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young families
FALL 2012
healthfirst.org
Learn How to Keep
Your Kids Healthy
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Healthfirst offers a $50 reward card to our Medicaid
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care visits, dental visits, or complete immunizations. Adults can qualify
for a reward card for Pap smears, mammograms, colo-rectal screenings,
and post partum visits. To obtain the form with the required preventive
services, please call the Healthfirst Member Services Department at
1-866-463-6743, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. The form requires
information from the member and physician or dentist.
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Learn How to Keep Your
Kids Healthy
Fall 2012
Well-child Visits
Well-child visits are routine check-ups with your child’s doctor.
They help keep your child healthy. The purpose is to check your
child for problems and treat them before they become serious.
Your child’s height and weight will be measured. His/her growth
and development will be checked. The doctor will do hearing and
vision tests. He/she will also tell you what immunizations (shots)
your child needs.
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If you haven’t done so already, it is important to schedule your
child’s well-child visit to make sure that his/her immunizations
are up-to-date. The American Academy of Pediatrics suggests the
following schedule of well-child visits:
to 5 days
3
1 month
2 months
4 months
6 months
9 months
12 months
15 months
18 months
24 months
You should take your child to
the doctor at least once a year
starting at age 3.
Immunizations (Shots)
Children under 5 years old have weak immune systems and may
get sick more easily. This is why getting immunizations at a young
age is important. They help children fight off infections and
protect other children from the spread of illness. Immunizations
are safe!
GOOD TO Your child’s doctor will tell you which shots(s) your child
KNOW
needs. As a parent, you need to make sure that your
child gets them on time. For a copy of the immunization
schedule please visit www.cdc.gov/vaccines.
... continued on page 3
Healthy Living is published by HF Management Services, LLC.
This publication is not intended to replace the advice of your Primary
Care Provider (PCP). For medical questions, always refer to your PCP.
Jay Schechtman, M.D., M.B.A.
Senior Vice President/
Chief Medical Officer
Susan Beane M.D.
Vice President, Medical Director
John Cheng
Chief Marketing & Communications Officer
©2012 HF Management Services, LLC.
2 | FALL 2012
Important
Phone Numbers
Healthfirst Member Services
Call toll free: 1-866-463-6743
TTY 1-888-542-3821*
Monday – Friday, 8am to 6pm
DentaQuest
Call toll free: 1-800-508-2047
TTY 1-800-466-7566
Monday – Friday, 9am to 6pm
Davis Vision
Call toll free: 1-800-753-3311
Monday – Friday, 8am to 11pm
Saturday, 9am to 4pm
Sunday, 12pm to 4pm
ESI Pharmacy
Call toll free: 1-877-697-7244
TTY 1-800-899-2114
24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Healthfirst Medical
Management Department
Call toll free: 1-888-394-4327
TTY 1-888-542-3821*
Monday – Friday, 8:30am to 5:30pm
Report Fraud, Waste and Abuse
Call toll free Confidential
Compliance Hotline at
1-877-879-9137 or
www.hfcompliance.ethicspoint.com
* New TTY number as of Feb. 2, 2012.
healthfirst.org
Ask the Healthfirst Doctor
with Dr. Susan Beane
1.
How often should my toddler brush their teeth?
A: Brush your toddler’s teeth twice a day. Replace the toothbrush every three or
four months. Replace it sooner if the bristles are frayed. Ask your pediatrician or
pediatric dentist about what age you should begin flossing your child’s teeth.
2.
When should I take my child to a dentist for the first time?
A: Take your child to the dentist when their first tooth appears or by age 1,
whichever comes first.
3. My dentist suggested dental sealants and fluoride varnish
applications for my child. What are they?
A: Dental sealants and fluoride varnish applications protect teeth from tooth decay
(cavities). The dental sealant procedure consists of applying a material to the teeth
to block food and sugars from being trapped between them. The fluoride varnish
consists of applying highly concentrated fluoride foam to the teeth surface.
Fluoride helps make teeth stronger.
4.
How often should I take my child to the dentist?
A: It is important for you and your children to visit the dentist at least once
a year for annual dental check-ups. Kids will more likely see the dentist if
their parents see the dentist, too.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, www.cdc.gov.
Learn How to Keep Your Kids Healthy
... continued from page 2
Also, don’t forget to talk to the doctor about
the flu shot so that your child can enjoy his/
her favorite fall and winter activities! Children
6 months and older should get it every year,
preferably in the fall before flu season begins.
If your child has not had a doctor’s visit this
year, call and make an appointment as soon
as you can. If you are having difficulty making
an appointment or need help finding a
doctor, call the Healthfirst Member Services
Department, Monday – Friday,
8am to 6pm at 1-866-463-6743
or TTY 1-888-542-3821.
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healthfirst.org
Healthfirst Care
Management Program
Have a Healthy
Pregnancy
Every pregnant woman wants to make sure that her baby is
healthy. Getting prenatal care from your doctor as soon as
possible is important. It is the first step you should take during
your pregnancy.
What Is Prenatal Care?
Prenatal care is the care you get from healthcare professionals
before your baby is born. Prenatal care helps keep you and your
baby healthy during your pregnancy. It also helps find potential
problems before they become serious.
What Can You Do?
As soon as you think you are pregnant, call your healthcare
provider. Find out when you should come in for your first prenatal
care appointment. If your pregnancy is going well, you can
expect to follow the schedule below for prenatal exams:
Length of Pregnancy
First 28 weeks
Between 28 weeks to 36 weeks
36+ weeks
Frequency of Doctor Visits
Every 4 weeks
Every 2 to 3 weeks
Every week
It is also important to follow up with your healthcare provider
after having your baby. This is called a postpartum visit. It may be
scheduled between 3 to 8 weeks after your baby is born to see if
you have fully recovered.
Breastfeeding also has many benefits for new mothers and their
babies. It provides infants with the vitamins and nutrients that
help protect them from certain illnesses. It also helps strengthen
the bond between mother and child.
Healthfirst has a maternity care program called Healthy Mom/
Healthy Baby. If you register for this program, you will receive
useful materials about your pregnancy. To enroll in this program,
call the Medical Management Department at 1-888-394-4327
TTY 1-888-542-3821.
Visit www.healthfirst.org/livehealthy for more
information about how to have a healthy pregnancy.
Healthfirst works with your Primary Care
Provider (PCP) to help you get the care you
need to be healthy. Sometimes, certain
health problems call for special attention.
For this reason, the Healthfirst Care
Management Program may be right for you.
Your care manager helps you understand
your health problems and what you need
to do about it, including answering your
questions about taking medications.
For more information about Healthfirst
Care Management programs that can help
you, please call us at:
1-888-394-4327, select option 4
TTY: 1-888-542-3821 (You will
need to have your Healthfirst
member I.D. number handy.)
Monday – Friday,
8:30am to 5:30pm
Recertification Corner
Healthfirst wants to make sure your health
insurance coverage continues without
interruption. That’s why it’s important for you
to renew your health insurance coverage
every year. Having Healthfirst’s Medicaid
Managed Care, Family Health Plus, or Child
Health Plus programs means your health
insurance coverage will continue with us for
a wide range of services such as:
Doctor visits
including regular
well-child visits and
immunizations
Eyeglasses
Hospitalization
Prescriptions
Dental (for children)
For more information
about renewing your health
insurance coverage, visit our
website at www.healthfirst.org or call
Member Services at 1-866-463-6743,
TTY: 1-888-542-3821 Monday-Friday,
8am to 6pm.
Source: Mayo Clinic, www.mayoclinic.com.
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