TM...TM Checkups for Children & Teens 8 Special Section omen 19 We know how eager you are to get outside and enjoy the warmth when the sun is shining brightly. But don’t forget to

myhealthmylife

WHAT’S INSIDE

2016 ISSUE 1

Do You Know Your Numbers? 7

13Stay Healthy At Home

TM

Checkups for Children & Teens 8

Special Section

Just for Women

Pages 16-19

We know how eager you are to get outside and enjoy

the warmth when the sun is shining brightly. But don’t forget to protect

yourself and be safe!

Some medicines can make you more sensitive to the sun, making your skin

react badly to the sunlight. To be safe, follow the tips

listed on this page.

Sun Safety Tips Stay indoors or in the shade

between 10 am and 4 pm. The sun’s rays are the strongest at this time and you have a higher chance of sunburn. This applies even on cloudy days and during colder months. You’re still getting sun on these days, even though you may not see it.

Wear protective clothing. For example, you can wear wide-brimmed hats that cover your face and neck, long-sleeved shirts, pants, and dark color clothing.

Always wear sunscreen when outdoors. Your sunscreen should say “broad spectrum,” “waterproof,” or “water-resistant” on the bottle.

Apply sunscreen to your face, arms, legs, back, scalp, hands, feet, lips, neck and ears. Do this 15 to 30 minutes before you go out in the sun.

BE SAFE Some Medicines Cause Sun Sensitivity

✓

✓

✓

✓

Visit us online at www.passporthealthplan.com2

Name of Medicine(s) What it’s Used to Treat

Ciprofloxacin, Doxycycline, Levofloxacin, Minocycline, Sulfamethoxazole-Trimethoprim, Voriconazole Infections

Clozapine, Fluphenazine, Ziprasidone Behavioral health issues

Chlorpromazine Behavioral health issues, very bad hiccups, nausea and vomiting

Citalopram, Duloxetine, Escitalopram, Fluoxetine, Mirtazapine, Sertraline, Trazodone Depression or anxiety

Celecoxib, Diclofenac, Meloxicam, Naproxen Pain, inflammation (swelling)

Chlorthalidone, Furosemide, Hydrochlorothiazide, Indapamide High blood pressure, swelling

Quinidine, Sildenafil, Amiodarone Heart problems

Glipizide, Glyburide, Tolbutamide Diabetes

Isotretinoin, Tretinoin Skin problems

St John’s Wort Depression

Fluorouracil, Methoxsalen Cancers, skin lesions

Tacrolimus Organ transplants

Isotretinoin, Tretinoin Skin problems

St John’s Wort Depression

Fluorouracil, Methoxsalen Cancers, skin lesions

Tacrolimus Organ transplants

Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Therapeutic Research: Pharmacist’s Letter

Medicines that Cause Sun Sensitivity

BE SAFE Some Medicines Cause Sun Sensitivity

3Member Services 1-800-578-0603, TDD/TTY 1-800-691-5566

• Be treated with respect and dignity. You have the right to privacy and to not be discriminated against.

• Choose a primary care provider (PCP) and ask to change your PCP.

• Join your providers in making decisions about your health care. You may discuss treatment options, regardless of cost or benefit coverage. You may also refuse treatment.

• Ask questions and get complete information about your medical condition(s) and treatment options. This may include specialty care.

• Voice grievances (within 30 days) or file an appeal about Passport decisions that affect you. If you do not agree with Passport’s appeal decision, you may file a state hearing with the Department for Medicaid Services (DMS).

• Get timely access to care that does not have any communication or physical barriers.

• Make an advance directive, like a living will.

• Look at and get a free copy of your medical records, as permitted by law.

• Get timely referrals and access to medically necessary specialty care.

• Be free from any form of restraint or seclusion used as a means of coercion, discipline, convenience or retaliation.

• Get information about Passport including benefits, services, providers and your rights and responsibilities.

• Make suggestions about your rights and responsibilities.

• Get services from I/T/U providers (Indian Health Services, Tribally operated facility/program, and Urban Indian clinics) signed up with Passport. This applies to Native American members.

Your

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• Learn about your rights.

• Follow the policies and procedures of DMS and Passport.

• Learn about health services and treatment options.

• Take part in personal health care decisions and practice a healthy lifestyle.

• Keep appointments with providers and call to cancel appointments when you cannot be there.

• Provide, to the best of your ability, information that your providers need to give you care.

• Learn about your health problems and follow the orders and care plans that you and your providers have agreed upon.

• Tell us if you suspect fraud or misuse of Passport ID cards or benefits by a member or provider. To report fraud or misuse, please call Passport’s Compliance Hotline at 1-855-512-8500 or the U.S. Office of the Inspector General (OIG) at 1-800-372-2970.

You have the RIGHT to:

You have the RESPONSIBILITY to:

We want you to know your rights and responsibilities as a Passport member.


Need Help?If you’d like us to help you file your appeal,

please call 1-800-578-0603, press 0, then press 7307. TDD/TTY users may call 1-800-691-5566.

We hope you are happy with your Passport benefits. If you’re not, we want you to tell us right away. If you disagree with a Passport decision, you or your approved representative may file an appeal.

How to File an Appeal• You may file an appeal by phone or in writing.

• If you file your appeal by phone, you must follow-up in writing within 10 days of the call.

• If a representative files your appeal, you must give him or her written approval.

• To send your appeal in writing, please send your request and any related records to:

Passport Health Plan

Appeal Coordinator

5100 Commerce Crossings Drive

Louisville, KY 40229

• Your related records may be written comments or any other information about your appeal.Fi

ling

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Expedited (Faster) Appeals• You or your doctor may ask for a faster

decision if your health is in danger.

• If your appeal qualifies as “expedited,” we’ll give you a decision within 3 working days. When your appeal is "expedited," you will have a limited amount of time to send us related records.

• If your request doesn't qualify as “expedited,” it will become a regular appeal.

Your Right to a State HearingIf you’re not happy with Passport’s appeal decision, you may ask for a State Fair Hearing. Your written request must be postmarked within 45 days from the date of your decision letter.

Send your written request for a State Fair Hearing to:Kentucky Department of Medicaid Services

Division of Program Quality & Outcomes

275 East Main Street- 6C-C

Frankfort, KY 40621

Getting Services During an Appeal and State HearingIf a service has just been denied and you wish to keep receiving it, please let us know. If the final appeal decision is to uphold (not change) the denial, you may have to pay for any services received during the appeal.


Green Zone Doing Well• Your asthma is under control.

• Your breathing is good.

• You can do your normal activities.

To stay in the green zone, keep doing what your PCP or asthma doctor says. Take your controller medicines every day!

Yellow ZoneCaution! Be Careful• You’re having a mild asthma

attack.

• You may be coughing more, wheezing, feeling chest tightness or short of breath.

To get out of the yellow zone, try using your rescue inhaler. You should start breathing better within a few minutes. If your rescue inhaler doesn’t help or if you need to use it a lot, call your PCP or asthma doctor.

Red Zone Danger!• You’re having a serious

asthma attack.

• You feel out of breath.

• You cannot do your normal activities.

To get out of the red zone, take the medicines listed on your Asthma Action Plan right away! If your breathing doesn’t get better after 15 minutes, go to the hospital or call 911.

Source: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-pro/guidelines/current/asthma-guidelines

Questions?For more information, please call us at 1-877-903-0082. We’re here to help you and your family live a healthy life with asthma!

If you or your child has asthma, you’re not alone. People of all ages have asthma and are living a healthy life. With the right self-care and help from doctors, you can too!

Make an Asthma Action PlanTalk with your primary care provider (PCP) or asthma doctor about an Asthma Action Plan. He or she can help you make a plan that’s right for you.

Your Asthma Action Plan will tell you:• What medicine to take and when• How much medicine to take• When to get help• How you should be breathing and what symptoms you may have• What your peak flow numbers should be

Your Asthma Action Plan will have 3 parts to it:

with Asthma

You’ll want to share this plan with anyone who might be around when you or your child has an asthma attack. This may include family, friends, teachers, coaches or day care workers.


Take Control and Go for the Green Zone! ✓ See your doctor for routine checkups.✓ Take your medicine daily, as prescribed.✓ Eat healthy foods such as fruits, vegetables,

whole grains and lean meats.✓ Avoid foods high in saturated fat, cholesterol

and sodium (salt). ✓ Avoid fried foods, fast food, fatty meats and

whole dairy products. ✓ Exercise for 30 minutes every day.✓ Lose weight, if needed. ✓ Do not smoke.

High blood pressure and high cholesterol can raise your chances (risk) of getting heart disease and stroke. Heart disease is the #1 killer of men

and women in the United States.

One step you can take to lower your risk of heart disease is to know your blood pressure and cholesterol numbers. Once you know your numbers, use the chart below to work with your doctor to control your blood pressure and cholesterol.

Want more information? Please call us at 1-877-903-0082.

Blood PressureLess than 120/80

is normal

120/80 to 139/90 is

borderline.

More than 140/90

is too high.Total

Cholesterol Less than 200 200 to 239 240 and above

LDL “bad

cholesterol”Less than 100 100 to 160 More than 160

HDL “good

cholesterol”More than 60 40 to 60 Less than 40

Triglycerides Less than 150 150 to 200 More than 200

Do You Know Your Numbers

Green Zone GOOD!

If you don’t know your numbers, be sure to ask your doctor.

Your doctor may have personal numbers for

you. Talk to him or her about your goals.

Yellow Zone CAUTION!

Red Zone DANGER!

Source: American Heart Association


Keep Children and Teens Healthy with Regular Checkups

Children and teens need to get checkups at these ages:

1 month 6 months 15 months 30 months

2 months 9 months 18 months Every year from age 3 to age 204 months 12 months 24 months

All children and teens need regular checkups. Even if your child or teen looks and feels healthy, he or she could still have a health problem. Getting checkups can help your child or teen because the doctor will look for problems and make sure he or she is growing up healthy.

Soon, you may receive a Member Satisfaction Survey in the mail. This survey asks about the care and service you are getting. If you receive a survey, please fill it out and tell us how you feel. We want to know what’s

working for you and how you think we can do

better.

We’d like to thank you for choosing Passport and for being a valued member! We look forward to hearing

from you.

Earn Rewards!Children and teens ages 8 to 20 can earn a $20 gift card for visiting a doctor. For more details about how to earn this reward, give us a call at 1-877-903-0082.

WHAT'S COVEREDRegular visits to

the doctor and any immunizations

(shots) needed at that time

WHO'S COVEREDChildren and teens

up to age 21

YOUR COST

$0

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Please place an “X” in only one box for each question.

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8. In the last 6 months, how often did you and

a doctor or other health provider talk about

specific things you could do to prevent

illness? Never Sometimes Usually Always

9. Choices for your treatment or health care

can include choices about medicine,

surgery, or other treatment. In the last 6

months, did a doctor or other health

provider tell you there was more than one

choice for your treatment or health care?

Yes .......Go to Question 10

No.........Go to Question 12

10. In the last 6 months, did a doctor or other

health provider talk with you about the pros

and cons of each choice for your treatment

or health care? Definitely yes Somewhat yes

Somewhat no

Definitely no

11. In the last 6 months, when there was more

than one choice for your treatment or health

care, did a doctor or other health provider

ask which choice you thought was best for

you? Definitely yes Somewhat yes

Somewhat no

Definitely no

12. Using any number from 0 to 10, where 0 is

the worst health care possible and 10 is the

best health care possible, what number

would you use to rate all your health care in

the last 6 months?

13. A personal doctor is the one you would see

if you need a check-up, want advice about a

health problem, or get sick or hurt. Do you

have a personal doctor?

Yes....... Go to Question 14

No ........ Go to Question 22

14. In the last 6 months, how many times did

you visit your personal doctor to get care

for yourself? None ............Go to Question 21

1....................Go to Question 15

2....................Go to Question 15

3....................Go to Question 15

4....................Go to Question 15

5 to 9.............Go to Question 15

10 or more ....Go to Question 15

15. In the last 6 months, how often did your

personal doctor explain things in a way that

was easy to understand?

Never Sometimes Usually Always


personal doctor listen carefully to you?

Never Sometimes Usually Always


personal doctor show respect for what you

had to say? Never Sometimes Usually Always

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YOUR PERSONAL DOCTOR

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Worst health care possible

0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Best health care possible

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Please place an “X” in only one box for each question.

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SURVEY INSTRUCTIONS

Answer all the questions by placing an “X” in the box to the left of your answer.

You are sometimes told to skip over some questions in this survey. When this happens you will see a

note that tells you what question to answer next, like this:Yes......Go to Question 3

All information that would let someone identify you or your family will be kept private. Morpace will

not share your personal information with anyone without your OK. You may choose to answer this

survey or not. If you choose not to, this will not affect the benefits you get.

You may notice a number on the cover of this survey. This number is ONLY used to let us know if

you returned your survey so we don’t have to send you reminders.

If you want to know more about this study, please call 1-877-328-8176.

1. Our records show that you are now in

Passport Health Plan. Is that right?

Yes .......Go to Question 3


2. What is the name of your health plan?

(please print)

____________________________________

These questions ask about your own health

care. Do not include care you got when you

stayed overnight in a hospital. Do not include

the times you went for dental care visits.

3. In the last 6 months, did you have an

illness, injury, or condition that needed care

right away in a clinic, emergency room, or

doctor’s office?

Yes ......Go to Question 4


4. In the last 6 months, when you needed care

right away, how often did you get care as

soon as you thought you needed?

Never

Sometimes

Usually

Always

5. In the last 6 months, not counting the times

you needed care right away, did you make

any appointments for your health care at a

doctor’s office or clinic?

Yes....... Go to Question 6

No ........ Go to Question 7


you needed care right away, how often did

you get an appointment for your health care

at a doctor's office or clinic as soon as you

thought you needed?

Never

Sometimes

Usually

Always


you went to an emergency room, how many

times did you go to a doctor’s office or

clinic to get health care for yourself?

None .............Go to Question 13

1....................

Go to Question 8

2....................

Go to Question 8

3....................

Go to Question 8

4....................

Go to Question 8

5 to 9.............Go to Question 8

10 or more ....Go to Question 8

1

2

3

4YOUR HEALTH CARE IN THE LAST 6

MONTHS

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GIFT CARD

Your Opinion Matters to Us!


Children and teens need to get checkups at these ages:

1 month 6 months 15 months 30 months

2 months 9 months 18 months Every year from age 3 to age 204 months 12 months 24 months

Source: Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD Standard)

Do you know?Losing just 3 to 5 percent (%) of your body weight can improve your health. Making small

changes in the foods you eat and your activity can lead to big changes in your health and the way you feel.

Are you ready?If you’re ready to take charge and improve your health and well-being, don’t wait another minute! To get started today, call our HOPE educator at 1-877-903-0082.

If you’re at least 18 years old and want to live a healthier life and lose weight, we have just the program for you! We call it “HOPE” which stands for Healthier Options for People Everyday.

Get Healthy with

Our HOPE program can work with you one-on-one to help you reach your health and weight-loss goals. We’ll show you:

• How healthy eating and staying active can make you feel better and improve your quality of life.

• How to manage and avoid things like diabetes, heart disease, high blood pressure and osteoarthritis.


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? Gettin’ Kids Moving with GoNoodle!

Thanks to Our

Hospital Partners for Helping

Make GoNoodle Happen!

• St. Claire Regional Medical Center

• Highlands Regional Medical Center

• Owensboro Health

• Hardin Memorial Hospital

• Kosair Children’s Hospital

It’s fun. It’s healthy. It’s probably in your kid’s

elementary schools – thanks to your friends at Passport Health Plan!

We’re happy to tell you that we’ve been working with hospitals

around the state to bring GoNoodle to a total of

78 counties in Kentucky.


Gettin’ Kids Moving with GoNoodle!

Wha

t's

GoNoodle?

It’s fun. It’s healthy. It’s probably in your kid’s

elementary schools – thanks to your friends at Passport Health Plan!

We’re happy to tell you that we’ve been working with hospitals

around the state to bring GoNoodle to a total of

78 counties in Kentucky.

GoNoodle is an interactive tool used

in elementary school classrooms to get kids up and moving and

doing better in school. Teachers use GoNoodle to give the students activity

breaks during the day. These breaks may involve dancing to fun songs,

relaxing or taking part in other physical and educational

activities.

The Bottom Line:

We’ve made GoNoodle available for free in public and

private elementary schools, and in students’ homes. For more

information about GoNoodle, visit www.gonoodle.com.

GoNoodle is an online resource for elementary

teachers to improve student engagement and

youth health through physical activity breaks.

Helping to increase energy and focus while

improving classroom behavior, GoNoodle's

activities can be played on an interactive

whiteboard, projector or computer screen. Since

its launch in August 2013, over 9 million kids

have played GoNoodle physical activity breaks.

Teachers can sign up for free at GoNoodle.com.

GoNoodle is fun for the kids and a great way to help

improve their learning and focus in school.


Your Preemie Baby and ROP Babies born prematurely, or before 37 weeks, are at risk for an eye disease called Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP). ROP mainly affects smaller babies born before 31 weeks, but any baby born before 35 weeks could get it.

How does a baby get ROP and what are the risks?

• Normally, blood vessels start growing in your baby’s retina when you are 3 months pregnant. These blood vessels keep growing until the end of your pregnancy.

• If your baby is born early, these blood vessels may not grow fully or normally. They can weaken and bleed into the back of the eye.

• Bleeding in the back of the eye can cause scar tissue to form around your baby’s retina.

• In some cases, scar tissue can cause your baby’s sight to get worse, or in severe cases, become blind.

Source: www.who.int/mediacentre/factsheets, https://nei.nih.gov/health/rop/rop

Key Word:The retina is a layer of nerve tissue in the eye that lets your baby see.

Make Sure Your Preemie Gets Tested!If you have a preemie baby, the doctor may order a test to look for ROP. This test is important because the doctor can find problems early when they are the most treatable. If you haven’t already, talk with your baby’s doctor about ROP testing.

Retina

Want to get a copy of our Preferred Drug List (PDL)? Our PDL is a list of all the medicines we cover and any limits that apply. We also cover some over-the-counter (OTC)

medicines when your doctor gives you a prescription.

We make changes to our PDL from time to time. To find the most up-to-date list, please visit www.passporthealthplan.com and click on Pharmacy:

• To view or print our PDL, click on Printable Formulary.

• To view or print our Over-the-Counter drug list, click on Over-the-Counter Drug List.

• To see if a drug is covered using our online formulary, click on Searchable Drug Formulary.

If you don’t use a computer and would like some help, just call Member Services at 1-800-578-0603.


Retina

Things to Know:• Check your weight

• Check your blood pressure

• Take your heart rate

• Check your oxygen level

• Ask you how you feel

• Send us your results and alert us before a major problem happens

If we see your symptoms are getting worse, we will call you. We’ll also talk with your doctor if we see changes in your health. Together, we can help you live better with CHF or COPD!

To take advantage of this benefit, please call us at 1-877-903-0082.

We have a special benefit for members with congestive heart failure (CHF) and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). CHF and COPD

members can join our new Stay Healthy at Home program. When you join Stay Healthy at Home, a small machine is placed in your home to track your vital signs and symptoms.

For Members with CHF and COPD


Go

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It’s important to follow-up with your primary care provider (PCP) after you leave the hospital. If you need to see a specialist, your PCP will refer you. Your PCP will also refill your medicines and help you with any health issues you’re having.

There’s a lot to think about when you or a family member is in the hospital. You might be worried and you probably can’t wait to go home.

While going home can be a relief, it can also be very confusing. You’ll be sent home with a discharge plan that tells you what to do.

Your discharge plan may include:

• Medicines to take, or to stop taking

• Tests to have done

• Follow-up appointments to attend

We’re Here to Help!If you have any questions about what to do once you go home, please call

Passport’s Discharge Education Team at 1-877-903-0082, press 0, and then press 8593. Our team of educators and nurses can work with you one-on-one and help

you get the care you need!

from the


How to Deal With Your ChildWhen You're Mad

There’s one thing we can all agree on ‒ parenting is a lot of hard work! Having a crying baby can be very stressful. While feeling upset and overwhelmed at times is normal, you can learn ways to keep your cool and avoid getting mad at your child.

There are also other

places you can call and websites

you can visit such as:

Phone Number / Web Address

The Type of Help You Can Get

1-800-CHILDREN 1-800-244-5376

Parents can call for support, encouragement and resources 6 days a week.

1-800-4achild1-800-422-4453

Parents can get help with ways to deal with anger and how to soothe a crying baby. You can learn skills that have worked for other parents.

www.purplecrying.infoParents can learn why babies cry between 2 weeks and 4 months.

When you feel angry and ready to lash out, try some of these tips:

✓ Breathe deeply and slowly to calm down. Count to 10 until you feel yourself calming.

✓ Try to see things from your child’s point of view. Think about what he or she is hearing from you when you become angry.

✓ Move your child to a quiet, safe place. Allow both of you the chance to calm down.

✓ Call a friend or family member for help.

✓ Ask someone to watch your child while you take a walk to clear your head.

✓ Think about what’s making you so mad. Is it really your child’s actions or is it something else?

✓ Turn on some music ‒ sing and dance your cares away! You and your child can have fun with this and get into a better mood.

✓ Write down your negative feelings on a piece of paper. Crumple it up and throw it away. This is a great way to let your anger go and be done with it.

Source: Prevent Child Abuse Kentucky

Need Some Help?

If you need someone to talk to, need some

extra help or for more information, please call us at 1-800-244-5373. We want to help you!


Source: www.womenshealth.gov, www.uspreventiveservicestaskforce.org, Centers for Disease Control

and Prevention, National Institute of Health, US Department of Health and Human Services

Earn Rewards!Did you know you can earn gift cards

just for getting some of these tests? For more information,

just call us at 1-877-903-0082.

Being a healthy woman means a lot of things. You may

know you need to eat healthy, get regular exercise and watch

your stress levels, but do you also know that it’s just as important

to get routine health tests? Getting these tests can help

you keep tabs on your health and avoid major

problems.

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Health Tests for Women

Tests You Need What it Does When to Get It

Mammogram

(sounds like “ma mo GRAM”)

Checks you for breast cancer.

Start getting mammograms at age 40 or sooner if you have a family history of breast cancer or if you feel a lump. Ask your primary care provider (PCP) if you have questions.

Pap Test

Checks you for cervical cancer.

Start getting tested at age 21.

Chlamydia Test

(sounds like “Kla MID e ya”)

Checks you for vaginal infections.

Get a yearly urine test at your doctor’s office if you’ve had sex or if you’re pregnant.

Blood Pressure

Test

Checks the force your blood puts on your blood vessel walls as your heart pumps.

Have your blood pressure checked at each doctor’s visit and/or at least every 2 years if your blood pressure is normal.

Cholesterol Test

(sounds like “cho LES ter ol”)

Checks for fat in your blood.

Talk to your PCP about when you need your cholesterol checked. Some people need to be tested more often.

Body Mass Index

(BMI) Test

Checks to see if you have a healthy weight for your height.

Have your BMI tested at least once a year.

Colonoscopy

(sound like “co lon NAH scopee”)

Checks for colon cancer.

Get your first colon test at age 50, or sooner if you have a family history of colon cancer. Your PCP will tell you how often to get tested.

Which tests should you be getting? Try getting started with these 7 key tests!

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Planning Your Next Pregnancy

Having Babies Too Close Together

Having Babies Too Far Apart

Source: Mayoclinic.org, World Health Organization: Report

of a WHO Technical Consultation on Birth Spacing

If you’ve already had a baby, you know just how

exciting and stressful it can be. There’s a lot to think

about, for sure. To help ease your mind, try to do some

planning if you’re thinking about getting pregnant

again. You and your new baby will be glad you did!

Not sure if or when you want another baby?

If your answer is “yes,” here’s what you can do:

• Talk to your OB doctor or primary care provider (PCP) about which birth control option is best for you.

• Learn about all of your birth control options. Passport covers many of these options. To find out more, call us at 1-800-903-0082. We can talk with you about birth control and mail you a booklet called “Your Body, Your Choice” that tells you which options are covered for you.

Babies born less than 18 months

apart have a higher chance of:

• Low birth weight

• Small size for age

• Preterm (early) birth

Babies born 5 years

or more apart have a higher chance of:

• Preterm birth

• Low birth weight

• Small size for age

2 Ways to Plan for Your Pregnancy

Talk to your OB doctor or primary care provider (PCP) before you get pregnant to see if you’re healthy and ready to carry a baby.

Space out your pregnancies. Wait at least 18 months between the birth of one baby and the start of your next pregnancy. Having your babies too close together or too far apart can cause the risks listed in this chart.

Moms who have babies 5 years

or more apart have a higher chance of:

• High blood pressure

• Preeclampsia - high blood pressure and protein in the urine after the 20th week of pregnancy

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Having a baby is hard work on your body. It’s even harder on you when you have a C-section. If you must have a C-section, it’s important to know the risks for you and your baby.

The Risks for Moms

The Risks for Babies

The Risks of Having More Than One C-section

• Getting a uterus infection

• Having more vaginal bleeding

• Having a bad reaction to medicines used to put you to sleep (anesthesia)

• Having blood clots in your leg or pelvic area

• Getting an infection in your incision (cut)

• Injuries to your bowel and bladder during surgery

• Having more problems with future pregnancies

• Having breathing problems such as respiratory distress syndrome

• Having an injury during surgery such as a nick or cut

• Having scar tissue on your uterus and nearby organs

• Having bladder and bowel injuries

• Having heavy vaginal bleeding

• Having problems with your placenta

Know the Risks of Having a C-section

Having a C-section raises your chances of:

Having a C-section raises your baby’s chances of:

Having multiple C-sections raises your chances of:


So Source: Mayo Clinic, American Pregnancy Association, Medline Plus, American

College of Obstetrics and Gynecology urce: American Heart Association

✓ Always wash your hands with soap and water before looking at your cut and before getting in the shower.

✓ Shower once a day with anti-bacterial soap such as unscented Dove or Dial. Let the water run over your cut - do not scrub it.

✓ Pat dry your cut when you get out of the shower. Make sure it stays dry the entire day.

✓ Check your cut at least once every day.

✓ Visit your OB doctor at 1 to 2 weeks and 6 weeks after delivery to make sure you’re healing well. You can even earn free gift cards for attending these visits! For more information, please call us at 1-877-903-0082.

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Take Care of Your Incision (Cut)If you do have a C-section, you’ll need to take good care of your cut. Here are some things to do to help you recover and heal:


Marketing and Community Engagement Department5100 Commerce Crossings Dr.Louisville, KY 40229

Helping Kentuckians

Live Healthier Lives™

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We’re proud to tell you that we’ve formed a strategic alliance with Evolent Health to create a first-of-its-kind “Medicaid Center of Excellence.”

Does anything change for you? The benefits and services you get from Passport will not change in

any way. If you have any questions, please call us at 1-800-578-0603.

Guess What We’re Up To?

You might be asking — what do you mean by strategic alliance? A strategic alliance is our way of joining together with Evolent to help more Medicaid members. This alliance will combine the experience at Passport and Evolent to improve services for you and your doctors. It will also help to set a model for other states to follow.

MARK-52061 APP_2/23/2016

Passport does not guarantee the availability or quality of care. We are not responsible for any act or omission of any provider.

All providers contracted with Passport are independent contractors and not employees or agents of Passport.

Any information included in this newsletter is not intended to replace medical care or advice from your doctor. Any

references to other companies or internet sites are not an endorsement or guarantee of the services, information or products

provided. Passport does not take responsibility for anything that may result from the use, misuse, interpretation or

application of the information in this newsletter.

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