FEDERAL GUIDELINES FOR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY

The U.S Department of Health and Human Services has published the first set of guidelines for physical activity ever issued by the federal government. Some physical activity is better than none, and according to the guidelines, the most health benefits occur with at least 150 minutes a week of moderate-intensity physical activity. Additional benefits occur with more physical activity. Both aerobic (endurance) and muscle-strengthening (resistance) physical activity are beneficial, and health benefits occur for children and adolescents, young and middle-aged adults, older adults and those in every studied racial and ethnic group.

According to the guidelines, there is strong evidence that links regular physical activity with:

• lower risk of early death
• lower risk of coronary heart disease
• lower risk of stroke
• lower risk of high blood pressure
• lower risk of adverse blood lipid profile
• lower risk of type 2 diabetes
• lower risk of metabolic syndrome
• lower risk of colon cancer
• lower risk of breast cancer
• prevention of weight gain
• weight loss, particularly when combined with reduced calorie intake
• improved cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness
• prevention of falls
• reduced depression

The full report is available on the web, and has a great deal of detail, including specific recommendations for women who are pregnant and for people with disabilities or chronic conditions. Also included are suggestions of various types of activities to spark your imagination. Check it out at http://www.health.gov/paguidelines/pdf/paguide.pdf

HEPATITIS IMMUNIZATIONS

ODS will cover routine immunizations for both adults and children when administered by your physician. Covered immunizations will be limited to those that are considered the “standard of care” by the local medical community. Immunizations for the sole purpose of travel or to prevent illness which may be caused by your work environment are not covered.

ODS will provide coverage for Hepatitis A and B vaccines for all newborns, children and adolescents age 17 or under. No preauthorization is required.

Hepatitis A and/or B immunizations for enrollees age 18 and over must be authorized and are covered only for high-risk individuals who meet medical necessity criteria. To obtain authorization, your physician must submit chart notes documenting the high-risk medical necessity of the immunization(s).

While your doctor may recommend a Hepatitis A and/or B vaccine, please be aware that unless you fit the criteria for individuals at high risk of Hepatitis, the vaccine will not be a covered benefit and you will be responsible for paying the full amount.

PRESCRIPTION BENEFITS

Our ODS prescription drug plan provides payment for eligible prescriptions filled at a retail pharmacy as follows: 100% of covered expense after a $5.00 co-payment per prescription for generic drugs, 100% of covered expense after a $25.00 co-payment per prescription for preferred brand name drugs and 50% of covered expense for non-preferred brand name drugs, up to a maximum co-payment of $50.00 per prescription. Please note: regardless of the reason or medical necessity, if a brand name drug is requested when a generic equivalent is available, the member will be responsible for the brand co-pay plus the difference in cost between the generic and the brand name drug. In order to receive the maximum pharmacy benefit, you’ll need to have your prescriptions filled at an ODS in-network pharmacy.

If you choose to fill your prescriptions at an out-of-network pharmacy, and your pharmacy charges more than the ODS Maximum Plan Allowance, you will be required to pay the difference between what the pharmacy charges and what ODS will cover, in addition to the usual co-payment.

It is to your financial advantage to fill your prescriptions at an in-network pharmacy. You can search for an in-network pharmacy, or check to see if your pharmacy is in-network by running a provider search on the ODS website: http://www.odscompanies.com/members/

RECOMMENDED WEBSITES

Since the internet is not regulated, it can be difficult to know whether the information you find is reliable. The Oregon Health Care Quality Corporation and the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation’s Aligning Forces for Quality initiative have teamed up to form Partner for Quality Care. The goal is to collaborate with patients, providers, health plans and purchasers to measure and improve health care quality in Oregon, as well as to provide information for a healthy Oregon. They recommend the following sites as trustworthy places to find accurate and reliable health information on the web:

http://www.medlineplus.gov is run by the National Library of Medicine. Among other resources, it has a medical encyclopedia with detailed information on medical conditions, prescriptions drugs, herbal remedies and other supplements.

http://www.cdc.gov is run by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The site has information on hundreds of health conditions, health-related information and advice for those traveling to other countries and information about public health issues and concerns, such as outbreaks of disease.

http://www.healthfinder.gov is run by the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion. It offers tips for staying healthy, details on hundreds of diseases and health conditions and links to help you find a doctor and other health providers.

http://www.ahrq.gov is run by the Agency for Health Care Research and Quality. If offers consumer guides and other information to help you understand and choose “quality” health care, tips for getting the most from you visits for medical care and information on patient safety.

NUTRITION POP QUIZ

Nuts are high in (a) calories, (b) fat, (c) cholesterol, (d) all.

Answer
(a and b) Nuts supply 160 (cashews, pistachios) to 200 (macadamia) calories per ounce. While they are high in fat (14 to 20 grams per ounce), most of it is healthy monounsaturated fat. Only animal foods contain cholesterol.