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THE ARIZONA REPUBLIC
A SPECIAL PUBLICATION CREATED BY REPUBLIC MEDIA CUSTOM PUBLISHING
HEALTHCARE NEWS YOU CAN USE FOR YOUR WHOLE FAMILY
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Vol. 3, No. 5
May 2013
IN THIS ISSUE: COVER/03: DENTAL HEALTH COVER/03: PRESCRIPTION ASSISTANCE COVER: NURSES WEEK 02: WATER SAFETY 04: SUPPORT GROUPS/EVENTS 05: SUPPORT GROUPS/EVENTS (continued) 05: TOP EVENTS
RICK D’ELIA
THINKSTOCK
HEALTHCARE News
Allison House, D.D.S., works on patient Pat Baird in House’s Phoenix dentistry office. She is assisted by dental assistant Kayla Platt.
Healthy teeth, healthy body
Resources are available BY DEBRA GELBART
We asked some local experts for advice on how consumers can find help in paying for their prescriptions. Here’s what they had to say: SAMPLES: One of the simplest ways to bring down drug costs is to ask your doctor for samples of the drug you’re being prescribed, said Jessica Paul, finance manager for RightSource, Humana’s specialty pharmacy. “Your doctor may be able to give you enough samples to carry you through more than a month,” she said. RightSource helps patients connect with co-pay assistance programs, Paul said, adding that about 47 percent of RightSource patients receive help. NON-PROFIT ASSISTANCE: “We can proactively enroll a patient with a high co-pay for a medication into a non-profit financial assistance program,” said Kelly Kistler, a pharmacist and director of clinical services for Avella, a specialty pharmacy that provides medications for serious chronic diseases. “We also utilize manufacturer co-pay cards for eligible patients.” CO-PAY ASSISTANCE: If someone is taking several prescription medicines or even a single medication with a high co-pay, it could be of significant benefit to sign-up for a co-pay assistance program, said Glen Spencer, benefits assistance program director for the Area Agency on Aging, Region One. To find such a program, Spencer said, enter the online search term ‘(name of drug) co-pay assist’. COMPARISON SHOP: Visit a website that comparison shops for the lowestpriced drugs in your zip code, such as goodrx.com or one that provides a comprehensive directory of prescription assistance programs, such as rxassist.org. FOUNDATION ADVOCACY: Various nonprofit organizations, such as the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society, have assistance programs. Do an internet search for ‘name of foundation/health condition’ and ‘co-pay assistance’. MEDICARE ‘EXTRA HELP’ PROGRAM: This program lowers the co-pay for drugs based on financial need as determined by strict qualifying criteria. Visit medicare.gov and click on ‘get help with costs’. DISCOUNT CARD PROGRAMS: Often these cards cannot be used in combination with insurance drug coverage, but they still might be helpful depending on your co-pays and circumstances. Visit sites such as coast2coastrx.com and yourrxcard.com. Continued on page 3 PRESCRIPTIONS
BY DEBRA GELBART
J
said that the age groups most prone to cavities are adolescents and seniors. “As people age,” he explained, “they may start taking medications and their taste-buds may not work as well, so they may eat more sugary foods, and the decay rate can go crazy.” Indeed, dentists have become “physicians of the mouth,” added Allison House, D.M.D., a dentist in private practice in Phoenix and the newly elected vice president of the Arizona Dental Association. For example, she said that red or inflamed gums can be a sign of an immune problem such as diabetes, rheumatoid arthritis or AIDS, not necessarily a sign of neglecting oral care. She will sometimes recommend that a patient get a blood test at their primary care physician’s office to rule out any possible underlying diseases that can affect the gums.
Numerous health issues
Here’s a quick synopsis of several important issues related to your dental health as well as your overall health: DIABETES: Pnina Levine, D.D.S., a dentist who practices in Phoenix, said that if a patient has diabetes, oral hygiene is especially important. That’s because gum disease is the sixth leading complication
of diabetes, she said, and people with diabetes are three to four times more likely to develop gum disease. They also have a higher rate of infection and are more prone to bone loss and tooth loss.
“Dentists have become ‘physicians of the mouth.’” — Allison House, D.M.D.
Everyone develops a thin film of bacteria on their teeth after eating or drinking, Levine said, and if the film isn’t removed by brushing within 24 hours, it begins to calcify and harden. People with diabetes are more likely to have less saliva as well as dry mouth syndrome, making it more difficult for the mouth to cleanse itself. Because of these issues, Levine recommends that many people with diabetes get their teeth cleaned every
DR. JOHN DOUGHERTY; USED WITH PERMISSION OF ARTISTIC DENTAL
Need help paying for A healthy mouth is key to overall well-being prescriptions? ohn Dougherty, D.D.S., who has a dental practice in Phoenix,
John Dougherty, D.D.S., who has a dental practice in Phoenix, said that the two age groups most prone to cavities are adolescents and seniors.
three to four months instead of every six months. HEART DISEASE: Insufficient brushing and flossing can raise your risk for heart disease, said Thomas Perry, M.D., a cardiologist with Advanced Heart and Vascular Institute in Phoenix. “Bacteria in the mouth enter the bloodstream frequently,” he said. “On rare Continued on page 3 DENTAL HEALTH
National Nurses Week
Local events honor nurses
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here are a variety of local events and celebrations planned in honor of National Nurses Week which takes place every year, starting on May 6 and ending on May 12 — Florence Nightingale’s birthday.
Nursing luncheon
Robin Schaeffer, MSN, RN, CNE, executive director of the Arizona Nurses Association, said the Arizona Nurses Foundation is hosting a luncheon called “Promise of Nursing” on Friday, May 3 at the Arizona Biltmore in Phoenix. This is the 11th year the Arizona Nurses Foundation, a philanthropic fundraising arm of the
FYI: News You Can Use
BY ALISON STANTON
Arizona Nurses Association, has hosted a luncheon, which is held the Friday before National Nurses Week begins. “The luncheon focuses on raising money for our nursing scholarship program,” Schaeffer said, adding that this year, there will be a special section honoring military nurses. Info: aznurse.org
Banner Good Samaritan
On Monday, May 6, Banner Good Samaritan in Phoenix will start off National Nurses Week with balloons and posters decorating the various doors into the hospital. Every day there will be an event
geared towards hospital employees and visitors, said Rebecca Armendariz, who is in public relations and media relations for Banner Health. “For example, there will be a parade of our therapy dogs dressed in costume, a salsa-making contest and a hospital barbecue,” she said. “The hospital’s Celebration Night will be Wednesday, May 8 and will honor many of our nurses [such as] scholarship recipients, nurses who have received their advanced degree in 2012, and the Florence Nightingale Award.” Info: bannerhealth.com
STROKE 101
Strokes take a life approximately every 4 minutes. Use the FAST test to remember the warning signs of stroke:
F = FACE.................. Does one side of the person’s face droop when smiling? A = ARMS.............. Does one arm drift downward when both are raised? S = SPEECH......... Does the person’s speech sound slurred or strange? T = TIME.................. If you observe any of these signs, call 911 immediately. Source: National Stroke Association, stroke.org
—PAULA HUBBS COHEN