Health First Magazine Aug/Sep 2015

Health First’s Viera Hospital Earns 5-Star Medicare Rating for Patient Experience See page 3

How to Choose a Medicare Plan See page 6

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Health First’s Viera Hospital Again Earns 5-Star Medicare Rating for Patient Experience Cape Canaveral Hospital, Palm Bay Hospital Achieve 4-Star Ratings

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ealth First’s Viera Hospital again earned the highest rating of 5 stars for patient experience from the federal government. Viera Hospital was one of only 13 in Florida and among 466 U.S. hospitals to earn the elite ratings, which were recently released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for only the second time.

Health First’s Cape Canaveral Hospital again earned 4 stars, and Health First’s Palm Bay Hospital improved to 4 stars from 3 stars. Health First’s Holmes Regional Medical Center earned 3 Stuart Mitchell stars.

“We would like to thank the Brevard community for giving us the opportunity to serve their healthcare needs and for their continued support as we pursue our mission to deliver the highest

Health First’s Viera Hospital again earned the highest rating of 5 stars for patient experience from the federal government. Viera Hospital was one of only 13 in Florida and among 466 U.S. hospitals to earn the elite ratings, which were recently released by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for only the second time.

quality care,” said Stuart Mitchell, Health First’s Executive Vice President and Chief Operations Officer. “We are very proud of our associates, volunteers, physicians and leaders for the work they do every day to improve the health and wellness of the Space Coast.”

Highest Performing Hospitals

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he 5-star rating is reserved for the highest performing hospitals in customer service and is based on patient experience scores reported in the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems

Health First’s Palm Bay Hospital

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(HCAHPS) survey. The survey covers topics such as how well doctors and nurses communicate with patients, how responsive hospital staff are to patient needs, how clean and quiet hospital environments are and how well patients are prepared for posthospital settings.

This is only the second time CMS has evaluated more than 3,500 hospitals using the 1- to 5-star rating system for patient experience in an effort to make it easier for consumers to choose a hospital and understand the quality of care it delivers. n

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Health First’s Holmes Regional Medical Center once again was ranked as one of the best hospitals in Florida by U.S. News & World Report. Of the 11 hospitals in the Brevard County region, Health First’s Holmes Regional Medical Center was recognized as the county’s only top performer.

U.S. News & World Report Names Health First’s Holmes Regional Only Top Performer in Brevard

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ealth First’s Holmes Regional Medical Center once again was ranked as one of the best hospitals in Florida

by U.S. News & World Report. Of the 11 hospitals in the Brevard County region, Holmes Regional was recognized as the county’s only top performer and also was designated high-performing in Orthopedics.

U.S. News & World Report’s Best Hospitals Rankings, now in their 26th year, recognize hospitals that excel in treating patients. There are more than 260 hospitals in Florida and only 24 made the list.

“Health First’s Holmes Regional is again proud to be recognized on a national level and we plan to continue to strive to improve the health and wellness of all of Brevard,” said Stuart Mitchell, Health First Executive Vice President and

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Top Rating for Bypass Surgery ecently, Holmes Regional earned the top rating for Isolated Coronary Artery Bypass Graft (CABG) procedures, also known as bypass surgery, from The Society of Thoracic Surgeons (STS). For the reporting period of Jan. 1, 2014-Dec. 31, 2014, Holmes Regional was in the top 10 percent of 1,006 participating U.S. hospitals based on the STSdeveloped comprehensive rating system.

The top rating designates the highest category of quality and means bypass surgery results are statistically better than the national mean. CABG is a procedure where blood vessels from the patient’s leg, arm or chest wall are used to bypass blocked and narrowed arteries and restore adequate blood flow to the heart muscle. n

R Stuart Mitchell

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Chief Operations Officer.

U.S. News publishes Best Hospitals to help guide patients who need a high level of care because they face particularly difficult surgery, a challenging condition, or added risk because of other health problems or age.

“We are extremely proud of the dedication, leadership and commitment of our providers, associates and volunteers,” said Sean Gregory, President, Holmes Regional.

“These rankings reflect the dedication of our associates and the work they perform daily to care for the residents of Brevard.”

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How To Chose A Medicare Plan

HEALTH FIRST HEALTH PLANS recommends consumers begin researching Medicare plans at least six months to a year in advance before they’re eligible for Medicare so they can select a plan that best meets their needs.

Make Sure You Understand How Your Health Plan Benefits Work

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s you close in on your 65th birthday, you may notice your mailbox filling up with a number of flyers touting the benefits of Medicare Advantage plans. There is a feast of options available when choosing Medicare coverage, but this buffet of possibilities can seem hard to swallow without some preparation. Don’t wait until the enrollment period is upon you before choosing the best plan to help with your medical needs.

Medicare allows beneficiaries to enroll in Medicare Advantages plans during certain times of the year, which is why it is important to make the right plan choice. The initial enrollment period provides a seven-month window–the three months before you are eligible, the month of and three months after– to choose a plan. Once enrolled in a plan, you cannot easily swap plans. Medicare beneficiaries can change plans during the Annual Enrollment Period, or AEP, which

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runs between Oct. 15 and Dec. 7 each year, with coverage becoming effective Jan. 1.

Health First Health Plans recommends consumers begin researching plan options at least six months to a year before they’re eligible for Medicare. The biggest mistake a consumer can make when selecting a plan, is not having a good understanding of their benefits or being aware of limitations in the provider network and drug coverage.

LEARN THE LANGUAGE

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o navigate the various plan options, first familiarize yourself with the language, determine which plans provide the best coverage and services for your needs and wants, and understand the specific costs associated with the coverage.

Original Medicare is a fee-forservice plan provided through the U.S. Federal Government. It comprises two parts–Medicare

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Part A, which provides hospital coverage, and Medicare Part B, which covers medical services.

While there is typically no premium for Part A, there is a monthly premium for Part B. Most people will pay the standard amount of $104.90 a month.

Original Medicare pays for many, but not all, health care services and supplies. There are several plan options available to assist Medicare beneficiaries with these costs. One option is a Medicare Supplement, or Medigap policy.

These are sold by private insurance companies and will help pay some of the health care costs that Original Medicare doesn’t cover, like copayments, coinsurance and deductibles.

You can also select to enroll in a Part C plan, also known as a Medicare Advantage Plan. A Medicare Advantage Plan (like an HMO or PPO) is another way to get your Medicare coverage. If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan,

you still have Medicare. You’ll get your Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance) coverage from the Medicare Advantage Plan, not Original Medicare. These plans can typically offer lower premiums than traditional Medicare and Supplement plans.

HIT THE GYM FOR FREE

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edicare Advantage plans may offer you additional bonuses, such as wellness services through gym memberships, plus provide prescription drug coverage. These added benefits make Medicare Advantage plans an affordable and convenient one-stop shop for medical coverage.

Health First Health Plans Medicare Advantage plans, for example, will cover you for all the benefits and services offered under Original Medicare, plus provide additional benefits, such as allowances for dental, hearing and vision. The plans also provide coverage for emergency and urgent care worldwide, no deductibles, preventive services at no cost, along with a free gym membership. These plans also provide you access to more than 3,000 network providers and 24 different hospitals. The good news is, you do not need a referral to see a specialist.

NOT ALL HEALTH PLANS ARE CREATED EQUAL

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eyond the plan benefits, service delivery plays a critical part in Medicare Advantage plans.

Not all plans are created equal, and coverage and services vary from plan to plan.

Every year, the Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) rates all Medicare Advantage and Prescription Drug Plans based on performance. It is a five-star rating system, with four and five stars being considered Gold Star plans rated above average or excellent. Using more than 45 different quality signals, Medicare assesses the plans using

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member satisfaction surveys and health care providers.

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Member Profile

LOOK TO THE STARS

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or 2015, Health First Health Plans received an overall fourstar rating and four stars for its health and drug plan services.

A valuable resource to help determine the right plan for you would be the Medicare website Medicare.gov. Click on the link to “find health & drug plans.”

You will be asked a few questions, including the medications you take on a regular basis.

With this rating program, you will be able to look at annual out-of-pocket limits. Plans will be sorted for you in terms of annual cost, but while cost is very important, don’t choose on cost alone. Make sure you check the plans’ star ratings too. Consumer Reports recommends selecting a plan with 3.5 stars or more.

Just as important as cost and service ratings are the doctors and hospitals covered in the provider network. Make sure you’re not trading quality, service and the medical professionals you trust for premiums and co-payments.

Almost all Medicare Advantage plans have provider networks, so you are encouraged to use doctors and hospitals in the plan. Using out-of-network facilities may result in the plan paying very little or nothing of your medical expenses. The more doctors and hospitals in a plan’s network, the more freedom of choice the patient has. With more than 3,000 in-network providers, Health First Health Plans members have access to some of Central Florida’s most outstanding physicians.

Snowbirds should also determine if the plan they are considering will cover medical costs at their second home. While many plans pay for emergency or urgent care while on the road, most do not pay for routine care such as preventative services or lab tests.

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hen it came time for Sally Larson to choose a Medicare Advantage Plan, the Palm Bay resident had an edge over many other people. For 25 years, Larson was an EMT volunteer and so she had an insider’s view of the healthcare field.

“I’ve been in and out of hospitals and medical groups and seen the difference,” she said. “It was like comparison shopping.”

As soon as she turned 65, she selected Sally Larson Health First as her Medicare Advantage Plan.

“There was never any question from my experience that this was the right choice,” she said.

Larson particularly appreciates the fact that Health First’s customer service team is easy to connect with and eager to help her with any issues.

“I like the fact that it is locally oriented,” she said.

“They’ve always been there for me, even when I had to go out-ofnetwork in Georgia.” n

GETTING STARTED

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o get started on selecting the right plan, Florida residents can connect with Serving the Health Insurance Needs of Elders, or SHINE. They are a great resource for unbiased information on Medicare plans. Your research should also include examining plan websites to compare summary of benefits.

Attending informational sessions to learn more about each company can also be very beneficial, so don’t throw away those flyers that are popping up in your mailbox. n For more on original Medicare, Medigap and Medicare Advantage plans, call 1-800-MEDICARE or see Medicare.gov. To reach SHINE, call 1-800-963-5337.

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Health First Valve Clinic Performs First TAVR Surgery In Brevard

New Surgical Option Brings High-Risk Patients Valid Alternative To Open-Heart Surgery

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he Health First Valve Clinic team successfully completed its first transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) surgery in Brevard in mid July. This new minimally invasive procedure is designed specifically for critically ill patients suffering from aortic stenosis (AS) who are at very high risk for traditional openheart aortic valve replacement (AVR) surgery. The first patient to undergo TAVR surgery, Frederick Blackman, a 93-year-old resident of Palm Bay, is now recuperating at home after a three-day stay in the Heart and Vascular Center at Health First’s Holmes Regional Medical Center.

“Health First is proud to be able to provide this state-of-the-art, lifesaving procedure right here in Brevard County,” said Bill Calhoun, Health First Community Hospitals President and Senior Executive for Cardiovascular Services. “Previously patients with this dangerous heart valve condition had to travel across the state for treatment. Now they can undergo this procedure to greatly improve their quality of life close to their own home.”

A less invasive procedure than open-heart Bill Calhoun surgery, the TAVR uses a catheter to replace the function of the diseased heart valve instead of opening up the chest and completely removing the diseased valve.

By adding the TAVR surgical component, the Health First Valve Clinic is now the only comprehensive clinic on the Space Coast and Treasure Coast to offer the full range of surgical options for valve replacement. The Health First Valve Clinic team has extensive expertise and experience in cardiothoracic surgery and interventional cardiology.

“Severe, symptomatic aortic stenosis, like Mr. Blackman presented with, is a life-threatening condition that progresses toward heart failure or sudden death,” said Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. Matthew Campbell, a founding member

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of the Health First Valve Clinic. “TAVR is new technology allowing sicker patients to overcome those odds.”

REMARKABLE TECHNOLOGY o qualify for the TAVR option, Medicare and the FDA require a patient be deemed at high risk or inoperable by two surgeons. Health First Valve Clinic colleagues and Interventional Cardiologists Dr. Cesar Jara and Dr. Norberto Schechtmann, and Cardiothoracic Surgeon Dr. Gregory Simmons evaluated Mr. Blackman and recommended the TAVR option.

“This new valve replacement surgery has had an amazing journey in terms of changing the cardiovascular therapies we can now offer,” Dr. Jara said. “The progress of the technology is remarkable since Professor Alain Cribier, MD, performed the first procedure in 2002 in France. The TAVR received FDA approval in November 2011 for use in inoperable patients and in October 2012 for use in patients at high surgical risk.”

“In Mr. Blackman’s case, we used a CoreValve®, which is sewn into a self-expanding stent,” said Dr. Jara. ”It is implanted using an artery that leads to the heart. The CoreValve heart valve is designed to work like your own heart valve.”

“I had aortic stenosis for a year and a half,” said Mr. Blackman. “It made me very tired and I had no energy. When

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Dr. Campbell told me about the new TAVR surgery, my family and I thought it was a good option for me. I didn’t hesitate to be the first TAVR patient as I have great confidence in his surgical expertise.”

The TAVR surgery has provided a unique opportunity for a large team to work closely together for the good of the patient.

“By having a Cardiac Surgeon, an Interventional Cardiologist, and an Anesthesiologist working along side each other while performing the TAVR in the OR, the patient has access to the best expertise and training from all cardiovascular therapies combined,” said Dr. Jara. “The team includes many other health professionals, such as radiologists, nurses, technicians, the Cath Lab and OR teams. This commitment of resources and training will greatly benefit the aging population on the Space and Treasure coasts.”

AMAZING RECOVERY he Health First Valve Clinic, which is only two years old, is an integral component of Health First’s Holmes Regional Medical Center’s Heart and Vascular Center, which has been the county’s volume and experience leader in both CT surgery and interventional cardiology.

In terms of recovery from the TAVR surgery, Mr. Blackman and his physicians are very pleased with his progress. “The recovery has been amazing,” he said. “I’m looking forward to returning to my exercise program and going grocery shopping with my wife.”

“Having the TAVR surgical option available in Brevard brings hope to the many patients who are suffering from aortic stenosis, need a valve replacement, but cannot tolerate open-heart surgery,” said Dr. Campbell. “Since Mr. Blackman’s surgery we have successfully performed two more TAVR procedures with excellent outcomes.” n For more information about the Health First Valve Clinic and the various valve therapies, from minimally invasive repairs to TAVR, please call the Valve Clinic at 321-434-VALVE (8258).

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YOUR CARE. YOUR TIME. Schedule Your Care Online - NOW Emergency Room

Urgent Care

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Go to HFnow.org from your computer or mobile device Complete a short online visit form Arrive 15 minutes before your projected treatment time

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Thousands Learn How to Save a Life at Health First Free CPR Day

MORE THAN 5,000 PEOPLE attended the Health First’s 7th Annual Free CPR Day and 5K at Space Coast Stadium.

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revard County’s superhero population continues to grow. More than 5,000 people participated in Health First’s 7th Annual Free CPR Day and 5K on June 13 at Space Coast Stadium. The event featured a free 5K run/walk and free “Friends & Family” CPR and AED training provided by the Health First Education & Training Center.

“At Health First, we’re committed to improving the health and wellness of our community,” said Paula Just, Chief Human Resource Officer for Health First. “Through Free CPR Day, we’re able to provide critical life-saving skills to thousands of residents each year, making the Space Coast a safer place for all of us to live, work and play.”

According to the American Heart Association, about 80 percent of all out-of-hospital cardiac arrests occur in private residential settings, so being trained to perform CPR can mean the difference between life and death for a loved one or neighbor.

Everyone who completed the free CPR training received a free T-shirt, a ticket to a Brevard County Manatees baseball game and a certificate for a free personal gourmet pizza from Pizza Gallery & Grill in Viera. The event also included a landing

by Health First’s First Flight helicopter, Brevard County Fire Rescue, kids activities, Brevard Zoo animals and a heart healthy cooking demonstration.

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HEALTH FIRST CPR DAY was free for the public and included a 5k run/walk, free T-shirts for all participants, a certificate of CPR “Friends & Family” training completion, heart healthy physician lectures, cooking demonstrations and a First Flight Helicopter landing demonstration.

ABOVE: NEWS 13 reporter Greg Pallone emcees the activities with Manny the Manatee during the Health First Free CPR Day at Space Coast Stadium. AT RIGHT: The Brevard Zoo gets kids moving.

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THANK YOU to our community for your continued

support and assistance in making Health First’s Viera Hospital, Health First’s Cape Canaveral Hospital and Health First’s Palm Bay Hospital, Brevard County’s only 5 and 4 Star hospitals.

CMS has evaluated 3,500 hospitals nationwide using a 1- to 5- star rating system for patient experience in an effort to make it easier for consumers to choose a hospital and understand the quality of care it delivers. Health First hospitals ranked the highest in Brevard County.

The 5 Star rating is reserved for the highest performing hospitals in customer service and is based on patient experience scores reported in the Hospital Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (HCAHPS) survey.

WE THANK YOU AGAIN for your continued commitment to Health First as we continue to provide the highest quality of care possible to our community.

Health-First.org

Viera Hospital

Cape Canaveral Hospital *As rated by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Palm Bay Hospital Services. For more information, visit CMS.gov.

Holmes Regional Medical Center July 2015.

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