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Director of Clinical Operations

Chava Lipsett

Fall2017

Fall has arrived! Enjoy the crisp breeze and the colorful leaves.

Take in the sunshine and glow of autumn before the arrival of winter!There is no time like the present to prepare yourself for the long winter months. Remember to get your flu shot so you can protect yourself from the flu virus.

Did you know that you can ask your Primary Care Doctor or you can simply go to your local pharmacy to get a flu shot? In this issue, we provided you with information on exercising. It is always great to stay physically active. The benefits to your overall health are endless. Even while indoors it is important to keep moving!

INDEX

Medicare ID Card 2

Breast Cancer Awareness 3

Employee Spotlight 4

Spanish Potato Omelet 4

Fall Exercises 5

Autumn Days Puzzle 6

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A NEW MEDICARE ID IS COMING...

People with Medicare will receive a new Medicare card in the mail, and will be instructed to safely and securely destroy their current Medicare card and keep their new Medicare number confidential. Issuance of the new number will not change benefits that people with Medicare receive. The new cards will use a unique, randomly-assigned number called a Medicare Beneficiary Identifier (MBI), to replace the Social Security-based Health Insurance Claim Number (HICN) currently used on the Medicare card. CMS will begin mailing new cards in April 2018 and will meet the congressional deadline for replacing all Medicare cards by April 2019. The goal of the initiative to remove Social Security numbers from Medicare cards is to help prevent fraud, combat identify theft, and safeguard taxpayer dollars,” said CMS Administrator Seema Verma. “We’re very excited to share the new design.” There will also be a 21-month transition period where doctors, healthcare providers, and suppliers will be able to use either their current SSN-based Medicare Number or their new, unique Medicare number, to ease the transition.

Watch Out for Scams Scam artists may try to get your current Medicare Number and other personal information by contacting you about your new Medicare card. They often claim to be from Medicare and use various scams to get your Medicare Number including: • Asking you to confirm your Medicare or Social Security Number so they can send you a new card. • Telling you there’s a charge for your new card and they need to verify your personal information. • Threatening to cancel your health benefits if you don’t share your Medicare Number or other personal information.If someone calls you and asks for your Medicare Number or other personal information, hang up and call Member Services or contact Medicare directly at 1-800-MEDICARE (1-800-633-4227).

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breast cancer Awareness

This October, Centers Plan for Healthy Living is proud to participate in National Breast Cancer Awareness Month. Breast cancer is the second most common kind of cancer in women. About 1 in 8 women born today in the United States will get breast cancer at some point.

The good news is that most women can survive breast cancer if it’s found and treated early. • If you are a woman age 40 to 49, talk with your doctor about when to start getting mammograms (screening test for breast cancer) and how often to get them. • If you are a woman age 50 to 74, be sure to get a mammogram every 2 years. You may also choose to get them more often.

Talk to a doctor about your risk for breast cancer, especially if a close family member of yours had breast or ovarian cancer. Your doctor can help you decide when and how often to get mammograms.

Remember that AWARENESS is the KEY in Helping to REDUCE the RISK of BREAST CANCER.

There is no sure way to prevent breast cancer, but there are things you can do that might lower your risk: • Get to and Maintain a Healthy weight • Stay Physically Active • Eat a Healthy Diet – including fruits and vegetables • DO NOT Smoke and LIMIT Alcohol Consumption

Everyone’s responsible to help in the fight against Fraud, Waste and Abuse. If you suspect a provider, Member or CPHL staff person(s)

is engaged in fraud, waste, abuse or any other questionable activity, report it by calling 1-855-699-5046 or

by visiting www.centersplan.ethicspoint.com. Both modes support anonymous reporting.

FRAUD, WASTE & ABUSE

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Spanish Potato OmeletIngredients:• Nonstick cooking spray• 1-pound russet potatoes, peeled and cut into 3/4-inch pieces• 2 tablespoons olive oil• 1/2 cup chopped onion (1 medium)• 3/4 teaspoon salt• 1/4 teaspoon black pepper• 12 eggs, lightly beaten• 1/2 cup shredded reduced-fat cheddar cheese (2 ounces)• 1/2 cup chopped tomato (1 medium)Directions:1. Line a 3 1/2- or 4-quart round slow cooker with a disposable slow cooker liner. Coat the liner with cooking spray. In a large skillet cook potatoes in hot oil over medium heat about 5 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring frequently. Add onion; cook for 2 to 3 minutes more or until onion is tender, stirring frequently (the potatoes should still be firm). 2. Transfer potato mixture to the prepared cooker. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Pour eggs on top of potato mixture; stir gently to distribute potatoes evenly. Cover and cook on low-heat setting about 2 1/2 hours or until eggs are set. 3. Using a knife, loosen omelet from disposable liner; transfer omelet to a plate. Sprinkle with cheese. Cover with foil and let stand for 5 minutes to slightly melt cheese. Cut omelet into wedges. Top with tomato. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Serves 8Carb Grams Per Serving:11

EMPLOYEE SPOTLIGHT If you’re a member who was lucky enough to be telephonically enrolled into one of our Medicare Plans by Brad Willinger, you probably remember the dulcet tone and flawless inflection of his voice. In his younger days Brad worked as a radio DJ and now he puts his trained “pipes” to work here at Centers Plan for Healthy Living (CPHL). But Brad is not only a knowledgeable Medicare marketer, he is the model of a Medicare educator and facilitator who helps people understand what CPHL offers how we compare to traditional Medicare and private Medicare plans. Brad Willinger, whose tenure began in 2015 when the Telesales Department was first created, is a fixture here at Centers Plan for Healthy Living. He is a New York State Licensed Health Insurance Agent who has helpedbuild our Telesales department. One of the things Brad loves about CPHL is that he is given the time to explain all the details necessary to help understand the plan--not because he loves talking, but because he loves helping. His philosophy is that if a member understands how Medicare works, they are more likely to understand the beneficial plans CPHL offers.

Brad Willinger

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Employee Spotlight

Exercise helps CONTROL WEIGHT. It can help you lose weight, when weight loss is needed, or keep weight off once the weight is lost. Although the gym is a great option, just remaining active is the main idea. Take the stairs instead of the elevator. Park your car further from the entrance so you will walk a bit to get there. It all adds up!

Exercise helps PREVENT HEALTH CONDITIONS AND DISEASES. Being active helps boost your HDL – the “good cholesterol” and lowers unhealthy triglycerides. This keeps your blood flowing and helps protect you from cardiovascular disease. Exercise also protects against stroke, diabetes, arthritis, depression, certain cancers and falls.

Exercise IMPROVES MOOD. A visit to the gym or a 30 minute walk can help you feel happier and more relaxed by stimulating certain brain chemicals. Of course, this may also help you feel better about your appearance as you get into shape and improve self-esteem.

Exercise BOOSTS ENERGY. By moving about and staying active, you improve your muscle strength and increase your endurance. By getting your heart and lungs going, you have more energy for your responsibilities as well as for fun, and intimacy!

Exercise helps you SLEEP BETTER. Regular exercise helps you fall asleep faster and deeper. But don’t exercise too much close to bedtime, as you may wind up with extra energy just when you don’t need it!

Exercise can be FUN AND SOCIAL! You can unwind with friends, share activities that you enjoy. Maybe you like to dance and can take a class with a friend. Maybe a hike would be a fun way to catch up and get some exercise in.

Bottom line, exercise is great for your health and wellbeing. Speak to your primary care provider before starting a new exercise program, especially if you haven’t been exercising for some time. And remember – variety is the spice of life. Switch your exercise around to use different muscle groups. You can use weights, do exercise for toning and balance, such as Yoga or Pilates and aerobic exercise such as dance, powerwalking, treadmill, elliptical or stair climbing. The best way to stick with an exercise plan is to do WHAT YOU ENJOY!

bENEFITS OF EXERCISE FOR EVERYONE!

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