KNOW THE RISKS of TAKING MULTI-MEDICATIONSMedication-related problems and mistakes are a growing and a very common issue, especially with older adults. These issues can be compounded when you get prescriptions from more than one doctor. For example, as we age and take more than a few medications, the risk of a medication-related fall, injury, or hospitalization increases.

If you take more than a couple of medications, it is important to keep a written log of all your medications, including supplements, and how they are to be taken. Review this list with your doctor regularly.

And as your partner in the quality of your healthcare, we are also doing our part to help reduce medication-related mishaps. Inter Valley Health Plan offers a no-cost specialized Medication Therapy Management (MTM) program for members who are at the highest risk for an incident. This program helps vulnerable members and their personal doctor better manage multiple medications and the associated potential health and safety risks. The health and safety risks of taking multi-medications can be minimized

when managed as a team made up of your personal doctor, Inter Valley’s Pharmacy Care Team and you.

If you qualify for the MTM program, you will be contacted each year by our partner AdhereHealth also known as PharmMD, your medical group or Inter Valley Health Plan to schedule a comprehensive medication review. During this review, a pharmacist will talk to you about:

Getting the most out of all your medications

Medication side-effects and any concerns you have

Options that may save you money

Following the annual review, the pharmacist will review their recommendations with you and your personal doctor. For more information about the MTM program visit ivhp.com/2019-medication-therapy-management-mtm-program. You can also call Inter Valley’s Pharmacy Care Team at 800-523-3142 or TTY 711, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. Your health and safety are important to us. Call us, we can help.

Volume 24, #5, October, 2019

INSIDE:FREE FLU SHOTS FOR MEMBERSWHAT IS AN OVERACTIVE BLADDER (OAB)?MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Don’t let diabetes control your life, learn how to control diabetes through the I’m in Control program. This program is specifically tailored for older adults diagnosed with diabetes. These ongoing FREE classes offer diabetes education, and best of all, group support—as you work on taking back control of your life. Classes meet at 2 pm every first and third Tuesday of the month at Inter Valley Health Plan’s Medicare Information & Vitality Center, Pomona Valley Health Plan Bldg, 1601 Monte Vista Ave, Ste 275, in Claremont’s Pomona Valley Health Center. For more informa­tion and to register please call 800­251­8191 or TTY/TDD 711 and ask for Michelle Sun, ext. 432.

FREE Diabetes Management Program

Rx

Rx

Rx

Rx

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Your Member Care Team Goes the Extra MileKenneth Hendon, 82, is a second-generation Inter Valley member. “Inter Valley took really good care of my parents, so I already knew about their great customer service,” said the Plan member of 18 years, adding that, “I know when I call, I can talk to a real human being and the staff is always nice and helpful. In fact, the Member Care Team has gone more than the extra mile to help me.”

Hendon is legally blind and needs help with the activities of daily living. He called the Member Care Team to find out how he could get much needed caregiving services. Maribel Papa, Manager of Social Care Services, understood how urgently caregiving services were needed. Maribel wasted no time researching resources, filling out forms and follow ing through on the coordination of care for Hendon. Beginning with the State of California Department of Health Care Services to find the best option of services for Hendon’s needs. She helped him sign up for Medi-Cal, which covers caregiving services under the In-Home Supportive Services program. However, Hendon’s Medi-Cal was

approved with a very high share-of-cost. “Caregiver’s fees were around $300 an hour, so with my limited income it was impossible. But Maribel didn’t give up on me, she found another avenue to eliminate the share-of-cost. That’s what Inter Valley does, they go the extra mile to make sure their members are taken

care of. When it comes to my health care, I am staying with Inter Valley Health Plan.”

Your referral is the highest compliment you can give to Inter Valley Health Plan. If you’re happy with Inter Valley’s high-quality, personal service then tell a friend.

If you have a friend that you think would benefit from becoming a member of Inter Valley Health Plan, ask them to call us at 800-500-7018 or TTY/TDD 711, 8 am to 8 pm, seven days a week. Tell a friend about the great benefits of Inter Valley. We will thank you—and they will, too.

Your Referral is the Best Kind of Compliment

2

Remember to Get Your Annual MammogramStatistics show that 1 in 8 women in the United States will get breast cancer at some point. And as we age, the risk of breast cancer in-creases. In fact, women aged 65+ are at the highest risk of breast cancer. The good news is that most women can survive breast cancer—if it’s found and treated early. An annual mammogram—the screening test for breast can-cer—can help find breast cancer early when it’s easier to treat. A mammogram is part of your covered benefits so there are no costs involved to get your annual screening done. Make an appointment and check your mammogram off your necessary screenings list.

Womens’ Health & Cancer Rights ActThe Women’s Health & Cancer rights Act of 1998, provides benefits for maste ctomy-related services including reconstruction and surgery to achieve symmetry between the breast(s), prosthesis and treatment of physical complica-tions resulting from a mastectomy (including lymphedema). Contact the Plan’s Member Care Team Department for more information.

Kenneth Hendon Inter Valley Health Plan member since July 2002

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Message from the President

What is Overactive Bladder (OAB)? How Can I Control It?

Do you feel like you constantly have to go to the bathroom? Whether you

have the constant “urge” to urinate, or actually use the bathroom 8 or more times throughout the day, you may have a condition known as “overactive bladder” or OAB. Overactive bladder is not a disease, but rather a group of urinary-type symptoms. These symptoms can negatively impact the quality of your life; including work, social life, leisure activity—even how you sleep. Many people think OAB is a normal part of getting older—so they don’t consider discussing their symptoms with their health care provider. OAB is not a normal part of aging and the good news is there are several treatment options:

Behavioral modifications including dietary changes, weight loss, exercise or smoking cessation can all help lessen symptoms.

Prescription medications can also manage OAB symptoms. Common prescription medications include generic drugs, such as oxybutynin (brand name for Ditropan, Ditropan XL), tolterodine (brand name for Detrol), trospium (brand name for Sanctura), or brand name drugs like Toviaz or Myrbetriq. For a complete list of medications used to treat OAB and the drug tier your Plan covers, review your Plan’s drug formulary on our website at ivhp.com or you can call the Pharmacy Care Team, 800-523-3142 or TTY/TDD 711.

Don’t let OAB affect the quality of your life. For more information about treatment options for OAB or other bladder concerns, we encourage you to talk to your doctor to decide together which treatment is best for you.

Where Can I Go to Get My Free Flu Shot? As an Inter Valley Health Plan member,

your flu shot is a covered benefit. We’ve made getting your flu shot convenient and easy. You can receive it from:

Your personal doctor Any Walgreen’s Pharmacy (walgreens.com) Hendricks Pharmacy in Claremont (hendrickspharmacy.com)

Simply have your valid member ID card with you to get a free flu shot. If you have questions or would like assistance, please call your Member Care Team at 800-251-8191 or TTY/TDD 711. We’re here to help.

Ask Your

Member

Care Team:

Call Us First

Ask Your

Pharmacy

Care Team

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Dear Member

Fall is in the air and the Medicare Annual Open Enrollment period is here. I’d like to remind you that Inter Valley Health Plan members are automatically re-enrolled—so you don’t have to do anything to remain a member for 2020. We continue to ask for your feedback on how we are doing and where we can improve. If you have an issue, concern or question, I encourage you to contact the Member Care team who are always happy to help. We want to make sure you are satisfied with your healthcare service.

We asked for your feedback, we’ve listened and improved our benefits for 2020. For instance, if you’re on our Service To Seniors (HM0) plan you will see lower costs for generic drugs, a broader list of covered medications, and an over-the-counter (OTC) drug coverage benefit. No matter which plan you’re on, you should have received your Annual Notice of Change documents that explain all your benefits for 2020. Please review your 2020 benefits and call the Member Care Team if you have any questions.

Lastly, I want to remind you that fall is also the time to get vaccinated against the flu which is free for Inter Valley members. To find out where to get your free flu shot —see the Flu Shot article on this page. As always, call if we can be of any assistance—we’re here to help.

Michael NelsonPresident/CEOInter Valley Health Plan

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Inter Valley Health Plan is a not-for-profit HMO with a Medicare contract. Enrollment in Inter Valley Health Plan depends on contract renewal. Inter Valley Health Plan complies with applicable federal civil right laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability or sex. Inter Valley Health Plan cumple con las leyes federales de derechos civiles aplicables y no discrimina por motivos de raza, color, nacionalidad, edad, discapacidad o sexo. 注意：如果您使用繁體中文，您可以免費獲得語言援助服務。請致電 1-800-251-8191（TTY 711）。

300 South Park Ave PO Box 6002

Pomona CA 91769-6002

Health/Wellness or Prevention Information

Address service requested

Presorted Standard

US Postage PAIDOntario CA

Permit No. 556

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Need Help? You can reach us by phone, email or drop in to our office. We want to make it easy for you to reach us. We can help you.

CALL: MEMBER CARE TEAM: 800-251-8191 or TTY/TDD 711 PHARMACY CARE TEAM: 800-523-3142 or TTY/TDD 711 Monday through Friday, 8 am to 8 pm from APRIL 1 through SEPTEMBER 30 and Seven days a week, 8 am – 8 pm from OCTOBER 1 through MARCH 31. If you call on a weekend or holiday, you may need to leave a message, we will return your call within one business day.

VISIT: Inter Valley main office at 300 South Park Avenue, Suite 300, Pomona, CA, Monday through Friday, 8 am to 5 pm. To locate a Medicare Information & Vitality Center near you, visit us at ivhp.com

EMAIL: info@ivhp.com

Access your Inter Valley Member Portal with your Mobile PhoneEasy as 1-2-3. Once you are registered for the member por-tal account (memberportal.ivhp.com/register) you can also access your account online or with your mobile phone. If you need help, please call the Member Care Team at 800-251-8191 or TTY 711, we can help.

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