Hines on the line
Program connects you via phone to health education
A disease-management program will launch June 1 for people enrolled in the Oklahoma Conference's Health Benefits Plan.
"Connect to Health" will link Registered Nurses and plan participants by phone, at any time of day or night. The program will be directed by Hines, the current healthcare case-management company for the Oklahoma Conference.
The contact number will be 1-800-592-8097.
"When your phone rings and the caller says ‘Hines, with the United Methodist conference,' please don't hang up," said Jan Tofani, Conference director of Health Benefits.
"This is about health education. The Wellness Committee feels this is very important. We questioned the Hines representatives at length, and our board has OK'd it. (Hines') experts can help you when you have questions. These people will have access to material to give you personalized service."
Typically, the company handles major cases, such as when cancer is diagnosed or a major operation is required. The "Connect to Health" program will expand that role.
"It's for those people who have high cholesterol, who have diabetes, or any number of things. Hines has professional RNs who will personally contact our participants who have these problems. You will be given a caseworker, a designated helper for your health problem, who will call you periodically to see how you're doing and if you have any questions. And, you can call them at any time," Tofani explained.
"They'll work with you however you want to do it."
The nurses will advise people on diet, exercise options, and more, working with participants' doctors. The program is not about prescribing medications and does not take the place of being under a doctor's care, Tofani noted.
People who complete the Health Screening at the 2008 Annual Conference will receive information about potential phone contacts by Hines staff. Test results will be analyzed. For example, if high cholesterol is indicated, an R.N. will personally contact that participant by phone.
"I want people to use this service, to pick up the phone," Tofani said.
"I want them to understand what this is; I don't want them to think it's a prank call. I want them to pick up the phone and learn from this individual."
Tofani said the service is being added without additional cost to the participants.
The focus is on health education, but financial benefits are likely, too. The Conference health plan is based on usage; higher costs are a result of higher usage. Plan participants--individuals and churches--received refunds at the beginning of 2008. That's because claims were not as high as they could have been in 2007, Tofani explained. For individuals, the refund was $250. The money was deposited into personal Health Refund Accounts (HRAs). For individuals, the 2006 refund totaled $1,000.
"The idea we want to put in our participants' hands is: If I'm careful with the usage of the insurance, then maybe I'll be able to obtain more HRA money next year," Tofani said.
She continued, "I think the big cost savings with the new disease-management plan will be in the education. The more education and the more responsibility we take for our own health, the more we're going to keep costs down, because we're trying to stay healthy and not end up with major problems."
She emphasized access to personal information will be restricted and will adhere to privacy laws. Patients are not required to participate. Hines is already partnered with Kempton in providing medical insurance coverage for Conference plan members.
"We want people to take responsibility for their health, to say: I'm going to be cautious, ask questions, and participate more fully in caring for my health," Tofani said.
"If we can get people on the road to better health, once they start feeling that, they won't want to get off that road."
