As the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) continues to evolve with ongoing media coverage, many people are experiencing anxiety due to the uncertainty about how this will impact them. They are worried about the impact to their communities, how they can protect themselves and their families, and how to be prepared if the situation disrupts the normal course of daily life.

It is normal to feel anxious, unsettled, distracted, scared and/or overwhelmed by COVID-19 and the uncertainty surrounding its impact to communities. Some people may be more vulnerable due to pre-existing physical and mental health conditions, including generalized anxiety disorder.

Feeling stressed can affect the immune system and increase the risk of getting ill in general. That is why it is important to take steps to manage anxiety and reactions to this evolving situation. The following suggestions can help people manage anxiety and stress for themselves and their families:

1. Seek health information from trusted resources like the U.S. Centers for Disease Control & Prevention (CDC), The World Health Organization and state health department websites.
2. Plan ahead to feel more in control. Make contingency plans for work, childcare or travel if it becomes necessary.
3. Wash hands often, get plenty of rest, exercise, eat well, don’t smoke and limit alcohol consumption.
4. Put things into perspective:
   1. Of the 80,000 confirmed coronavirus cases reported in China, “more than 70% have recovered and been discharged,” according to the World Health Organization (WHO) in a news conference on Monday.¹
   2. Per the CDC, only certain groups, such as older adults and people with serious chronic medical conditions, are at higher risk of getting very sick from COVID-19.²
   3. Public health officials are working to mitigate the virus’ spread.
5. Limit exposure to media. Media outlets have a tendency to sensationalize stories, so it’s important to consume news thoughtfully and with a critical eye.

Magellan Healthcare has resources to help people during crises and difficult times. Our Crisis Communications website provides topical information and connects people with U.S. resources, and our Mind Your Mental Health site addresses many topics related to emotional well-being.

1: https://www.cnn.com/asia/live-news/coronavirus-outbreak-03-09-20-intl-hnk/index.html, “More than 70% of coronavirus cases in China have recovered, WHO says,” posted 3/9/20, 7:25 p.m. EDT, Jacqueline Howard, accessed from site 3/10/20, 12:57 p.m. EDT.

2: https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/specific-groups/high-risk-complications.html#who-is-higher-risk, accessed 3/10/20, 12:34 p.m. EDT.

Disclaimer: The content in this blog article is not a substitute for professional medical advice. For questions regarding any medical condition or if you need medical advice, please contact your healthcare provider.

It’s officially the holiday season—bring on the parties, travel, end-of-year work activities, and squeezing in quality time with loved ones! This year, remember to make time to take care of yourself and start 2020 off with your healthiest, most vibrant YOU. Here are our top three holiday health hacks:

Be mindful of your alcohol intake.

Avoiding triggers can be challenging this time of year. Dr. Caroline Carney, chief medical officer of Magellan Rx, was quoted in a helpful Huffington Post article that offers 14 useful tips for navigating the holidays when you’re not drinking.

Be mindful of your plate.

The celebration over food and eating during the holidays can be tough…but it doesn’t have to be! With a little planning and preparation, you can make healthy choices. Check out these 10 easy tips to for managing your diet this holiday season.

Be mindful.

Close your eyes, take a deep breath through your nose, and exhale slowly through your mouth. It will do wonders when you’re sitting in all that holiday traffic.

Wishing you and yours a happy and healthy holiday!

We live in a fast paced, on-demand world, one in which information is available to patients through multiple channels on any medical topic. So, how do you help your patients navigate all the information and working with them, determine what is right for them and their loved ones? How do you help patients understand a diagnosis or a medical condition that needs to be effectively managed?

Care management is a solution that is intended to improve patient care and reduce the need for medical services by helping patients effectively navigate their own health condition. These programs have become a vital tool for organizations in order to meet the needs of their patients while also effectively improving quality and reducing the cost of care. Care Management can be provided by various types of clinical professionals, such as nurses, social workers, and pharmacists.

A successful care management program should include an integrated suite of services such as:

1. Care Coordination: Coordinating with the patient’s physician on assessments, care planning, and interventions.
2. Patient Engagement: Identifying opportunities for patients and developing a care plan that is supported through educational tools and resources to help them achieve their healthcare goals.
3. Health and Wellness: Helping patients make positive and lasting changes to their health through establishing healthy habits and setting achievable goals.
4. Advanced Digital Tools: Providing patients with the convenience and ease of managing their health through digital applications.
5. Data Analytics: Identifying members at risk for non-adherence or in need of care management through data-led and evidence-based algorithms.

A care management solution should be a comprehensive system that offers a suite of products to help patients navigate their health journey. Our MRx Navigate program is one such program that offers a medical management solution for customers and patients. MRx Navigate integrates data-driven, population health, and personalized intervention that leads patients to healthy, more vibrant lives. To learn more about MRx Navigate, click here.

The following is an excerpt from the 2018 Community Impact Report.

The MRx Cares program, developed by Magellan Rx Management, is one great example where we deliver – value and results!

Helping when life is complex

As a next-generation pharmacy benefit manager (PBM), Magellan Rx Management leans into the complex pharmacy challenges facing our members. One such challenge is specialty pharmacy. MRx  Cares is available to members who live with complex chronic conditions— like Crohn’s Disease, Cystic Fibrosis, HIV, Rheumatoid Arthritis and the aftermath of organ transplants—and are currently receiving their medication through Magellan Rx Specialty Pharmacy.

When members first fill a specialty medication, they are automatically enrolled in MRx Cares at no cost. Members receive an easy-to-understand welcome kit specific to their medications and conditions. Soon after, a personal health coach reaches out.

Our MRx Cares program offers a unique approach to member management with Motivational Interviewing-based health coaching. Motivational Interviewing is a counseling method that helps patients resolve ambivalent feelings and insecurities to find the internal motivation to change their behavior and meet their personal goals.
Providing personalized support from  caring experts

The MRx Cares program is led by specially trained nurses and pharmacists. These expert health coaches work closely, one on one, with each individual. Together, they develop a personalized care plan with achievable goals. The health coaches check in monthly, or more if needed, via calls, texts or video consultations.

Helping improve drug adherence

In addition to 24/7 access to nurses and pharmacists who understand the member’s situation, the program offers monthly refill reminders to improve drug adherence. The health coaches are also there to help if members need assistance with the cost of their medications. They can help connect members to opportunities for financial assistance and community support groups.In the most recent participant survey, 99% of respondents indicated they were highly satisfied with the benefits of MRx Cares and the services they receive.

Having type 2 diabetes can be overwhelming. The good news? While everyone’s treatment plan will be different, there’s a good chance you can manage your type 2 diabetes by making healthy choices. Convinced, but still struggling to work good choices into your real life? Start here for tips on treating type 2 diabetes.

The key to treating type 2 diabetes is to keep blood sugar levels controlled and in your target range.

All of the following help to lower blood sugar:

• Making healthy food choices. Try to manage the amount of carbohydrates you eat by spreading them out over the day.
• Losing weight, if you are overweight
• Getting regular exercise
• Taking medicines, if you need them

It’s also important to:

• See your doctor. Regular checkups are important to monitor your health.
• Test your blood sugar levels. You have a better chance of keeping your blood sugar in your target range if you know what your levels are from day to day.
• Keep high blood pressure and high cholesterol under control. This can help you lower your risk of heart and large blood vessel disease.
• Quit smoking. This can help you reduce your risk of heart disease and stroke.

It seems like a lot to do—especially at first. You might start with one or two changes. Focus on checking your blood sugar regularly and being active more often. Work on other tasks as you can.

It can be hard to accept that you have diabetes. It’s normal to feel sad or angry. You may even feel grief. Talking about your feelings can help. Your doctor or other health professionals can help you cope.

With a little support and guidance, patients with diabetes can live healthy, vibrant lives. Our Live Vibrantly: Diabetes care program helps manage all aspects of diabetes from improving wellness, diet, and exercise to optimizing medication use. To learn more about Live Vibrantly: Diabetes, click here.

©1995–2019, Healthwise, Incorporated

Read the full article here:  https://www.healthwise.net/magellanhealth/Content/StdDocument.aspx?DOCHWID=hw135189#hw135192

This document is for your information only. It is not meant to give medical advice. It should not be used to replace a visit with a provider. Magellan Health does not endorse other resources that may be mentioned here.

Follow your body’s hunger and fullness signals. Smart snacking can help you keep your blood sugar levels stable, especially if you are taking medicine for diabetes.

Try these tips:

• Enjoy eating the right portion. Try using a smaller plate, bowl, or glass while you slowly eat your snack.
• Make healthy choices. Eat a piece of fresh fruit. Or combine that fruit with some protein, such as a small apple and a tablespoon of peanut butter. Or try dipping your fruit in some light yogurt.
• Be prepared. Keep cut-up raw vegetables in your refrigerator. If these are ready to eat, you’re more likely to grab them than something else. Try a low-fat dip on the side.
• Eat nuts. Try a small handful of almonds, walnuts, or pecans. These treats each have less than 15 grams of carbohydrate.
• Choose filling foods that can satisfy your hunger without a lot of calories. Try a hard-boiled egg or an ounce of reduced-fat cheese, such as string cheese.
• Skip high-fat dips. Instead, mix plain yogurt, fat-free mayonnaise, cottage cheese, or fat-free sour cream with a small amount of dry soup mix. Or try a bean dip made with fat-free refried beans, topped with salsa.
• Get more fiber. Put that turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread. Mix wheat germ into yogurt or sprinkle it on salads. Choose whole-grain breads and cereals.
• Try something new. Make a pita pizza with a piece of whole wheat pita bread, tomato sauce, and a sprinkling of reduced-fat cheese. Top with sliced zucchini or mushrooms. Bake until cheese is melted. Enjoy!

And remember:

• Don’t eat out of the bag or box. Take a single serving, and eat from a plate or bowl. It’s easy to eat more than you need or want when the bag is open in front of you.
• Don’t buy snacks that aren’t healthy choices. If unhealthy snacks aren’t around, you won’t eat them.
• Keep an eye on the nutrition facts label, especially in low-fat or fat-free foods. To make up for flavor, sugar and salt is often added when fat is taken out.

With a little support and guidance, patients with diabetes can live healthy, vibrant lives. Our Live Vibrantly: Diabetes care program helps manage all aspects of diabetes from improving wellness, diet, and exercise to optimizing medication use. To learn more about Live Vibrantly: Diabetes, click here.

©1995–2019, Healthwise, Incorporated

Read the full article here:  https://www.healthwise.net/magellanhealth/Content/StdDocument.aspx?DOCHWID=av2453

This document is for your information only. It is not meant to give medical advice. It should not be used to replace a visit with a provider. Magellan Health does not endorse other resources that may be mentioned here.

Primary care providers can be responsible for everything from first line dermatology to behavioral health to musculoskeletal injuries. In a world of rapidly changing technologies, and in which new therapies can cure or alter diseases that only a few years ago would have never been thought possible, the basics still matter. As a clinician, I’ve practiced internal medicine and psychiatry, and still have the opportunity to work with a FQHC in building integrated care. Those experiences and my national view of utilization and prescribing patterns highlight the need for provider support to care for persons with mental health conditions, including opioid use and abuse.

It is often challenging to translate new medical knowledge to the clinic setting. How does a provider care for the individual on a potentially lethal combination of opioids, benzodiazepines, and muscle relaxants? Or, how does one address the young child who has been placed on a combination of psychotropic medications.

In our current health system, primary care providers are in the best place to begin patient care journey or change the course of an already established treatment plan. An effective solution for supporting providers in delivering high quality care is in the form of provider support, especially through programs that involve data analytics, followed by one on one academic detailing. PBMs are in a unique position, having the ability to assist providers in working with patients on complex behavioral health or opioid regimens. PBMs have access to data that allows for identifying outlier member and provider behavior and finding patients who are at risk for adverse outcomes. While PBMs don’t have access to prescription drug monitoring programs, they can see what prescriptions are filled, where there is overlap, and where there are multiple providers interacting with a patient.

Magellan Rx developed the Live Vibrantly: Whole Health program to address those outlier providers and members, with the goal of achieving higher quality care. This program uses evidence-based algorithms to find members who may be at risk for adverse outcomes, and targets prescribers who may be over-prescribing. We become the provider’s go-to source for translating the evidence to the bedside through assistance with difficult issues, such as withdrawing an individual from high dose opioids. Through taking an approach to support providers in delivering high quality care, we’ve been able to truly partner in leading our members to leading more healthy vibrant lives.

More than 400 nationally-recognized payers, physicians, and industry insiders came together to share thoughts and insights on the ever-evolving specialty drug landscape at the 16^th annual 2019 Magellan Rx Management Specialty Summit hosted August 26-28 in New York City.

As the specialty drug trend continues to rise (especially on the medical benefit) and the pipeline continues to expand, focusing on management strategies and solutions is key. With biosimilars flooding the market and capturing the headlines, and looming policy updates creating uncertainty, this year’s event was a platform to tackle these critical topics and the future of our industry.

“We’re honored to be the forum that brings people together to share insights, engage in thoughtful debate, so that we can all walk away with actionable solutions to effectively manage this growing specialty drug trend.” –Steve Cutts, senior vice president & general manager, specialty, Magellan Rx Management

Highlights from this year’s program include:

• Dr. Peter Bach of the Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center reviewed the latest developments for better oncology management and Dr. Rafael Fonseca, a Mayo Clinic Distinguished Investigator, examined applications for a more personalized approach to treatment for complex specialty conditions.
• Magellan Rx chief medical officer Dr. Caroline Carney was joined by Sarah K. Emond, executive vice president and chief operating officer of the Institute for Clinical and Economic Review (ICER), in a fireside chat about ICER’s approach to health policy and excellence in the U.S.
• Mostafa Kamal, CEO of Magellan Rx, led a panel of forward-thinking innovators who are disrupting the status quo by providing tech-based solutions to improve healthcare delivery and outcomes: Raj Agarwal, chief executive officer at Medocity; Adam Hanina, chief executive officer at AiCure; and Richard Waithe, president of VUCA Health.
• Several panel discussions highlighted next-level management strategies around medical pharmacy solutions as well as emerging therapies like CAR-T and other gene therapies to treat rare and orphan diseases, and featured a diverse group of speakers including executives from national and regional payers, pharmaceutical manufacturers, and physicians:
  • Martin Burruano, RPh, Vice President, Pharmacy Services, Independent Health
  • Mona Chitre, PharmD, CGP, Chief Pharmacy Officer & Vice President Clinical Analytics, Strategy & Innovation, Excellus BlueCross BlueShield
  • Kim Dornbrook-Lavender, PharmD, BCPS, Director, Clinical Pharmacy, Medica
  • Pat Gill, RPh, Director of Pharmacy Programs, Horizon BCBCS of NJ
  • Doug Long, Vice President, Industry Relations, IQVIA
  • Joseph Nolan, General Manager – US, AveXis, Inc.
  • Helio Pedro, MD, Clinical Geneticist, Hackensack Meridian Health
  • Carly Rodriguez, PharmD, Pharmacy Director, Clinical Innovation, Moda Health
  • Natalie Tate, PharmD, MBA, BCPS, Vice President, Pharmacy Management, BlueCross BlueShield Tennessee
• Industry experts Claire Wulf Winiarek, Beth Hebert-Silvia (VP & Practice Lead, Health Plans at Pharmaceutical Strategies Group) and Michael McCaughan (founding member of Prevision Policy LLC) shared their insights on the current policy landscape.
• TV personality and author Janice Dean graced the audience with her very own patient story—after receiving a Multiple Sclerosis diagnosis in 2005, she underwent treatment and found hope and a passion for sharing her story to encourage others who are living with MS to live their best lives as well.
• Keynote speaker Keller Rinaudo shared his incredible story of perseverance that led to the launch of a revolutionary healthcare startup, Zipline, that is rapidly changing the face of medicine in remote parts of the world—and future expansion for U.S. disruption.

As pioneers in specialty pharmacy management since 2005, Magellan Rx has been leading the conversation around better management strategies that not only provide cost savings for payers but positively impact patient health outcomes. Each year, we develop the Specialty Summit agenda with those values in mind. Mark your calendars and join us next year in NYC on August 24-26, 2020 as we host another event that will ignite inspiration and innovation across the industry.