New Mexico Health Connections | my connection | Summer 2019

Numbers you need to know CUSTOMER SERVICE: 855-769-6642, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. •   Benefits. •   ID cards. •   Billing questions. •   Claims questions, status and reconsiderations. •   Member login help. •   General information. CARE CONNECT NURSE ADVICE LINE: 844-308-2552 OPTUMRX, OUR PHARMACY BENEFIT MANAGER: 855-577-6550 BRIOVARX ® , OPTUMRX’S SPECIALTY PHARMACY: 866-618-6741 Message from Marlene Marlene C. Baca, CEO of New Mexico Health Connections LATE (AND SAFE) SUMMER FUN I hope your summer has been full of fun activities and that you also took time out to do nothing but keep cool and enjoy the more relaxed pace of summer. Of course, in New Mexico, summer tends to last quite a bit longer than its official end on Sept. 23! That means even more time to enjoy long hours of daylight, farm-fresh fruits and vegetables, road trips, and getting kids ready for school. Whatever you have planned, please put your health and safety first. This issue of MyConnection can help. Drive safely—traffic accidents due to speeding and distracted driving are on the rise. Always wear your seat belt, obey the speed limits and don’t text while driving. Late summer is a good time to think about getting yourself and your children caught up on immunizations. The article on page 2 has some good information on measles and tetanus vaccines, among others, for children. You can find all of our recommended vaccines and health screenings for kids and adults at mynmhc.org/preventive-screenings.aspx . Also, the flu vaccine for the 2019 to 2020 season will become available in early fall. Flu shots are covered by your NMHC plan, so you can get yours at no cost and stay protected all fall and winter. Knowing what level of care to seek when you’re sick or injured can save you a lot of time and money. On page 3 is an infographic that illustrates when it’s best to go to the emergency room or to an urgent care center and when you should call your primary care doctor or our Care Connect Nurse Advice Line. Enjoy the rest of your summer, and thank you for being an NMHC member! MAKE THE CALL Is the ER the right choice? 3 VACCINES Keep your children up-to-date 2 Tell us how we’re doing As your health plan, we have a lot of information to share with you to help you understand your benefits—your ID card, Summary of Benefits and Coverage, and Member Handbook, to name a few. We are always trying to improve our service and would like to hear your opinion on how we are doing. Please take a few minutes to complete our customer survey. To find it, go to our home page, mynmhc.org . Scroll down about halfway until you see the banner that says, “Members, Tell Us How We’re Doing!” and click on the survey link. Look for an update on our progress in the fall member newsletter. Thank you! 2440 Louisiana Blvd. NE, Suite 601 Albuquerque, NM 87110 Standard U.S. Postage PAID Walla Walla, WA Permit No. 44 T aking an active part in your healthcare is the best way to make sure you get the right care at the right time. Shared decision-making is a process that allows you and your doctor to make healthcare choices together. Shared decision-making helps you learn more about your condition(s) and ask better questions. At the same time, your doctor will get to know your values and preferences. A joint decision NMHC now offers a shared decision-making tool to use if you are thinking about total knee or total hip replacement surgery. This tool will help you understand your treatment options and make smart choices about managing your knee or hip arthritis. Arthritis affects the cartilage in your joints. It causes joint pain and stiffness and can make it hard to move freely. Many people can manage their arthritis pain with nonsurgical treatments like medicine, exercise and physical therapy. However, for some people, these treatment options may no longer be effective. If your hip or knee pain is keeping you from daily activities, you may be wondering if total joint replacement surgery is right for you. Before deciding, you should understand all the benefits and risks. Use our shared decision- making tool to help you learn more about knee and hip arthritis and available treatments. Then take it to your doctor. Together, you can decide on the treatment that is best for you. Access the shared decision-making tool at mynmhc.org/forms-2.aspx or call our Case Management team at 844-691-9984 to have the tool mailed to you. Good healthcare begins with you