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Heart Disease Resources

People of all ages need to keep their heart healthy. Eating well, exercising regularly, and seeing your health care provider can help you keep your heart healthy. Work with your healthcare provider and adopt good lifestyle habits to help lower the risk of heart disease.

Heart disease describes conditions related to plaque building up in the walls of the arteries. Other conditions include arrhythmia (abnormal heart rhythms), congenital heart failure, and heart valve problems.

What is your risk?

Heart disease can happen to anyone, including children. You can be born with it, and a family history of heart disease may increase your risk.

Most heart disease develops over time due to poor habits such as smoking or eating an unhealthy diet. Having high cholesterol, high blood pressure, or diabetes also increases your risk of heart disease. Talk with your provider about ways to prevent or manage diabetes and control other risk factors.

What is a good resting heart rate?

A normal resting heart rate for adults ranges from 60 to 100 beats per minute (bpm). Remember, factors such as age, physical activity, and overall health can affect what is considered your normal resting heart rate.

Talk to your provider if you have concerns about your heart rate.

How does high blood pressure affect heart health?

The higher your blood pressure levels, the more risk you have for heart disease, heart attack, and stroke. Causes for high blood pressure include:

  • Diabetes
  • Being overweight or obese
  • Smoking
  • Not getting enough regular physical activity
  • Unhealthy diets, including high amounts of sodium and alcohol

Talk to your provider about how you can lower your blood pressure to help avoid heart disease and stroke.

How can you lower your risk of heart disease?
• Eat plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, nuts, poultry, and fish; avoid having too much salt or sugar
• Maintain a healthy weight
• Exercise at least 150 minutes per week
• Keep your blood pressure, cholesterol, and blood sugar at a healthy level
• Don’t smoke or use any tobacco products
• Follow your doctor’s recommendations
Can heart disease be treated?
Yes. Talk to your provider about how to safely reduce the risk of heart disease. You can also talk about setting goals for a healthier heart. Your provider may also prescribe medication.
What are symptoms of a heart attack?

A heart attack occurs when the flow of blood to the heart is severely reduced or blocked. Be aware of the following symptoms:

  • Fatigue
  • Cold sweat
  • Nausea
  • Chest pain
  • Dizziness
  • Shortness of breath
  • Pain in the jaw, neck, arms, shoulder, or back

Call 911 if you or someone you know is having a heart attack.

What can cause Congestive Heart Failure?

Congestive heart failure (CHF) is a chronic condition that makes it harder for your heart to pump blood and meet your body's needs. The following factors may increase your risk of CHF:

  • Diabetes
  • High cholesterol levels
  • High blood pressure
  • Poor diet
  • Not getting enough physical activity
  • Smoking and/or using tobacco
  • Being overweight or obese
  • Stress

Talk to your provider to learn more about CHF.

What can cause heart arrhythmia?

A heart arrhythmia is an irregular heartbeat. Factors that may cause arrhythmia include:

  • Blood sugar levels that are too low or too high
  • Caffeine, illegal drugs, and certain medications
  • Dehydration
  • Low levels of electrolytes, such as potassium, magnesium, or calcium
  • Physical activity
  • Strong emotional stress or anxiety
  • Vomiting or coughing
  • Smoke
  • Use illegal drugs, such as cocaine or amphetamines
  • Drink alcohol more often and more than is recommended (no more than 2 drinks per day for men and 1 drink per day for women)
  • Take certain antibiotics and over-the-counter allergy and cold medicines

Talk to your provider about how to prevent arrhythmias.

Here are some resources to help you prevent or manage heart disease:

 

Managing Blood Pressure Flyer

American Heart Association

 High Blood Pressure Resources Page (CDC)

Heart Health Articles and Videos (Healthwise)


 

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Important Insurance Renewal Information for Fidelis Care Members
1/5/2024 • Posted by Provider Relations

As your health plan partner, Fidelis Care would like to share important updates about the public health emergency unwind and the renewal performance experienced since July 2023 in Medicaid Managed Care, Essential Plan, Child Health Plus, HARP, and MLTC programs across New York State. Based on the first several months, approximately 78% of Fidelis Care members have successfully recertified and maintained their health insurance. This early performance is closely aligned with data shared by New York State in the Public Health Emergency Unwind Dashboard, and we continue to examine new opportunities to further improve these outcomes.

As a Fidelis Care provider, you play an important role in helping your patients navigate the health insurance renewal process. We encourage you to educate them on the importance of staying covered, the risks of losing their coverage, and to take action by closely follow the timelines they are given.

New York State and Fidelis Care sent notices in the early spring 2023 to the first cohort of Medicaid, Essential Plan, Child Health Plus, HARP, and MLTC enrollees with June 30, 2023 coverage end dates - a process that will continue each month until all enrollees have been redetermined. Fidelis Care continues to support members throughout the renewal process, answering any questions they may have and helping to ensure they keep their coverage without interruption.

Your patients will receive notifications about their renewal dates and required actions ahead of time - either from NY State of Health, their local Department of Social Services, or NYC’s Human Resources Administration. Notices include deadlines for members to take action to renew their coverage or risk losing it. It is very important that your patients pay close attention to all communications, respond on time, and keep their contact information up to date.

It is also important your office be aware of when your patients’ coverage is ending and when action is required. Information and resources are available in the following locations:

  • Access Fidelis Care’s Provider Portal (Provider Access Online) – Providers can check patient details for their renewal, in addition Primary Care Providers can check the “recert” date in the roster.
    • For instructions on how to check your patient’s recertification date, watch our NEW video found here on fideliscare.org.
  • Coverage end dates are included in standard EDI eligibility verification transactions and are compatible across platforms and clearinghouses.
  • Visit https://www.fideliscare.org/provider-renew  for educational materials or to request materials in languages specific to your patients’ needs.
    • Access the Provider Renewal Webinar slides for detailed information about timing and impact of the renewal requirement, provider strategies, resources available, and Fidelis Care’s commitment to keep patients covered.
  • NY State of Health has released an informational fact sheet that can help providers inform patients who could be at risk of losing their health insurance, and what steps they may need to take during the Public Health Emergency unwind. The fact sheet can be found on the NY State of Health website here.

Fidelis Care also has a dedicated team of staff to assist your patients with renewing their coverage. Fidelis Care members can:

As a valued provider, you are a trusted source of information for your patients. Fidelis Care is here to support you in achieving our shared goal of keeping people covered so they can continue to receive the quality health care services they need.

If you have any questions, please contact your Fidelis Care Provider Relations Specialist.

Fidelis Care is proud to be your partner in quality care.