more disinfection treatments which can alter the taste and smell. Water bottlers must list the source of their water directly on the bottle or label. If you typically prefer bottled water, check the source of the water; you may decide to retry water from the tap.

About the Plastic Water Bottles…

For a number of years the scientific community and public advocacy groups have debated the safety of a chemical used in the plastic used to make water bottles. The chemical is called Bisphenol A (BPA). One thing most researchers agree on is that when plastic is heated (sitting in the sun in a car, being stored in a hot area, pouring boiling water into the container, etc.) the amount of BPA released (leached) into the liquid in the container increases. Unfortunately, the amount released and whether that amount is safe cannot be agreed upon.

If you are concerned about the safety of your water bottle, consider purchasing a reusable bottle that does not contain BPA – this will be clearly stated on the label. If you reuse plastic water bottles not specifically sold for reuse, be aware that when the plastic begins to break down it will become brittle (crunchy or crinkly). When this happens, it is time to put the bottle in the recycle bin.

U.S. Government Accountability Office, Environmental Protection Agency, Reader’s Digest, Daily Oklahoman

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HealthVoice Update - Use Correct Billing Form!

HealthChoice would like to clarify information contained in the Use Correct Billing Forms article from the 2009 Holiday issue of HealthVoice regarding the appropriate forms to be used for filing claims. Dental services should be billed on an ADA 2006; physician/provider services should be billed on a CMS 1500; and hospital and outpatient facility services should be billed on a UB-04. Items such as cash register receipts, pull-apart forms, and accounts receivable billing statements are not appropriate.

HealthChoice Network Providers are required by contract to submit claims on your behalf using the appropriate form. Non-Network providers are not required to submit claims on your behalf and may not use the appropriate form. If this is the case, ask if they will submit the claim on your behalf using the appropriate form or if they will provide a completed form to you so that you can file the claim yourself.

We apologize for any confusion this may have caused. If you have any questions, please contact HP Administrative Services, LLC. at 1-405-416-1800 or toll-free 1-800-782-5218. TDD users call 1-405-416-1525 or toll-free 1-800-941-2160.

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Assistance with Outstanding Claims

For assistance with any outstanding claim issues, you can send an email containing the details of your issue to ClaimsResolution@sib.ok.gov. For security reasons, please include the member ID number in your email instead of the member's Social Security number.

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