Kern Family Health Care | Family Health | Fall/Winter 2014

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member news
FAMILY HEALTH is published as a community service
for the friends and patrons of KERN FAMILY HEALTH CARE,
9700 Stockdale Highway, Bakersfield, CA 93311, telephone
800-391-2000.
Information in FAMILY HEALTH comes from a wide range
of medical experts. If you have any concerns or questions
about specific content that may affect your health, please
contact your health care provider. Models may be used in
photos and illustrations.
Editorial Board
CEO Douglas A. Hayward
Chief Medical Officer Chandrakala Gowda, MD
Director, Marketing and Member Services Louis Iturriria
Manager, Health Education and
Disease Management Isabel Silva, MPH, CHES
Member Health Educator Carlos Bello, MPH, CHES
Copyright © 2014 Coffey Communications WHN30757 healthfamily
We post current health care news and tips to help you and your family
stay healthy. You can also get important member updates and see what
Kern Family Health Care is doing in your community.
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It’s flu season:
Get immunized!
e u season has begun. at means
it’s time to get the u vaccine.
e u feels awful. And it can be
serious for:
People ages 65 and older.
Children younger than 5 years old.
Pregnant women.
People with health problems
like heart, lung or kidney disease
and those with weakened immune
systems.
If you wait until later in the year,
the vaccine can still help protect
you. But if you get it early, you’ll be
protected all u season long.
Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
Kern Family Health Care (KFHC) now
covers behavioral health treatment
(BHT) for autism spectrum disorder
(ASD). BHT for ASD needs prior
authorization of coverage from KFHC
and must be prescribed and provided
by a participating provider.
is treatment includes applied
behavior analysis and other evidence-
based services. is means the
services have been reviewed and have
been shown to work. e services
should develop or restore, as much
as possible, the daily functioning of a
member with ASD.
BHT services must be:
Medically necessary.
Prescribed by a licensed doctor or a
licensed psychologist.
Approved by the plan.
Given in a way that follows the
member’s plan-approved treatment
plan.
You may qualify for BHT services if:
You are under 21 years of age.
You have a diagnosis of ASD.
You have behaviors that interfere
with home or community life. Some
examples include anger; violence;
self-injury; running away; or di culty
with living skills, playing skills or
communication skills.
You do not qualify for BHT
services if:
You are not medically stable.
You need 24-hour medical or
nursing services.
You have an intellectual disability
(ICF/ID) and need procedures done
in a hospital or an intermediate care
facility.
Cost to member:
ere is no cost to the member for
these services.
If you are currently receiving
BHT services through Kern Regional
Center, the Kern Regional Center
will continue to provide these
services until a plan for transition is
developed. More information will be
available at that time. You can call
KFHC at 800-391-2000 if you have
any questions—or ask your primary
care provider for screening, diagnosis
and treatment of ASD.
Behavioral health treatment
for autism spectrum disorder