DIRECTOR'S REPORT

Volume 03-6
August - September 2003

DIRECTOR'S REPORT–Thomas H. Young, Director

Improving Your Quality of Life!!

I want to again point out some great opportunities available through the NALC Health Benefit Plan to enhance your quality of life.

Caremark, the Health Benefit Plan’s pharmaceutical benefit manager, has a number of programs designed to do just that. You can choose from the following CarePatterns programs:

Asthma
Diabetes
Ulcers
Congestive Heart Failure
Coronary Artery Disease
Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Using their drug profiles, Caremark can identify members who may be candidates for one of these programs. Once identified, the member is contacted to see if they would be interested in volunteering to enter the appropriate program.

Take note, I said volunteer, you are not required to participate. You should know that the many members who have enrolled in one or more of the CarePatterns programs have found the experience to be positive and beneficial. CarePatterns is no substitute for your physician’s care, however, participation often becomes a collaborative effort between the member, their doctor and Caremark. Such interaction enhances the possibility for better results from the treatment regimen.

Don’t have any of these problems you say? Well, maybe one or more of them is lurking in the background ready to make an appearance due to some of your life-style choices. Being overweight, poor diet choices, excessive use of alcohol, smoking and lack of exercise are all major contributors to the state of our health.

Of course, even if you avoid all of these pitfalls, illness may still be a problem but there are so many such problems that can be avoided or minimized if we just would take better care of ourselves. This would be a great time to renew that "New Year Resolution" or to just pretend that it is January 1 and make a commitment to do something good for yourself.

Sound like a lecture? It is, but from my point of view (that would be from the Director’s chair) being able to go to the doctor or get a prescription filled is just not enough. The health benefits consumer must take responsibility for themselves where there is an opportunity to avoid unnecessary use of their benefits.

Because, as much as we like to talk about the great benefits the HBP provides, we can never lose sight of the fact that this is a multi-million (many, many millions) dollar business that depends on many factors. Not the least of which are the men and women who are the members and the reason for the Plan’s existence.

Each letter carrier has a stake in the success of the Health Benefit Plan and I know we are all up to the challenge.

This just in: Caremark customer service is now available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We are very pleased to announce the expansion of an already valuable service.

HEALTH IN THE NEWS

Food of the Month

Okra

This Creole favorite fights colds, cancer, and heart disease

September and October are the best months for choosing fresh okra. Though it’s not everyone’s favorite, it is a strong player in side dishes and in gumbos.

For nutritional power, this Southern favorite takes a back seat to no other vegetable. Researchers at Emory University in Atlanta say it contains glutathione, a powerful compound that plays a role in fighting cancer and heart disease. It also has plenty of vitamin C, calcium, and potassium.

Glutathione fights cancer in two ways. It’s an antioxidant that attacks free radicals that can damage healthy cells. And it prevents carcinogens from damaging DNA.

Doctors at Emory say people with high levels of glutathione are half as likely to develop oral and throat cancers than those with low levels. Glutathione is also found in watermelons, avocados, and grapefruit.

Okra is a good source of fiber, about the same value as in carrots or apples. Its soluble fiber helps control symptoms of diabetes and helps to keep the digestive system healthy.

When buying fresh okra, select tender pods that are less than 4 inches long.

E.R. doctors tell how people get hurt

Safety education and advice is all around us, but we’re still getting hurt in record numbers. In 1999, the last year for which figures are available, there were 280,000 emergency room visits per day, a 14 percent increase from 1992.

Emergency room doctors say these are the biggest home hazards:

One of the most common eye injuries comes from people doing work that makes them look up. Always wear safety glasses, even to change a light bulb, because even a small foreign object can scratch the cornea.
Hand lacerations are the most common injury in the kitchen, say doctors at Elmhurst Hospital in Elmhurst, Ill. People use knives improperly and cut themselves. Never use a knife for such tasks as opening a package of food. Blunt-tipped scissors are better for many small jobs in the kitchen.
Falling off a ladder sent about 10,000 Americans to the hospital in 2002. And there were more than 365,000 other home improvement injuries. Doctors writing in Health say we should read the directions before using equipment or tools. Use safety guards on saws, and wear appropriate clothing for the job. Don’t "drink and fix at the same time."
Watch out when barbequing. Whenever there is an open fire, there is a danger of burns. The larger danger at the barbeque, however, is food poisoning. To prevent it, marinate your main dish in the fridge, not on the counter (discard marinade after use).
After the meat is on the grill, wash your hands, your tools, and anything that was in contact with the meat. Hamburger is done at 160 degrees, chicken breast at 170, pork chops at 160, and steak at 145 (rare) to 170.

What to think about drug advertising

It’s everywhere. You see advertising for prescription drugs on television, in magazines, and on the Internet.

Some of it is educational. For example, many people who had to "go right now" did not know that urinary frequency was treatable. They saw a doctor after seeing the ads and were helped.

The New England Journal of Medicine says we should consider this when evaluating drug advertisements.

Ads are created to bring a strong emotional response but may not clearly state all of the possible side effects.
The advertising is often for a new drug, which generally means that it is expensive. That drug may not be better, or much better, than one that is far less expensive.
Sometimes people think the new drug will solve their problems even when their doctors advise lifestyle changes for the same condition. Lifestyle changes are long-lasting and free.
Don’t depend on paid advertising for education. Search reputable websites such as www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/druginformation.html.

Cataracts still a leading cause of blindness in the U.S.

August - September is Cataract Awareness Month. Though a million cataract operations are done each year in the U.S., cataract problems remain one of the leading causes of blindness.

Cataracts may result from a number of physical conditions that affect the lens of the eye or from changes associated with age. Risk factors include eye injuries, taking corticosteroid medications, excessive consumption of alcohol, excessive exposure to sunlight (wear your sunglasses!), and smoking.

Cataracts cause no pain and develop so slowly that people often don’t realize their vision is affected. People over age 40 should be checked for cataracts every two years.

Time is flying by!!!

Have you sent in your Seminar Registration?

Don’t take a chance and miss this important event. Deadline for room reservations at The Tropicana is Monday, September 22, 2003. If you have any questions, or need a registration form, please contact the Plan. The number for room reservations at the Tropicana is 1-800-634-4000.

THE PHARMACY CORNER

Caremark CarePatterns® Confidential support and education.

They say, "when you have your health, you have everything." But what if you’re living with a chronic health condition? Can you still have it all? With the Caremark CarePatterns® program, we think you can — and we can help.

Taking care of your health just got a whole lot easier.

CarePatterns® is a personalized health management program designed with one goal in mind — to help you feel your best. It’s voluntary, confidential — and best of all — it costs you nothing. That’s because it’s already paid for as part of your company’s health benefits. With CarePatterns® you (or your eligible dependents) will have the expert counseling and information you need to stay educated about your condition, and most importantly, to help you stay healthy.

One-on-one support makes you feel much better.

Whether you’ve had your condition for one week or 15 years, we’ve got a customized program for you. As a participant, you’ll receive the full caring and support of our CareNurses, registered nurses. At your convenience, they’ll provide regularly scheduled phone calls where you can privately discuss issues and get personalized information about your health condition. Even if you’re feeling completely healthy, our CareNurses can play a vital role in wellness education and the early detection of problems. Wellness education can prevent problems before they even start, and early detection is the secret to reducing future complications.

Partners with you and your doctor.

As a CarePatterns® participant, you can rest assured that your relationship with your doctor will still be primary. Ongoing communication between you and your doctor is an essential component of your overall care. To help support that relationship, our CareNurses will help you develop strategies to more effectively work with your doctor and other health care professionals. We’ll also send regular updates to your doctor to help the two of you better coordinate your care.

Reliable, state-of-the-art information.

With so much health information available these days, it can be overwhelming to know which sources you can trust. As a participant in our program, we’ll provide you with customized health-related mailings, updates on the latest tests and treatments for your condition and comprehensive educational materials full of facts, tools and other invaluable information. If you’re currently searching the Web for health facts, you’ll find our CareNurses will be able to provide more reliable and personalized materials. As always with Caremark, any and all of your health information will be handled in the strictest of confidence.

Expert, effective, empowering.

Developed under the direction of practicing physicians and expert health care specialists, our customized programs are effective because they work to empower you to take control of your health. By working with our CareNurses, you’ll develop and set personal goals for improving your general well-being and quality of life. And because you’ll have a partner to help you stay on track when it comes to making any lifestyle changes or modifications, you’re more likely to remain on a healthier course.

Why not take the next step to a healthier life?

Our confidential programs are already provided as part of your health benefits — so there’s no additional cost to you. And because they’re also totally voluntary, there’s no risk either — you can choose to leave the program at any time. If you’re ready to take the next step to a healthier life, there are two easy ways to enroll:

Give us a call toll-free at

1-800-CAREPAT
(1-800-227-3728).
TTY users please call
1-800-231-4403.
Register online at www.caremark.com/carepatternsenroll

In Recognition of Service

If you are attending the Health Benefit Seminar in Las Vegas, Nevada, have been the Branch Health Benefit Representative for 10 years or longer and have NOT received a recognition award at any of our previous HBP Seminars, please fill out the coupon below and mail it to the Health Benefit Plan as soon as possible.

I have been an HBR for 10 years or longer and will be at the 26th National Seminar in Las Vegas, Nevada.
I have never received a recognition award from the NALC Health Benefit Plan.

Name: ________________________________________________________________________________________

Branch: ________________________________________________________________________________________

Street: _________________________________________________________________________________________

City/State/Zip: __________________________________________________________________________________

I have been the Branch HBR for ____________ years.

Mail to: Seminar, 20547 Waverly Ct., Ashburn, VA 20149

SEMINAR UPDATE

Same GREAT Seminar — New format!!!

In just two short months we will come together again for another great HBP Seminar. For those of you who have attended Seminars in the past, you will notice a few new changes.

On Sunday, October 19 — make sure you take time to register. During registration, we will conduct a "health fair." It is our hope to be able to provide you with healthcare professionals to not only check your blood pressure, but to also check cholesterol, give flu and pneumonia shots, do preliminary skin cancer checks, and other preventative-type screenings. Details regarding any costs associated with these screenings will be sent to Seminar participants prior to your departure for Las Vegas.

Representatives from Caremark, First Health and UBH will be in attendance and will have booths set up near the HBP Seminar office. They will be available from Sunday until Wednesday to answer any questions you might have. As in the past, we will also have analysts from our Ashburn office available with computer connections to members’ files. They will be available during the entire course of the Seminar.

From 4:30 pm until 6:00 pm, you will have an opportunity to greet your fellow HBRs and other branch representatives. Light hors d’oeuvres, beer, wine and sodas will be served during that time.

On Monday, October 20, our seminar structure will be similar to prior years, with our opening General Session, Awards Luncheon and then it’s off to your classrooms.

Tuesday, October 21 will be an exciting day. You will start with your usual classroom assignments and then, after lunch, we will have two terrific guest speakers addressing the entire group.

A tropical paradise awaits you on Tuesday evening for our "closing" reception. Join us poolside for an evening of good food, drink and the tropical sounds of one of Las Vegas’ fine musical groups.

The seminar will come to a close at noon on Wednesday. The instructional sessions will focus on three topics — Eligibility, HIPAA and Open Season; Coordination of Benefits; and Managing Your Health Care/Patient Safety.

We are looking forward to meeting our new Health Benefit Representatives and to getting reacquainted with our "established" ones.

If you have not yet had a chance to register for this important and informative Seminar, please contact the Plan and ask for extension 8104.

Return to HBR Reports, NALC Health Benefit Plan HomePage or NALC Headquarters HomePage.

This page was last updated on October 10, 2003.

If you have any questions or comments about our health benefit plan, please write to the National Association of Letter Carriers Health Benefit Plan at 20547 Waverly Court, Ashburn, VA 20149 or call 1-703-729-4677. For automated general benefit information, call 1-888-636-NALC.