Community Partner Newsletter Volume 6 Summer

HUSKY Health Community Partner Newsletter

Volume 6 - Summer

COVID-19 Update & Public Health Emergency (PHE) Unwinding HUSKY Health Members Must Renew Their Medicaid to Keep Their Coverage After more than three years, May 11, 2023 marked the end of the Federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE). But what does that mean? According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), many things such as COVID-19 vaccine availability and treatment options will remain unaffected, however this may change in the future. Unfortunately, with the PHE ending, COVID-19 at-home test kits may no longer be covered by an individual’s health insurance. As a nation, we have accomplished so much in the last few years, and we now have the tools and resources necessary to protect ourselves and loved ones from COVID-19. Source: Table of Contents COVID-19 Update & Public Health Emergency (PHE) Unwinding��1 Veyo Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Acquisition by MTM��2 Our Community Health Workers (CHWs) Can Help��2 SUGAR RUSH��2 Let’s Talk About Hydration��3 Cooking Matters Corner - Delicious Dips��4

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 2023. End of the Federal COVID-19 Public Health Emergency (PHE) Declaration. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/your-health/end-of-phe.html

The PHE had also expanded health coverage through continuous enrollment. That ended on March 31, 2023, initiating a year-long process called “unwinding.” HUSKY Health members will now have to go back to the original, annual process of verifying their HUSKY eligibility and taking steps to renew if needed. Please remind your HUSKY Health clients and tell them they may receive a reminder call from Community Health Network of Connecticut, Inc. ® HUSKY A , B , and D members can renew their coverage over the phone by calling Access Health CT at 1.855.805.4325 , Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., or online at accesshealthct.com. HUSKY C members can renew their coverage online at https://mydss.ct.gov/dmg or by returning their renewal form by mail with proof of any changes they are reporting.

Attention HUSKY Health Members: Renewals Coming Soon! You will receive a notice when it is time to renew DSS will first try to automatically renew your coverage If your coverage cannot be automatically renewed, a renewal form will be included

What can I do to get ready? Make sure your contact information is up to date so you can receive important information about your HUSKY Health coverage

ct.gov/UpdateUsDSS

HUSKY Health Community Partner Newsletter Page 1 Community Health Network of Connecticut, Inc. ® (CHNCT) is the State of Connecticut’s Medical Administrative Services Organization for the HUSKY Health program.

Veyo Non-Emergency Medical Transportation Acquisition by MTM Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) plays a vital part in assisting individuals who may not have access to health services due to lack of transportation. Connecticut’s contracted NEMT company, Veyo, has been acquired by MTM, pending regulatory approval. Nothing will change for members, transportation providers, or medical facility partners at this time. Everyone can continue to use their normal contact methods, forms, and ride scheduling processes. Veyo can provide HUSKY Health/Medicaid members transportation to and from

medically covered services. Veyo can also assist members with: • Organizing public transportation to get to a medical appointment. • Mileage reimbursement, if they can get a ride to an appointment from a friend or family member who may be able to drive them. • Scheduling a ride based on their medical and transportation needs.

Eligible HUSKY Health/Medicaid members can take advantage of this service by calling 1.855.478.7350 to schedule a ride for medical appointments. Members looking to schedule a ride should do so 48 hours PRIOR to their appointment, not including weekends or holidays. If a medical appointment is urgent, members should call to schedule a ride as soon as possible. Similarly, if a ride to a medical appointment is no longer needed, they should call and cancel as soon as possible. More information can be found at: https://www.huskyhealthct.org/members.html under the Member Benefits menu tab. Source: CT Department of Social Services (CT DSS), 2023. Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT). Retrieved from: https://portal.ct.gov/DSS/Health-And-Home-Care/Non-Emergency-Medical-Transportation Our Community Health Workers (CHWs) Can Help Do your clients need help managing their household needs such as food, clothing, utilities, and housing costs? Do they need assistance with finding employment, education, or in advocating for the special needs of a loved one? Our team of community health workers (CHWs) can assist with connecting your clients to resources to help them and their families meet those needs and more. CHWs serve diverse communities by using translation/interpreter services. Simply call 1.800.859.9889 extension 4326, Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. For more information, please visit: https://www.huskyhealthct.org/members/community-support.html SUGAR RUSH What is the recommended limit for added sugar intake, and how can we avoid excess? Because of the typical lifestyle in this country, people in America are known to eat and drink a great deal more added sugars than the USDA recommends. According to the CDC, teens and adults consume an average of 17 teaspoons (tsp) of sugar in one day; 1 whereas the maximum recommended limit for teens and adults on a 2,000-calorie diet is 12 teaspoons of added sugars each day (10% of the total calories). 2 When we buy drinks or snacks, reading the food labels can improve our lifestyle so much with very little effort because we can find out how many teaspoons of added sugars are in a product by using simple math. One teaspoon of added sugar equals approximately 4 grams of added sugar. So, we can divide the labeled added sugars by 4 to find out the number of teaspoons in the product. 3 For example, if a 16-ounce can of soda has 48 grams of sugar:

48g ÷ 4 = 12 tsp of sugar

HUSKY Health Community Partner Newsletter Page 2 Community Health Network of Connecticut, Inc. ® (CHNCT) is the State of Connecticut’s Medical Administrative Services Organization for the HUSKY Health program.

On our Sugar Rush table, we keep three premade baggies of sugar that show the limit for younger kids (6 tsp), teens/adults (12 tsp), and the amount an average person in America consumes daily (17 tsp). We’ve gotten amazing feedback from people after they started watching their sugar intake and making positive changes in their lifestyle. They lost weight, felt better, and improved their blood sugar control.

To book a virtual or in-person Sugar Rush presentation, or request a table exhibit at a community event, please contact Kellie Gilbert at 203.393.3932 or kgilbert@chnct.org

References: 1. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2021. Get the Facts: Added Sugars. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/nutrition/data-statistics/added-sugars.html 2. Dietary Guidelines for Americans, 2015-2020, Eighth Edition. Cut Down on Added Sugars. Retrieved from: https://health.gov/sites/default/files/2019-10/DGA_Cut-Down-On-Added-Sugars.pdf 3. State of Alaska, Department of Health, 2019. Play Every Day, How to Find the Added Sugars. Retrieved from: https://health.alaska.gov/dph/playeveryday/pages/How-to-Find-the-Added-Sugars.aspx Let’s Talk About Hydration

With summer here and outdoor activities increasing, remember to drink plenty of water! Hydration has so many vital impacts on the human body. For example, studies show increased hydration is linked to increased energy production. Through a process called lipolysis, fat molecules, such as triglycerides, are broken down into smaller molecules in the presence of water. These broken-down fat molecules are then transported to our muscles, as well as other organs in our body, to be used for energy. 1 Increased hydration is also important because some vitamins, such as Vitamin C and the B-complexes, can only be used by the body when dissolved in water (water-soluble). 2 Water-soluble vitamins are responsible for healthy functions of our immune system, red blood cell formation, tissues, and proper function of the nerves and heart, to name a few. 3 Be sure to drink plenty of fluids! How can you tell if you’re drinking enough fluids? The amount of fluids someone needs to drink each day to stay hydrated varies from person to person. Some factors that affect your fluid needs include the climate where you live, the medications you take, and your level of physical activity. Look for these signs below for indications that you may need to up your intake!

Signs in Infants & Children: • Less interested in playing • Urinating less often (less than six wet diapers for infants) • Dry mouth or lips • Fewer tears when crying • Wrinkled skin or sunken eyes Signs of Severe Dehydration. Seek medical help quickly if you are experiencing these symptoms: • Confusion • Fainting

Signs in Adults: •Feeling thirsty •Urinating or sweating less than usual •Dark-colored urine (should be very light yellow) •Dry skin •Feeling tired • Dizziness

• Rapid heartbeat • Rapid breathing • Lack of urination

HUSKY Health Community Partner Newsletter Page 3 Community Health Network of Connecticut, Inc. ® (CHNCT) is the State of Connecticut’s Medical Administrative Services Organization for the HUSKY Health program.

For more information, please visit: https://www.healthychildren.org/English/health-issues/injuries-emergencies/Pages/dehydration.aspx https://medlineplus.gov/dehydration.html https://www.huskyhealthct.org/members/Fat_Attack/Learn.html References: 1. National Library of Medicine: Edwards M., Mohiuddin S.S. Biochemistry, Lipolysis. [Updated 2022 Jul 18]. In: StatPearls [Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing; 2022 Jan. Retrieved from: http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK560564 2. National Library of Medicine: Medline Plus, 2023. Vitamins. Retrieved from: https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/002399.htm 3. National Library of Medicine: Lykstad J., Sandeep S. Biochemistry, Water Soluble Vitamins. [Updated 2023 Mar 6] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK538510

Cooking Matters Corner - Delicious Dips Summertime into early fall is the best time to buy fresh produce in CT. It’s in season locally and therefore more affordable in stores and at farmers markets. Eating raw vegetables is quick and convenient and prevents you from having to stand over a hot stove on humid days. It’s recommended that older kids, teens, and adults consume at least two cups of fruit and three cups of vegetables, daily. 1,2 If eating plain produce doesn’t sound appealing to you, and even less so to the kids, a delicious dip can make the difference! Rather than paying extra for premade dips at the store that are loaded with fat, sugar, salt, and preservatives, you can make your own healthy dips with just a few ingredients (see recipes below). Eating snacks that combine two to three food groups gives us more energy and keeps us full longer between meals. 3 Since fruits and vegetables are low in fat and calories, dipping them into some guacamole, bean dip, or a yogurt-based dip will add filling, nutrient-dense calories from lean protein and healthy, unsaturated fats. 1,4 Fruits and vegetables add fiber and potassium to our diet, which many people in America don’t get enough of. 1,2 We can also get calcium from leafy greens and cruciferous vegetable such as broccoli, cauliflower, and bok choy. This is especially important for people who don’t consume dairy. 3 Since we certainly don’t want to add germs and bacteria to our body, click here for safety tips on choosing, preparing, and storing raw produce. 5

Healthy Dip Recipe Links: https://cookingmatters.org/recipes/hummus https://cookingmatters.org/recipes/spicy-white-bean-dip https://cookingmatters.org/recipes/fruit-yogurt-dip https://cookingmatters.org/recipes/guacamole

References: 1. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) MyPlate, 2023. Daily Fruit Table. Retrieved from: https://www.myplate.gov/eat-healthy/fruits 2. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) MyPlate, 2023. Daily Vegetable Table. Retrieved from: https://www.myplate.gov/eat-healthy/vegetables 3. Cooking Matters, 2023. Retrieved from: https://cookingmatters.org/tips/#nutrition-basics 4. U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) MyPlate, 2023. Retrieved from: https://www.myplate.gov/eat-healthy/protein-foods 5. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), 2023. Fruit and Vegetable Safety. Retrieved from: https://www.cdc.gov/foodsafety/communication/steps-healthy-fruits-veggies.html

HUSKY Health Community Partner Newsletter Page 4 Community Health Network of Connecticut, Inc. ® (CHNCT) is the State of Connecticut’s Medical Administrative Services Organization for the HUSKY Health program.

Page 1 Page 2 Page 3 Page 4

Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker