Use Network Facilities to Receive Covered Benefits
Did you know that, as a Health Plan member, you have access to more than 60 network hospitals throughout our service area? To receive the highest level of covered benefits and avoid non-payment of medical claims, it’s important to obtain healthcare services through a network hospital or other plan provider.
If you are uncertain about what hospitals or physicians are in The Health Plan provider network, please refer to your member handbook or contact Customer Service at one of the numbers listed on page 11 of this newsletter.
MHT Well-Child Exams
Please be sure to see your child’s pediatrician for regular well-child exams. These exams often begin in the hospital as a newborn and continue up to age 21. A child should be seen at one, two, four, six, nine, 12, 15 and 18 months. When the child is age two, he/she should be seen annually for a well-child exam.
Please note: Health Plan Mountain Health Trust members should continue to have a well-child exam at ages seven and nine, even though Medicaid no longer covers the exam at these ages. The Health Plan believes it is important that your child have an exam at ages seven and nine, and will reimburse the physician for these services.
We’ll send a post card to remind you to arrange for the well-child exam, usually based on your child’s birth date. Please call to give us the correct date if you have a well-child exam scheduled. If you don’t have one scheduled, please call the child’s PCP to schedule an exam.
Remember, an annual visit with the child’s PCP is the first step in preventing disease and staying healthy. The PCP will do a head-to-toe physical and appropriate screenings. Smoking, obesity, poor exercise habits and poor nutritional habits will be addressed. Exercise, such as walking, dancing, and even taking steps instead of the elevator can be included in the daily routine.
Updated Advice About Poisons
The American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) recently announced a change in the advice it offers on the use of ipecac to treat swallowed poisons.
Previously, the AAP advised parents to keep a one-ounce bottle on hand to induce vomiting if a child swallowed a poisonous substance. Now, the academy notes a lack of evidence that vomiting prevents poisoning and urges parents to post the universal phone number of poison control (1.800.222.1222) near the phone.
If your child is unconscious, not breathing, or having convulsions or seizures due to poison contact or ingestion, call 911 or your local emergency number immediately. If your child has come in contact with poison, and has mild or no symptoms, call the poison control center at 1.800.222.1222.
HealthWise Archived (Past) Newsletters
| Volume 7, Issue 3 | Employees Send Holiday Cheer to Troops, How to Wipe Out Mold and Mildew, New Medicare Advantage Plans, Inhalers Discontinued and more |
| Volume 7, Issue 2 | Articles on Good Dental Health, Protecting Your Kidneys, Coverage for Chiropractic Services, Annual Flu Clinics and more |
| Volume 7, Issue 1 | Articles on NCQA Award; Reaching Your Doctor After Hours; Healthy Babies, Your Child's Health and more |
| Volume 6, Issue 1 | Articles include Medicare Part D Q&A; Benefit Knowledge; the Battle of the Bulge and more |
| Volume 6, Issue 2 | Articles include Cambridge Area Hospital Added to SecureCare Members' Network; Medicare Drug Card Questions; the Health Benefits of Chocolate; SecureCare - Health Coverage and a Medicare Prescription Benefit Drug Plan and more |
| Volume 6, Issue 3 | Articles include College Freshmen at Risk for Meningitis; Preventing Pneumonia & Flu - Immunize; Don't Be Blinded by Diabetes and more |