Fall 2022 ON YOU A health guide for members of our Northern Light Employee Health Plan Beacon Health By Jesse Higgins, RN, MSN, PMHNP, Director of Integrated Behavioral Health, Northern Light Acadia Hospital During the pandemic, a lot of us fell back on or picked up coping skills we knew weren’t going to sustain us for the long haul. They’re wearing on us now, and we want to get better. We’re trying to practice self-care, get outside, drink water. But for many of us, even with the beautiful Maine sun shining outside, we are still in the midst of winter. We’ve been taught to pull ourselves together, to put on a smile, and push ahead. Other people have it worse than us, right? Who are we to complain? I think we can agree that if persevering through difficult times is impressive, we are all pretty impressive right now. Mission accomplished. High five! Now, if you need to, take a deep breath, and acknowledge that you’re tired, that you’re scared, that you can’t sleep, that things feel out of control… that you need help. “Self-care” is a hollow phrase when you’re out of energy, and isolation rarely leads to recovery. Let’s remember to care for one another—to support each other when opportunities arise. Let’s reach out to our medical providers and our support systems and let them know what we are really going through. Shared humanity means there is no “us” and “them.” There is only us. Your summer light is still shining, all the time. It’s brave to say you need help finding it. When you say this to us, we are ready to hear you. And we will help you get the support you need and deserve. And we know you will be there for us, when we need help finding our own invincible summer. “In the midst of winter, I found there was, within me, an invincible summer. And that makes me happy. For it says that no matter how hard the world pushes against me, within me, there’s something stronger— something better, pushing right back.” —Albert Camus Find your invincible summer For a full listing of resources to help you live a healthier, happier life, turn to “Mental health support” on page 3.
We’re offering more convenient, time-saving options for people on the go We’re excited about the tools and services Northern Light Health is rolling out to help you make the most of your time and healthcare coverage. And we’re just getting started. We’ll be sure to keep you up to date as new tools and services become available in the coming months! By Kevin Dunton, BS, CtHWC, CPT, Wellness Coach As a health coach, I am a supportive guide to help you set health goals. Each session, we work to fufill these goals by breaking them down into manageable and actionable steps. I also help with: • Accountability. Knowing you must check in about your progress can give you the push you need to move forward. • Encouragement. I’m your cheerleader, and I’ll be there to pick you up when you’re having a not-so-good day. • Unconditional support. I won’t judge your actions. You decide what works and what doesn’t in reaching your goals. Try one of my virtual classes, like Choose to Lose, a six-week weight-loss program. To register, visit northernlight.org/ wellnesszoomclasses. To sign up for a health coach, email beaconwellness@northernlight.org. Virtual Wellness Programs Wellness that works for you! 2 | Focus on You Check out our classes or sign up for a one-on-one health coach! Visit employeehealthplan.NorthernLightHealth.org and click on the “Virtual Wellness Programs” button. Online tools and services Virtual walk-in care Virtual walk-in care makes it easier than ever to get the care you need, when you need it, no matter where you are in Maine. It’s available to anyone over the age of three, and you don’t have to be a patient of Northern Light. You don’t even have to leave home. Visit NorthernLightHealth.org/VWIC to learn more. Patient self-scheduling* Schedule your appointments whenever you want to. • Online scheduling for mammograms is available statewide at NorthernLightHealth.org/ScheduleAMammogram. • Online scheduling for primary care and pediatric appointments is going live statewide! Visit our Provider Finder tool (click the “Providers” icon on our homepage) or your practice’s website and look for the “Schedule an Appointment” button. Engagement and education* Northern Light’s patient engagement and education tool makes it easier than ever to ask questions, get answers, and keep your care on track. Your care team can help you decide if this tool is right for you. Making healthcare work for you ‘It was the perfect solution’ All my life I’ve been into fitness. However, consistency has been tough. When COVID hit and I started working from home, it was common for me to sit for nine hours a day, and it quickly started taking a toll on my body and mind. When they launched the Virtual Wellness classes, I aligned it around my work breaks. It was the perfect solution to get me moving again! The coaches are fantastic about walking you through the moves, motivating you, making it fun, and answering questions. Two years and down 28 pounds later, virtual classes helped ensure I stayed active as a remote employee! I feel more energetic now than I did 20 years ago! —Jane Patrock, CRCP-I, Business Support Analyst II, Northern Light Health Jane Patrock, CRCP-I, Business Support Analyst II
Paperless registration and check-in* Fill out your forms before you arrive! Online registration and check-in will be available systemwide starting this fall. Your provider’s office will share information as this tool rolls out. Northern Light FindHelp* Our communities have resources to help you. Whether you want to quit smoking, find a dentist, or need help feeding your family, we can help you connect with safe, reliable, and low-cost or free support services to meet your needs. Visit NorthernLightHealth.FindHelp .com and enter your ZIP code to get started. Stay anchored in the fast stream of life Imagine sitting next to a peaceful, tranquil river with water rolling over the rocks, birds happily singing, and the breeze rustling the leaves on the trees around you. As you sit there, your thoughts start to settle and become clear. Your body feels as if a weight has been lifted. You feel calm and grounded. You feel restored. Boost your resiliency That is mindfulness—bringing your open and nonjudgmental attention to what is happening right now. Studies show that mindfulness meditations can improve resilience circuits in our brain and reduce perceived stress by 29%. Developing mindfulness skills takes practice and instruction. As a Northern Light Health employee or a spouse of one, you can access a mindfulness and meditation app at no cost. Relaxx facilitates mindfulness using a variety of tools and exercises. By developing this strength, you’ll have more energy, peace and clarity, which can help you manage stress, prevent burnout, and combat anxiety. With practices and exercises from one minute up to one hour of meditation, Relaxx provides the tools to enhance your overall wellbeing so you can live your best life. Life is fast-moving. It’s important to develop our ability to stay anchored and present in the rush. To get the app, send an email to eclayton@northernlight.org, and she’ll send you the link. Focus on You is designed to help the Northern Light Employee Health Plan work for you, our plan members. The information in this newsletter comes from a wide range of medical experts. If you have questions about specific content that may affect your health, please contact your healthcare provider directly. If you have questions about our health plan, call Customer Service at 855.429.1023. 2022 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. All on the portal MyNorthernLightHealth patient portal users can access all of these tools right from their accounts, so you need only one login and one app. If you don’t have a MyNorthernLightHealth account, follow the step-by-step instructions in the “Tools” section to sign up, or call the Telehealth and Patient Portal Help Desk for assistance. Not a portal user yet? Many of our digital tools are still available through our website. You’ll find them embedded on service pages, like Virtual Walk-In Care, or in web-based tools like our Provider Finder—where even new patients can schedule their first appointment! *Northern Light Mayo Hospital will launch this tool once their electronic health record uplift is complete. employeehealthplan.northernlighthealth.org | Fall 2022 | 3 Mental health support When, where, and how you want it • If you or your household members are looking for free, confidential, short-term counseling and referral services on a range of personal and professional issues, call Work Force EAP at 800.769.9819. Licensed clinicians are standing by 24/7 tohelp. • If you’re looking for mental health screening tools, videos, and other helpful resources, visit northernlighthealth.org/HLR. • For a free, secure, personalized digital platform, set up your myStrength account to help you with stress, anxiety, depression, chronic pain management, pregnancy, parenting, sleep, recovery, and more. • For additional online resources, go to workforceeap.com/Solutions/ Employee-Assistance-Program/Work -Life-Services, scroll to the “Read More” tab, and access the Work/Life program. It offers information on health, mental health, personal growth, balanced life, and other topics. There are health and mental health screenings, articles and videos, and templates for legal forms such as wills and power of attorney.
797 Wilson St. Brewer, ME 04412-1000 Beacon Health Standard U.S. Postage PAID Northern Light Beacon Health Contact Customer Service at 855.429.1023. Or visit us online at employeehealthplan .northernlighthealth.org. In this issue Making healthcare work for you Check out new tools and services across Northern Light Health! Page 2. Stay anchored in the fast stream of life Improve resilience and reduce stress with a mindfulness and meditation app. Page 3. We’re available UMR phone lines will open closer to open enrollment. Stay tuned for more information. Health plan news you can use! Open enrollment 10 am Wednesday, Oct. 26, until 4 pm Wednesday, Nov. 9 This is the time of year in which you and your family may enroll in, cancel, or make changes to your benefits for 2023. If you have any questions about open enrollment, please don’t hesitate to contact our Northern Light Health HR Service Center: 207.973.4000. Behavioral health supports As of Aug. 1, 2022, all members on the Base and Buy Up plans now pay significantly less out of pocket for outpatient behavioral health services. We have heard you, and we are committed to surrounding you and your covered dependents with the support you need. Behavioral health outpatient visit As of Aug. 1, 2022 Tier 1: Preferred No cost Tier 2: In-network $25 co-pay Out of network 50% after deductible New telehealth option Northern Light Employee Health Plan is excited to roll out a robust telehealth offering starting in January. The following services will be available to all Health Plan members and are free for members of the Base and Buy Up plans. You will be able to access telehealth services via the UMR member portal in 2023 for: • Behavioral health visits • Dermatology • General, lactation, and registered dietitian consultations Reminders Effective Sept. 1, 2022, knee and hip replacement and knee and hip replacement repair for members of our Health Plan living in Maine must be performed within a Northern Light facility. The provider responsible for the surgery does not need to be employed by Northern Light Health. Save money! In addition to lower deductibles and out-of-pocket maximums, Northern Light provides a deep discount to our employees and their family members on our Health Plan when they receive services within our system. The more we use Northern Light providers and facilities, the more we can help contain our overall Health Plan expense and premium costs. New administrator: UMR UMR is replacing Beacon as our plan’s third-party administrator (TPA), effective Jan. 1, 2023. UMR is the largest TPA in the US and is a UnitedHealthcare company.* This change in administrator does NOT change the way our plans work. *UnitedHealthcare Choice Plus nationwide network. No changes to our Preferred network.
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