Classified Benefits & Wellness Newsletter
Diana McElhinney, Classified Staff Benefits Coordinato
Phone: 541- 790-7679 e-mail: mcelhinney_d@4j.lane.edu
Jasper Mountain Holiday Drive November 20 – December 14
OSEA is sponsoring our Annual Holiday Donation Drive to benefit the children residing at Jasper Mountain Child Center. Jasper Mountain is a residential treatment program that provides a loving, nurturing, and stable environment for children who have experienced severe abuse and neglect.
Please consider donations when shopping for your own family. OSEA members are providing boxes at building sites for donation collection. Donations may also be brought to the Ed Center in the main hall outside of Financial Services.
Wish List for students and residents ages 6-13 yrs. old:
Sports Equipment: 4-square balls, basketballs, soccer balls, volleyballs, soft balls (nerfs, etc.) and footballs.
Art Supplies: Gel pens, glue sticks, spiral notebooks, coloring books, colored pencils/markers, puzzles (50 to 100 pc), arts and crafts kits, games (math/reading), sketch/drawing pads, Hot Wheels cars/trucks, Legos, books, and playing cards.
Clothing: Flannel PJ’s/pants, socks/underwear, snow gloves, knit mittens, hats, and long & short sleeved t-shirts (colored)
Mindful Living Workshop
The 4J Joint Benefits Committee, in partnership with Cascade Health, is offering a free Mindful Living wellness class. The class will take place:
- Tuesday, January 9, 2018
- 4:30 – 5:30 p.m.
- Cal Young Middle School Library
In this workshop you will:
- Learn what mindfulness is and how it can improve your sense of well-being
- Practice strategies to become more mindful through guided exercises
- Explore how to incorporate mindfulness into your daily life
Please RSVP by Tuesday, January 2nd to Diana McElhinney: mcelhinney_d@4j.lane.edu or 541-790-7679.
Flexible Spending Account Reimbursement Deadline and Rollover Information
You have until December 31, 2017, to submit receipts for unreimbursed health related or dependent care expenses incurred during the October 1, 2016 – September 30, 2017 plan year.
Up to $500 of remaining funds in your FSA for unreimbursed health related expenses will rollover automatically after December 31, 2017. Any unused money left in your FSA for dependent care expenses at the end of the plan year will be forfeited, as per IRS regulations.
Need your rollover amount sooner than January 1, 2018? PacificSource will grant requests of funds to roll early; however, once the funds roll the member can no longer submit claims for the 2016/17 plan year. Please be advised that any early roll requests take 7-10 days to complete. For assistance contact PacificSource at 541-485-7488.
Salmonella Infections Linked to Small Turtles
Since 1975, the FDA has banned selling and distributing turtles with shells less than 4 inches long as pets because they are often linked to Salmonella infections, especially in young children. All turtles, regardless of size, can carry Salmonella bacteria even if they look healthy and clean. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is currently investigating a multistate outbreak of Salmonella infections linked to contact with pet turtles.
The CDC recommends that households with young children do not keep turtles or other reptiles as pets. If you do have turtles, handwashing is the best way to prevent illness. Wash your hands with soap and water right after handling or caring for small turtles or their tanks. If properly cared for, turtles have a long life expectancy.
Wellness Clinic Closure
The 4J Wellness Clinic will be closed for during Winter Break: December 25 to January 1.
Note: If you need a prescription refilled over winter break, please plan ahead.
Regular clinic hours are Monday through Friday, from 9:00 a.m. – 6:00 p.m. The clinic is closed for lunch from 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. The phone number for the clinic is 541-686-1427.
Flu Prevention 101
Try to avoid close contact with sick people. While sick, limit contact with others as much as possible to keep from infecting them.
If you are sick with flu-like illness, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommends that you stay home for at least 24 hours after your fever is gone except to get medical care or for other necessities.
Cover your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.
Wash your hands often with soap and water. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand rub.
Avoid touching your eyes, nose, and mouth. Germs spread this way.
Clean and disinfect surfaces and objects that may be contaminated with germs like the flu.
Meningococcal Vaccine
While medical personnel confirm that meningococcal disease is uncommon, we still hear about cases reported such as the recent accounts at Oregon State University.
Meningococcal disease is a rare but potentially fatal condition that causes meningitis, which affects the fluid surrounding the brain and spinal cord. It is spread through the exchange of respiratory and throat secretions from the infected individual.
Vaccinations are some of the most important tools available for preventing disease, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
Through your Moda Health pharmacy benefit, you can receive immunization services at select network pharmacies. One of the covered vaccines is the Meningococcal vaccine and will cost you nothing if received at a network vaccination pharmacy.
Call ahead of time to make sure the pharmacy has the vaccine you need. Show your Moda Health ID card to the pharmacist for billing before receiving a vaccine – otherwise, it may not be covered. The following network pharmacies provide vaccines:
Rite Aid ∙ Fred Meyer ∙ Target ∙ Bartell Drugs ∙ Safeway
For a complete list of network pharmacies, or if you have questions about eligibility, call Moda Health Pharmacy Customer Service at 866-923-0411. A complete list of covered vaccinations can be found at: https://www.modahealth.com/oebb/members/pharmacy.shtml
Pharmacy Support Online
Moda’s personalized member website offers you help for your pharmacy care. Some of the information you can access at myModa includes seeing your prescription history, checking medication costs, finding a pharmacy, reviewing claims and more. While there, check out all the member online health tools. To access your myModa account:
- Start on the Moda website for OEBB members: https://www.modahealth.com/oebb/.
- Log into your myModa account. If you cannot remember your user name and/or password, please click the link for Forgot your password or Forgot your user name.
If you have not yet set up a myModa account, you will need to Create an account. To create an account you will need your Subscriber ID that is listed on your Moda Health medical card. For assistance with your myModa account, contact Moda Health at 866-923-0409.
Delta Dental Plan 4 to Plan 5
If you moved from Delta Dental Plan 4 to Delta Dental Plan 5 during this fall’s open enrollment, you should have received incentive credit on your new Plan 5 based on your previous utilization history. Moda credited you with 10% for each year you received dental services on Plan 4. Based on your previous utilization, you should be on the 70, 80, 90, or 100% incentive level. Please note that incentive level will apply to Preventive and Restorative services only. All other services on Plan 5 will be paid at the Plan’s appropriate constant benefit level.
Simple extractions, oral surgery, periodontics, endodontics, fillings, and inlays are all considered “Restorative” or “Basic Restorative” type services. All of these services would be paid at the member’s incentive level.
If you believe you may not have been placed on the correct incentive level, please contact Moda Dental Customer Service directly at 866-923-0410.
Dementia Prevention: About one-third of dementia cases could potentially be prevented by improving nine modifiable risk factors. The nine ways to reduce risk are to increase education, physical activity, and social engagement and prevent or treat hearing loss, hypertension, obesity, smoking, depression, and diabetes.
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This newsletter is reviewed and edited each month by the District 4J and OSEA representatives of the Classified Joint Benefits Committee (JBC).The information in this newsletter is summarized, and is not intended as advice or counsel.
“December, being the last month of the year, cannot help but make us think of what is to come” – Fennel Hudson
Diana McElhinney, Classified Staff Benefits Coordinator
Phone: 541- 790-7679 e-mail: mcelhinney_d@4j.lane.edu
