www.benefitoptions.az.gov/wellness
What is Disease Management?
Disease Management (DM) is a piece of the
Benefit Options health plan that
offers members an extra level of
service, but very few people know
about or understand it. The disease
management programs provide
services to individuals who may be
experiencing difficulties with a variety of
medical situations.
Disease Management might best be
described as a coordinated process of
assessment, planning, and facilitation of
health care interventions and
communications, which help meet an
individual's specific needs. The program’s
concept is to help members control chronic
medical condition(s) and improve their
quality of life. Under the Benefit Options
insurance, four disease management
programs are available:
° Diabetes
° Asthma/COPD
° Coronary Artery Disease (CAD)
° Congestive Heart Failure (CHF)
How it works
When enrolled in the Benefit Options disease
management program, a registered nurse
disease manager assesses the member’s
needs and collaborates with their physicians
and other health care providers to create a
personalized plan tailored to the patient’s
lifestyle. During the program members speak
with their disease manager by phone on a
regular basis. The disease manager provides
information describing the personalized plan
and goals and he/she will also:
January
2009
From the Arizona
Department of
Administration,
Benefit Options
Wellness Program
Page 1
° Provide tips on how to keep the member’s
diet/exercise program and necessary
medical tests on track
° Offer tips on how to manage stress
to help control symptoms
° Assist with understanding the
doctor's treatment plan; and
° Review and discuss medications,
how they work and how to use them.
Generally, the disease manager will work with
members as quickly or as slowly as they like –
allowing patients to complete the program at
their own pace. Over the course of the
program participants learn how to incorporate
healthy habits into their everyday lifestyle and
improve their overall health.
How to get involved
The Benefit Options disease management
programs offered through Optum Health and
Strategic Health Corporation have systems to
identify and reach out to members who may
need help managing their health conditions.
So, you or someone you know may have
received a call or letter from a nurse wanting to
talk about a specific health concern. The
disease management companies work with the
State health insurance to provide this
additional service. Participation is optional,
private, and tailored to your specific needs.
Also, members of the Benefit Options health
plan who are concerned about a health
condition and would like to enroll in one of the
covered programs can contact their respective
disease management vendors directly to self
enroll. Members on a UnitedHealthcare plan
can call Optum Health at 1-800-896-1067 to
inquire about disease management services.
Members of AZ Foundation, Beech Street, or
RAN+AMN Healthcare can call Strategic
Health at 1-866-244-8977 for questions or
more information.
January
2009
Page 2 Upcoming Events
Program Features
° One on One Counseling with a
trained, clinical health coach
° 6 scheduled calls over 6 months
° Step by step quitting advice, health
education, and motivational materials
° Program workbook with industry
leading expertise and goal setting tips
° $500 allowance for tobacco cessation
prescriptions and over-the-counter
medications per member per lifetime
Get Started Today!
° Call Toll Free 866-661-6781
Monday thru Thursday, 8a.m. to 11p.m.
Friday 8a.m. to 9p.m.
Saturday 9a.m. to 6p.m. (EST)
Join the Tobacco-Free
Program Today!
Sign up to participate in the Healthful
Living™ Smoke Free Program. Success-fully
end your tobacco addiction.
TAKE THE FIRST STEPS TO HEALTH & PRIZES
If you have not taken the health assessment, you
still have time. The campaign runs until Jan. 31st.
Log on to www.bewellstaywell.az.gov and complete
the questionnaire today to:
1. Receive your FREE T-shirt
2. Be eligible for FREE coaching
FREE T-SHIRTS
ADOA distributed the first 3,800 T-shirts in
December and is prepared to mail “Be Well Stay
Well” T-shirts to all Health Assessment participants
who accept the incentive consent form online.
Employees can expect to receive their T-shirts at the
address provided during the online Health
Assessment.
PARTICIPATION STATS
Since the 2008 Mayo Clinic Health Assessment
Campaign kicked off on August 11th, 4,315 Health
Assessment questionnaires have been completed.
Employees are thinking about their health and
making positive changes. 484 (11%) of the Health
Assessment participants have enrolled in the Mayo
Clinic EmbodyHealth, 1 on 1 Coaching programs to
improve their health status. Those who complete
the Health Assessment may be eligible for FREE
coaching in one of the following programs:
° Healthy Weight Advisor
° Tobacco Quitline
° Exercise Advisor
° Nutrition Advisor
° Stress Advisor
Log on today at www.bewellstaywell.az.gov get a
FREE T-shirt and give yourself the greatest gift —
good health.
January www.benefitoptions.az.gov/wellness
2009
Page 3
Upcoming Events
SCREENING SERVICES STATUS:
Screening contracts were awarded on June 17th.
Mobile Onsite Mammography, Healthwaves,
Banner Occupational Health, and Maxim
Health Systems are now under contract to pro-vide
convenient, at-work screening services.
Wellness is currently taking requests for screen-ings
at State worksites. Listed below are each
companies services.
Healthwaves
• Flu/Pneumonia Vaccinations
• Mini Health Screening
• Osteoporosis Screening
Maxim Health Systems
• Flu/Pneumonia Vaccinations
• Mini Health Screening
• Osteoporosis Screening
• Skin Cancer Screening
Mobile Onsite Mammography
• Mammography Screening
Banner Occupational Health
• Skin Cancer Screening
EDUCATIONAL CLASSES STATUS:
Wellness awarded contracts for educational
classes, fitness classes, massage, and weight
management on October 24th. Kronos Optimal
Health, The Back Rub Co., and Jesse Tsao will
be the State’s vendors providing services in the
future. Wellness is working to complete the
vendor implementation, but due to severe
budget restrictions will not be able to offer the
contracted services at this time. These pro-grams
will be placed on hold pending analysis
from the ADOA budget team.
Thank you for your patience during this
difficult budgeting period.
Coping with times of economic uncertainty
Economic slowdowns are an unpleasant but common
part of the normal cycle of expansion and contrac-tion
of the economy. There will always be periods of
large growth, times of relative stability and times
where the economy slows or recedes.
While economic downturns can be stressful, there
are things individuals can do to cope with this chal-lenging
financial environment. Acting wisely during
tough financial times can help position you for a
healthier financial future. Here are some tips you
can use to help withstand economic storms:
° Build an emergency fund. Experts recommend
keeping at least three months' income in a safe,
liquid account such as a savings or money mar-ket
account.
° Focus on saving verses spending. Rethink priori-ties.
Only buy what is really needed. Evaluate
expenditures by listing them in order of priority,
and determine which purchases can be elimi-nated
or reduced.
° Create (and stick to) a budget. Budgets provide
a clearer financial picture and give you a better
sense of control over your money. By knowing
exactly what your income and expenditures are,
you will be able to change spending habits and
increase savings.
° Avoid taking on new debt. Taking on new debt
in a time of economic uncertainty will only in-crease
expenses. A better strategy is to learn to
live on less money, and save as much as possi-ble
for unexpected future needs.
° Pay off credit card balances each month. When
using credit cards, make an entry in a check-book
register for each individual charge the day
the charge is made. This will prevent credit card
bills from being a surprise without adequate
cash in the bank account to cover them.
° Look for ways to increase income. Discuss the
possibility of part– or full-time employment with
a stay at home spouse. During serious financial
hardship, consider working overtime or taking
on a second job.
Source: ComPsych Guidance Resources Online
www.guidanceresources.com
January www.benefitoptions.az.gov/wellness
2009
Page 4
wellness information
Created and published by ADOA, Benefit Options Wellness
Program
100 N 15th Ave, Suite 103
Phoenix, AZ 85007
www.benefitoptions.az.gov/wellness
email: wellness@azdoa.gov,
Phone: 602-771-9355
“Early detection is the best defense we have at
this time for catching breast cancer in its earliest
stages,” says Catherine Midgette, Executive Vice
President of MOM. “If we find the cancer in its ear-liest
stages, the patient has a 97 percent survival
rate.” Mobile On-Site Mammography (MOM) trav-els
to perform mammography screenings at work-sites
across Arizona.
MOM will directly bill insurance. Benefit Options
health plan members do not have to pay a copay
at these events. (Other insurance plan members
may have a copay. Check with your insurance’s
member services department for more informa-tion.)
Call MOM at 480-967-3767 to schedule your
appointment.
Jan. 6 — Safford, DOC
869 S. Cook Rd.
(8am—5pm)
Jan. 14 — Phoenix, Supreme Court
1501 W. Washington
(8am—5pm)
Jan. 15 — Phoenix, Supreme Court
1501 W. Washington
(8am—5pm)
This service is generally provided on a request-basis.
Call MOM at 480-967-3767 or 1-800-285-
0272 to schedule this service at your worksite.
There is a minimum of 25 participants preferred.
What Services & Programs are
Offered by Benefit Options
Wellness?
The Wellness website has the complete list of
screenings, classes and other programs
available for request and scheduling at State
worksites.
Wellness events are requested and coordinated by
State employees at worksites. If you are interested in
hosting a program at your worksite, visit the
Wellness website to view what is available and learn
what Wellness has to offer.
Event requests must be submitted online by clicking
this logo:
Complete the brief form, including contact
information and the event requested and hit submit!
A Wellness team member will reply to your request
and begin scheduling your event.
Log on Today!
Take advantage of the many programs and
services to keep employees healthy
Mini Health Screening at Work
All State employees and Benefit Options
members are eligible to participate in mini
health screenings.
The basic screenings are FREE
• Height & weight; percent of body fat (body
composition).
• blood pressure
• Full Lipid panel and blood glucose
January 20th — Auditor General
2910 N. 44th St.
3rd Flr Conference Rm.
(11:30am-1:30pm)
The screening will operate on a walk in basis.
You will need your Employee Identification Number
(EIN) and Insurance card for this event.
