HBR Report—August - September 2004

Now is the time for our Health Benefit Representatives and other Branch officers to familiarize themselves with the NALC Health Benefit Plan and its benefits. As officers who have sworn to uphold the NALC Constitution and promote the welfare of the membership, your support of the NALC Health Benefit Plan is imperative. Your efforts in promoting the Plan during the upcoming Open Season will aid greatly in our efforts to maintain our excellent standing in the FEHB program and, more importantly, in providing letter carriers with the best health coverage possible.

Please bear in mind, our Health Benefit Representatives are our eyes and ears in the field. It is your support and the efforts you make during Open Season and throughout the year that continue to give the Health Benefit Plan its strong presence in the health care market.

During your Open Season branch meetings, I am certain you will have many branch members that will ask why they should join the NALC Health Benefit Plan. The answer is a simple one — this is YOUR Plan. We have been there for letter carriers for fifty+ years, and will continue to serve you in the years to come. But there are a couple of additional reasons why letter carriers should join the Plan — SERVICE AND CHOICE.

Service is represented by the employees, staff and officers of the NALC Health Benefit Plan who are dedicated to serving you promptly and accurately. These men and women know the letter carriers’ needs and are trained to give you the individual attention you deserve. When you have a question and contact the Plan, you speak with one of our member service representatives. These are the most highly trained individuals in the Plan and can address your concerns with efficiency and accuracy. This department is backed up by many others in our Ashburn office — medical, legal, actuarial and other professionals — experienced people who know how and where to obtain information on new surgical procedures, new medications, methods of treatment and other facts necessary to assist us in serving YOU!

Choice means freedom to select the provider that fits the needs of the member, especially when a serious medical condition is at hand. With more and more HMOs raising premiums, "squeezing" their benefits or dropping out of the FEHB program completely, the opportunity to make your own choice of provider should become a major factor in selecting a health plan.

Every member of our staff cares about our membership. Your claims are processed and paid to give members the maximum benefits available under the terms of our contract with the Office of Personnel Management. We do not look for ways to turn down a claim or reduce the amount of reimbursement you receive for your medical claims. Our members deal with NALC employees — not an indifferent, uncaring outside insurance company that has only PROFIT on its mind.

So, when you are asked "why should I join your Plan," you can say that by joining the NALC Health Benefit Plan, they will always have a team that works for and with them to protect their health care interests!

Did you know that each year thousands of people end up in the hospital because they don’t properly take their medications? The key to proper use of your medicines is knowing all the facts about your prescription — what it interacts with, how it reacts to food, the best time to take it and how to take it, also what over-the-counter medications might interact with the drug.

Some prescription drugs and over-the-counter medication interactions can be extremely dangerous, such as:

Blood thinning drugs and aspirin help prevent blood clots; however using them at the same time can cause excessive bleeding.

Certain antacids can prevent some antibiotics and heart medications from being absorbed, so your prescription may not work as well, or might not work at all.

If you take a decongestant in a cold remedy, your blood pressure could go up.

Also, two different over-the-counter medications can double up on active ingredients — such as Benadryl for allergies and Sominex for sleep. Both use the same active ingredient. Be aware that the same active ingredients are also in Tylenol and Nyquil, so over medicating that cold could prove dangerous.

Your prescription drugs can also be affected by the foods you eat. Drinking grapefruit juice while taking certain prescriptions may increase the amount of the medication in your bloodstream. An excessive amount of vitamin K (such as that found in leafy green vegetables and broccoli) can interact with the drug Wayfarin (Coumadin).

In 1962, at the 43rd National Convention in Denver, Colorado, the position of "Health Benefit Representative" was established. It was determined that the Health Benefit Representative’s main duty would be to act as a vital link between the NALC Health Benefit Plan, its Director and the Branch members who were enrolled in the Plan.

Over the years, the position of Health Benefit Representative evolved into an integral part of our NALC Health Benefit Plan family. Their day-to-day contact with the members, hospitals, doctors and federal agencies plays a major role in helping the Plan attain its goal of providing personalized service to our membership. The Health Benefit Representative’s duties include helping the member file medical claims, providing them with up-to-date information on Plan benefits and maintaining adequate supplies of claims forms and related material. Our Representatives also act as a liaison between members and the Plan, helping the member obtain itemized bills and reports regarding their illness or confinement, and advise the Plan of any improper billing practices by providers or instances of fraudulent activity.

One of the most important duties of our Health Benefit Representatives is to provide continuing education regarding the Plan to their Branch members. They need to contact new carriers and old — face-to-face, up close and personal – to explain the benefits and protection provided by their enrollment in their own Union health plan. One way this can be accomplished is by attending branch meetings, addressing the membership at these meetings and explaining any changes in the Plan, items of interest found in the Postal Record and HBR Report, or local papers that pertain to health related issues. Health Benefit Representatives should make every effort to place an educational article each and every month in their branch newsletter. This is an excellent way to keep your branch membership up-to-date on the workings of the NALC Health Benefit Plan. The more information you provide your members, the easier your job as Health Benefit Representative will become.

With the advent of HIPAA regulations, it is also extremely important that the Health Benefit Representative inform the branch membership enrolled in the Plan that, if an enrollee in your branch wants you, as a Health Benefit Representative, to contact the Plan on his or her behalf to ask questions on specific claims, check claim status, or access health information, that enrollee must complete a Personal Representative Authorization form naming you, the HBR, as a personal representative. You can request these forms from our Member Service Representatives or obtain them directly through our website so you can have them available for your branch members. Even if an enrollee is with you when you make the call, under the HIPAA Privacy Rule, we cannot disclose individually identifiable health information to you unless we have this form on file.

As we have written many times before, the members of this great NALC union benefit enormously by having their own health plan — benefit because we are part of the system and are "on the inside" when it comes to input as to the direction of the FEHBP. Please don’t take this fact lightly, for the NALC Health Benefit Plan is often the first to ask questions and challenge decisions made by the Office of Personnel Management.

The NALC Health Benefit Plan also performs magnificently with respect to our quality of care. In a random survey performed each year called the Consumers Assessment of Health Plans Survey, as sanctioned by OPM and the National Committee for Quality Assurance, the NALC Health Benefit Plan continued its excellent ratings. Below is a snapshot of several key areas that often appear in OPM’s Open Season rating publications.

This year’s Open Season will run from November 8 through December 13, 2004. All of our Health Benefit Representatives will receive information necessary to assure that they are well prepared for Open Season inquiries. As in the past, the Plan will make available Open Season packets for you to pass out at the Health Fairs you may choose to attend, or for distribution at your branches.

In order to meet our commitment to gain active members, we would expect your participation in postal health fairs in your area. However, attendance at health fairs for federal agencies is entirely your choice. Every year, prior to Open Season, the Health Benefit Plan receives between 300 to 500 letters from federal agencies (including postal) requesting our participation in their health fairs. Because the Health Benefit Plan is unable to participate in each and every fair, we notify you of the date, time and place of the health fair. The agency is advised that participation in the fair is left entirely to the discretion of the local branch representative. It is your job to notify the agency as to whether or not you plan to attend the fair. Please remember, the notification you receive is NOT an official assignment.

If you do plan to attend a health fair, please promptly notify the Plan of any supplies you may need.

On Monday, July 19, 2004, the NALC Health BenefitPlan kicked off the opening day of the NALC’s 64th Biennial Convention with a breakfast/workshop. Nearly 500 delegates sat down to a sumptuous Hawaiian breakfast and received an update on the state of the NALC Health Benefit Plan.

The Plan’s Director, Thomas H. Young, Jr., took pleasure in introducing the Executive Council to the workshop attendees. NALC President, William Young, addressed the group and thanked them for their continued interest in the Health Benefit Plan. He assured them that Plan is in excellent shape and that every effort would be made during the upcoming Open Season to provide letter carriers with the best possible insurance to meet their health care needs.

Director Young told the workshop attendees that because of the rising costs associated with meeting today’s health care needs, it is extremely important to take control of managing your own health by keeping fit and following a sensible diet. He pointed out that the booklet printed for the breakfast/workshop contained many helpful guidelines.

Mr. Young also thanked the Health Benefit Representatives and other branch officers in the audience for their efforts in promoting the Plan and announced that there would be a health benefit seminar in October, 2005 at Ballys Hotel in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Following Director Young’s remarks, he opened the session up for a question and answer period.

The Health Benefit Plan maintained a booth in the Convention Registration area with computer access to our Ashburn office files. During the entire course of the Convention, NALC HBP representatives were available to assist Convention delegates with their questions and concerns regarding their NALC HBP coverage. Visitors to the booth were provided with informational materials including a CD produced for the Convention that included an array of Plan information.

On the Convention floor, one of the two resolutions presented by the Health Benefit Committee dealt with the delivery methods used by Caremark. The resolution called for Caremark to only use the Postal Service for delivery of prescriptions.

While the resolution was disapproved by the Committee and their decision upheld by the delegates, all of you can be assured that, whenever possible, the mail system will be used.

Director Young would like to take this opportunity to thank the Committee — Chairperson Lydia J. Caffrey, Branch 52, San Luis Obispo, CA; Alvin Yoshikawa, Branch 860, Honolulu, HI; Franklin Woo, Branch 214, San Francisco, CA; Ben Jackson, Branch 73, Atlanta, GA; Larry Fulghum, Branch 459, Raleigh, NC; Santos Luyanda, Branch 1071, Miami, FL; and Isaac Middleton, Branch 41, Brooklyn, NY; for their hard work and dedication.

The following is a reprint of Branch 70’s President, Ricardo Guzman’s, article from the August 2004 "Branch 70 Reporter." It emphasizes the importance of becoming an organ donor. I think you will find the stories of the two carriers involved extremely interesting.

In lieu of my article this month, I felt it was more important for all of our members to share the words of William (Bill) White and Donna Busch who are carriers at the Hillcrest Post Office. Each shared a passage of time because of Bill’s health crisis and Donna’s compassionate answer to his need for a transplant. This example of giving of one’s self really struck a chord. It shows us not only the role of a recipient and a donor, but also sets forth an example of what we, as union brothers and sisters, call unionism.

I started testing with my sister in January 2002, but she was nixed as a donor because of high blood pressure. Then, my brother was nixed in February 2003 for borderline blood sugar problems.

In between my brother and sister as potential donors, I was put on the national transplant list as of October 2002. The average wait is from 3 to 5 years.

When my brother was testing, I would talk to my co-worker, Donna Busch, about how things were going. I told Donna that I was in it for the long haul. She said, "What about me?" At first I didn’t think she was serious, but I gave her some material to read and a video about being a donor.

Next, I asked her to talk with her family first. She told me yes the following week and she began testing in March of 2003.

Donna began testing and I began kidney dialysis at the same time. I was hooked up to a machine for three hours three times a week.

In May 2003 Donna was finishing the testing procedures and it turned out that she was a good donor match.

Unfortunately, I came down with gall stone pancreatitis. I had surgery in June to remove my gall bladder. Just a week later the pancreatitis returned and didn’t want to go away. Between May and September 2003 I was admitted to the hospital seven times. I missed three months of work and my weight dropped from 158 lbs to 118 lbs.

Finally, in September my health started heading in the right direction. But, because of my chronic illness, the transplant team and my kidney doctor advised me to wait six months for the transplant.

By February 2004 my health improved and Donna and I resumed testing for the transplant.

On March 16, 2004, Donna donated one of her kidneys to me. The transplant was successful and, in just six weeks both of us recovered and returned to work at the Hillcrest Post Office.

Donna knows the meaning of being a true union sister. She was there to support me all the way. I thank her for her courage, her compassion for another human being and her friendship.

When I asked Bill how his transplant was going, he told me that his brother wasn’t able to donate. He had to wait for three to five years for a national donor. Then I asked him how I could find out if I was a match and potential donor. He thought I was joking.

Realizing I was serious, he told me who I needed to contact. I had my blood tested. (By the way, I pass out sometimes.) I don’t like blood tests.

Well, by God’s amazing grace, we found out that we matched. It was that simple.

To ensure that I was in good health, the doctors did a lot more tests. They don’t want any complications to happen. It was the best physical I ever had.

When I told my husband that Bill and I were a match for a transplant, he got scared and didn’t want me to do it. We discussed it and decided to pray about it and let God make the decision. Needless to say, at church the very next day, God answered our questions. The sermon was all about giving to others what we have in abundance. God had blessed each of us with two kidneys. Actually our body only needs one to do its job. (Do you think God knew what he was doing when he gave each of us an extra one?)

Look at how many people need a kidney transplant. The national list is so long that some people die before it is their turn to be scheduled. I wasn’t sure why I was supposed to do this, but I knew I was. Bill’s life depended on it.

When the time for surgery came closer, Bill became very ill. I know this sounds terrible, but I was almost relieved. I thought that I might not have to go through with the surgery. I had no ill feelings for Bill, but I was beginning to feel scared about having an operation. With all my heart, I prayed that Bill would be okay, and I knew that God was in control.

By God’s grace, Bill got better and the doctors advised him to wait six months for the transplant surgery. Bill really needed that time to get stronger and God gave him the strength.

During this passage of time, I just pretended that nothing was going to happen. I knew if I thought about the transplant I would become fearful. But the best part of waiting was that it gave Bill and me the opportunity to get to know each other better.

When it got close to the surgery date, I felt numb. For two weeks I went through the motions of doing things in a daze. I dreamt that I had to choose my own clothes for my funeral. Fear had overtaken me. The very next day, I wrote personal notes to my family letting them know how much I loved them. The notes were given to my friend Tina, who was my support, for safekeeping.

I can still remember the night before the transplant … I cried and cried. Even being prepped for surgery my tears were shed and the doctors gave me a way out, if necessary. Once again, they asked me if I still wanted to have my kidney transplanted in Bill. I answered no, but that I was doing it anyway.

The transplant was successful on March 16, 2004. At present, we are both back at work and we’re feeling great.

The reason I wanted to share my story is because I hope others will find out how really easy the transplant surgery is. Please consider, if you will, should the opportunity come your way to say yes to someone who needs a donor.

"A note from President Richardo Guzman:
Dear Members,

We are truly fortunate to have two letter carriers who share their unionism at work and know how to carry it forward into their lives.

Thank you, Bill and Donna, for sharing your stories with us.

For anyone who is interested in transplant information, or for those of you who may consider being a donor, you can instantly access data on the internet at www.google.com. Then type "transplant donor" in the search box.

– Ricardo Guzman"

Don’t skip the guacamole. Its main ingredient is avocados, which are rich in magnesium. The more magnesium in your diet, the less likely you are to develop type 2 diabetes and heart disease, say Harvard University researchers.

(Other magnesium-rich foods include leafy greens, nuts, whole grains, some fruits, and shellfish.)

Avocados are also full of monounsaturated fats, particularly one called oleic acid. It helps to raise "good" cholesterol levels in the body and lower "bad" cholesterol.

Each avocado contains a lot of potassium. Doctors at the University of Mississippi Medical Center say people who eat diets high in potassium have a lower risk of high blood pressure.

Avocados are rich in folate. Half an avocado contains 14 percent of the recommended daily value. Folate keeps nerves functioning properly, fights birth defects, and reduces the risk of heart disease.

The idea for healthful living is not to rush out and buy avocados by the dozen. It is to include this healthful food in your diet whenever you want it.

Thousands of Americans are shocked when they wake one day to find one side of their face is paralyzed. They think it must be a stroke. It’s Bell’s palsy: it’s serious, but not as serious as a stroke.

According to the Harvard Health Letter, it’s more common with people in their 20s, but the age preference decreases and evens out by age 60.

The condition distorts the face, makes it difficult to eat, slurs speech, and may interfere with tear ducts. Sometimes an eye patch must be worn.

Anyone who suffers these symptoms should see a doctor or neurologist immediately. Early treatment with antiviral medications and corticosteroids generally brings complete recovery.

After the condition has existed more than two days, however, chances of a compete cure are reduced.

Though the exact cause has been a mystery, doctors now believe that most cases are triggered by an infection of the facial nerve by the herpes simplex virus, the same virus that causes cold sores.

A new study shows that if you smoke a pack a day, you are at greater risk for diabetes even if you’re young and healthy.

Researchers at Yale University measured how well blood sugar was absorbed in the muscle of volunteers. Smokers’ muscles malfunctioned.

Chronic nicotine exposure, they conclude, raises the odds for diabetes and its life-threatening complications.

Studies at Oregon Health & Science University show that physical activity makes people more mentally alert. Regular exercise helps to grow more of the blood vessels that supply brain cells with oxygen- and sugar-rich blood.

Reported in Prevention, a study at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, showed that exercise stimulates production of a substance that prompts neurons to grow and link up, making the brain more efficient and effective.

There’s the Atkins diet, the SouthBeach, the low-calorie, the low-fat, the grapefruit, and many others. How is a person to choose, and how can you keep track of all the numbers once you do?

A federal panel of food scientists say you shouldn’t have to. Most diets fail because people can’t maintain them. Instead, they need to adopt healthy eating habits.

The Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee says less food and more exercise are the key components of a healthy, slimming diet. Studies show that low-carb diets reduce weight over the short term, but their long-term effectiveness hasn’t been proved.

The panel also defines basic food groups people should eat from: fruits, vegetables, whole grains, low-fat milk products, lean meat, and meat alternatives. Gone from the list are refined starches, (such as in white bread) fatty meats, and whole milk.

The scientists approve of moderate alcohol consumption, which may reduce the risk of heart and other diseases, but added that abstinence is fine.

This should make grocery shopping easier, portions smaller, and exercise more important. But you can stop counting calories and carbs.

Stock people lift cartons. Office workers often pick up computers and hard drives. Production workers lift heavy parts or boxes of parts. And it doesn’t stop there. People lift boxes and containers when they check out at a home improvement store, and there’s no end to things that are lifted around the home. Everybody lifts!

Here’s what the National Safety Council says that will help you do it without hurting your back:

Doctors at the sports medicine clinic of Children’s Hospital in Boston say many young athletes hobble in daily. The cause: playing too hard, too often. Swimmers have sore shoulders. Tennis players clutch their backs. Soccer players have leg pains. They have overuse injuries, a rising health crisis that can destroy promising careers.

Kids of all ages dream of college scholarships or the riches of professional sports. Parents and coaches should protect them. Instead, they encourage kids to push themselves. No one is guiding them.

The trend toward sport specialization is partly responsible. Young athletes are often channeled to one sport that they play year-round. That improves skills but adds to wear and tear. Baseball pitchers are especially at risk. Situations parents should watch for:

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.