Health Programs and Campaigns

Why Chlamydia Screenings 

According to the CDC, adolescent and young women have the highest rates of reported chlamydia infection. Approximately 20 percent of untreated chlamydia infections lead to PID and may cause pregnancy complications such as: preterm labor and passing the infection to the infant during birth, leading to blindness and pneumonia.

The HEDIS measure of chlamydia screening in women looks at the percentage of women aged 16-24 identified as sexually active who had chlamydia testing in the past year. According to the National Chlamydia Coalition, the national 2021 HEDIS rate for this measure for Medicaid recipients was 55.3 percent. 

Toolkit

Opt-out Chlamydia Screenings
The CDC recommends routine screening for C. trachomatis infection on an annual basis for all sexually active females aged <25 years. However, many adolescent and young adult females may not be comfortable sharing that information and fall through the cracks. Providers might consider opt-out chlamydia screenings for adolescent and young adult females during any clinical encounter regardless of the reason for the visit -- meaning the patient is notified that testing will be performed unless the patient declines, regardless of reported sexual activity.

• An opt-out, or universal screening approach focuses on policy and protocol, not to the individual patient.
• Practicing opt-out will increase screening rates and lead to early detection and treatment. Education about risks for chlamydia can help prevent infection.
• Reduces the risk of NOT screening someone based on our own biases and/or perceived risk factors leading to improved health equity.
• Cost-effectiveness analyses indicate opt-out screenings might substantially increase the number of women screened, be cost saving, and identify infections among patients who do not disclose sexual behavior.

To learn more about adopting this approach and get resources to help improve chlamydia screening rates in young women at your practice, visit the National Chlamydia Coalition.

Materials
Discussion of opt-out screening with patients and parents of minors perpetuates the thought that the screening is routine. We’ve created these materials and tips to aid in those discussions and increase screening rates.

Adolescent Flyer (PDF) can be shared with patients and parents of minors.

Parents Flyer (PDF) Provides talking points and educates parents on discussions with minors.

Infographic (PDF) Posting flyers or handing out infographic sheets and normalizing language help eliminate stigma. 

Parents Letter (PDF) Helps explain the need for privacy when discussing sensitive topics with their children and conveys the reason their child may need chlamydia screening. These can be helpful when handed to a parent upon check-in, so the expectation is set that the testing will occur.

Tips for using normalization language to increase screening and reduce stigma.

-- “I see you are here for your depo shot today and I noticed you haven’t been screened for Chlamydia recently. We routinely screen all our patients to make sure we’re not missing a problem, so I’d like to go ahead and do that today”.

-- “Hi Mrs. Gray. Thank you for bringing your daughter in today for her annual wellness exam.  I see she is 16 now and to keep her healthy, I recommend testing for chlamydia.  It’s a common infection that usually has no symptoms.  We test all our patients through a simple urine test.  Do you have any questions for me?”.

-- “We ask all our patients your age if they’ve been tested for chlamydia recently.  That test should be done every year. Let’s do that today”.

Special Chlamydia Screening Incentive
All female Buckeye Health Plan Medicaid members (ages 16-24) will earn an extra $50 reward on their My Health Pays card for chlamydia screenings performed now thru 12/31/23, when a claim for chlamydia screening is submitted.

Well-Visit Incentive Reminder
As a reminder, all Buckeye Medicaid members receive a $75 reward for their annual wellness exam. Now they will also receive an additional $25 for their well-visit until 12/31/23.

Flu season is right around the corner, and it’s time for everyone to get up to date on vaccinations. With your patient’s trust and their best interest at heart, it’s up to you to recommend they get their flu vaccine.

What to Do Before Talking With Your Patients

• Create standing orders when you can so that others can vaccinate patients without your direct order.
• Add reminders and follow-ups in patients’ EHR/EMR — both for yourself to remember and to send reminders to your patients.

What to Do When Talking With Your Patients

• Make your recommendation an announcement. A strong, declarative statement that their vaccination is due decreases vaccine hesitation in your patients.
• Use the SHARE method to guide the conversation:

o   SHARE why patients should get their flu vaccine based on their age, lifestyle, and other risk factors.

o   HIGHLIGHT the positives from your personal experience or from appropriate cases from your practice to reinforce the vaccine’s benefits and strengthen their confidence.

o   ADDRESS any questions your patients may have about the vaccine. This may include concerns about side effects, effectiveness, and safety. Recognize that while people who’ve been vaccinated may still get sick, the illness is likely to be less severe.

o   REMIND patients that the flu vaccine protects them and their loved ones from serious illness and side effects that can lead to greater health risks.

o   EXPLAIN the costs that come with getting sick. Besides the potential health effects, you lose time at work and with family, deal with financial costs, and risk spreading the flu to others.

• Follow up! If your patient didn’t get their vaccine at their last visit, check to see if they have since then. Discuss where and when they’re getting their flu vaccine. Confirm it with them during their next visit.
• Repeat your strong recommendation. Address any questions with facts complemented by compassion.
• Think of a time or event that happens in every appointment where you can check in with your patients about their vaccine status.

There’s always time! Administering the flu vaccine is fast and easy.

Flu Prevention is a Win-Win

There are many advantages to promoting flu prevention:

• Healthier patients.
• Decreased severity of illness for those who do get sick.
• Reduced community spread.
• More satisfied patients to help you achieve your practice’s quality goals. 

Remember, you are essential in stopping the flu! Strongly recommend the flu vaccine to all of your patients!

Source: “Make a Strong Influenza Vaccine Recommendation,” CDC 

Good Measures provides clinical coaching, nutrition guidance, and condition management support to Buckeye Health Plan members, through our Diabetes Support Program.

Good Measures is currently supporting Medicaid and Ambetter members with diabetes, with Medicare to launch at the end of 2023. This program is available at no cost to the member.

Eligibility Criteria

The Diabetes Support Program is available to members who have a:

• Diabetes diagnosis (type 1, type 2, or gestational diabetes) and
  • Obesity or malnourishment
  • Indicator of food insecurity

Program Description

The Good Measures Diabetes Support Program provides support to members with diabetes through one-on-one coaching and access to a mobile app and website over the course of 12-months. Coaches are Registered Dietitians and Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialists. Good Measures provides whole-person care which includes management and support for co-existing conditions and connecting members with resources available to Buckeye Health Plan members. As part of engaging in the Diabetes Support Program, members are eligible to receive two medically-tailored grocery deliveries at no cost to the member. These deliveries are personalized based on members’ conditions, health profile, and food preferences.

Components of the programs include:

• Improving diabetes self-care through lifestyle modifications to better manage diabetes, lose weight, and increase physical activity,
• Learning how foods, activity, stress, and medicine affect blood sugar,
• Empowering members with self-management strategies,
• Collaboration between member and coach to develop and achieve health goals,
• Educating members on the importance of medication adherence, primary and specialty provider visits, and key exams,
• Tracking food, activity, medications, blood glucose, and weight in the Good Measures app
• Two no-cost medically-tailored grocery deliveries with recipes.

Referrals

Please visit goodmeasures.com/physicians to submit a secure referral. You can find a faxable version of this form at the same link. Fax completed form to 617-507-8576.

Members can sign up directly on the Good Measures landing page.

Good Measures Medicaid

Good Measures Ambetter

With the launch of Next Generation, managed care plans offer more care coordination services to help members navigate their care. In addition to our care managers, a new role is now available called Care Guides.

• Care guide assists members with short-term goals and one-time needs.
• Care manager assists members with long-term goals and more complex needs.

Buckeye Health Plan’s Care Guides help members access and navigate community resources for help with needs such as finding a doctor, housing, transportation, and durable medical equipment, among other necessities. They also assist Buckeye members with questions related to their health care, their community involvement, and their overall well-being and ensure members are connected with and receiving resources to which they are entitled. A great aspect of the Care Guide program is that each member is assigned to their own personal care guide and act as liaisons between Buckeye and providers of health care to Buckeye members. Providers can encourage members to reach out to Buckeye directly to learn more about care coordination.

Our member website page includes further information.

Note: this does not apply to MyCare Ohio plans.

Members Empowered to Succeed (METS) is a Behavioral Health clinical program within Buckeye Health Plan that has been successfully supporting Ohio providers and members for two years.

METS takes a unique approach to member care focusing on the individualized needs to create a recovery roadmap that is personalized to the member. We partner with both the provider and the member to ensure the member achieves the ultimate level of recovery and resiliency. Our Clinical Liaisons are licensed clinicians that work directly with BH providers to identify the member’s treatment and supports needed for successful progress in treatment. Our Member Engagement Service Coordinators reach out telephonically to the member to identify needs and resources to meet the member’s behavioral health, social, and medical needs.

Benefits and Outcomes of METS

• Integrated, whole health approach to member’s needs and care including behavioral.
• Health, medical, therapeutic, pharmacy, and supplemental.
• Cross-care team partnership to ensure coordination of care and collaborative problem solving.
• Coordination of services and treatment between multiple providers.
• Knowledge of covered services such as expanded benefits or new programs and how to access.
• Access to various physicians and specialists to promote diversity among providers and treatment team.

Please know that no release of information is required. PHI that is used or disclosed for purposes of treatment, payment, or healthcare operations is permitted by HIPAA Privacy Rules (45 CFR 164.506) and does not require consent or authorization from the member.

The Process

A Members Empowered to Succeed (METS) Clinical Liaison will reach out to you via telephone, email, or fax to arrange a call to discuss any members identified for our program that are receiving services from you. Typically, information such as the member’s most recent treatment plan and assessment are helpful in sharing the member’s current treatment goals and progress. The Clinical Liaison would also like to know any barriers in the member’s treatment and any current needs. We prefer to speak directly with the member’s treating provider to ensure the information needed is accessible during our conversation. Ongoing communication takes place monthly and the member typically remains in the program for 3-9 months.

For questions, please contact Provider Services.