Standard U.S. Postage PAID Walla Walla, WA Permit No. 88 HEALTH TM SPRING 2022 Step up to a well-child visit COVID-19 vaccine updates New! Community Supports can help you live well In this issue 7 Page 4 Page 2 Page Pregnant? What Black and African American mothers should know African American and Black women have higher poor birth outcomes compared to all other women in the United States. In 2018, African American and Black mothers were twice as likely to receive late or no prenatal care when compared to white mothers. This means worse health outcomes for African American and Black mothers. Mother’s health impacts baby’s health y African American and Black babies: – Have 2 times the infant mortality rate as white babies. – Are 4 times as likely to die from problems linked to low birth weight as white babies. – Have 2 times the sudden infant death syndrome mortality rate as white babies. What can you do? y Start your prenatal care early. y Discuss any health concerns with your doctor. y Join a local support group, like the Black Infant Health program. Call 661-321-3000 for details. y Schedule your postpartum visit and your baby’s wellness visits soon after your baby is born. Learn about Kern Family Health Care’s (KFHC) rewards programs on page 2.
FAMILY HEALTH 2 We provide care in your language KFHC provides easy access to interpreter services at no cost to members 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Our Member Services staff can help you get an interpreter for your next doctor’s visit. It is better to use a professional interpreter at your doctor visits. You should not use friends, family or children to interpret because: y They may not fully interpret the doctor’s response. y They may lack health knowledge. y They may not be fully versed in English. y It can expose them to personal and life-changing events. y They risk not stating vital health concerns because of personal or cultural reasons. y They may worry about your health issues. y They may feel pressured and stressed. Professional interpreters have training and skill, which family members and other health experts may lack. Interpreters also pledge quality, accuracy and confidentiality. The care of the patient comes first, so we advise you to use your best judgment where interpretation services are not being offered. Step up to a well-child visit Well-child visits are for babies, older kids and teens. They allow the doctor to see how your child is growing and if they are meeting key milestones. What to expect At each visit, the doctor will examine your child. Vision and hearing can be checked, too— mostly for school-aged children. Kids may get shots, too. These are safe—and can help prevent serious diseases. These visits are a great chance to ask questions about: y Healthy eating. y Exercising. y Sleep issues. y Mental health. y Parenting problems. Doctors can help you talk to older kids about sensitive subjects, like tobacco, alcohol, drugs and sex. Make an appointment Kids need well-child visits: y At 3 to 5 days old. y At 1, 2, 4, 6, 9, 12, 15, 18, 24 and 30 months old. y Every year from 3 to 21 years old. It’s never too late to start. Call your child’s doctor today! Source: American Academy of Pediatrics DID YOU KNOW? • Members 3 to 21 years old can get a reward for seeing their doctor once a year. • Pregnant members can get two rewards for pregnancy care. • Learn more at kernfamilyhealthcare.com!
GIVE US A CALL if you have any questions or need help calling your doctor: 800-391-2000. FAMILY HEALTH 3 Feeding baby: Nutrition for 6 to 24 months Healthy eating starts on day 1! When your baby is 0 to 6 months old, only feed them breast milk or infant formula. At 6 months, start adding complementary foods, like infant cereals, vegetables and water. At 7 to 8 months, your baby can eat from the five food groups. Try these tips to make it easy and safe for your baby: y Mix, mash or puree foods with breast milk, formula or water. y Soften foods by cooking them, if needed, like some fruits and vegetables. y Remove all fat, skin and bones from poultry, meat and fish before cooking. y As you move to solids, cut foods into thin slices. y Add new foods one at a time. y Talk to your doctor if you think your child has an allergy. y Watch for these milestones— finger feeding, drinking from a cup and eating with a spoon. Around 24 months, your child will have the skills to eat and drink on their own! Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Can I improve my cholesterol? You can make lifestyle changes to improve your cholesterol. If your doctor has decided that you need to take medicine to reduce your cholesterol levels, you will need to do a few added steps to help your body. Medication helps: y Lower bad cholesterol. y Stop plaque from growing inside the arteries. y Decrease your risk of stroke. y Decrease your risk of heart attack. Along with taking medicine, you will need to: y Eat heart-healthy foods (more fruits and vegetables and lean meats). y Eat less foods that are high in saturated fat (bacon, cured meats and butter). y Add more high-fiber foods (whole grains, unsalted nuts and beans). y Take daily walks. y Do daily workouts. y Quit smoking. KFHC offers Fresh Start classes to help you quit smoking (see page 6). Always speak to your doctor before making changes to your diet. If you are having a hard time keeping your cholesterol levels down, call your doctor today. Sources: American Heart Association; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
FAMILY HEALTH 4 COVID-19 vaccine updates Age groups People 5 years of age and older are now eligible to get a free COVID-19 vaccine. Vaccine effectiveness COVID-19 vaccines have been shown to reduce the risk of getting sick or very ill with COVID-19 by 90% or more. Data suggest that they protect against the spread of COVID-19. Some people who are fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will still get sick. That’s because no vaccines are 100% effective. These are called vaccine breakthrough cases. But data suggest that vaccines may make their symptoms less severe. To receive the most protection, people should receive all doses of a COVID-19 vaccine. FDA approval The Pfizer vaccine has been fully approved for people ages 16 and older by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA). It can now be marketed under a brand name. Comirnaty is the brand name for this vaccine. It will still be available for ages 5 to 15. But it won’t be marketed with the brand name for that age group. The Moderna vaccine has been fully approved by the FDA for people ages 18 and older. It can now be marketed under a brand name. Spikevax is the brand name for this vaccine. With full FDA approval, it’s likely more vaccine mandates will be put in place. People may be more swayed to get the vaccine. Booster shots COVID-19 vaccine booster shots are now available for everyone 12 and up. Any adult can get a COVID-19 booster if it has been: y Five months since they completed their primary Pfizer or Moderna vaccine series. y Two months since they received one dose of the Johnson & Johnson vaccine. And anyone 12 to 17 years old can get a Pfizer booster five months after completing their primary Pfizer vaccine series. Sources: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; U.S. Food and Drug Administration Did your doctor order an A1C blood test? The A1C test, also known as the hemoglobin A1C or HbA1c test, is a simple blood test that measures your average blood sugar levels over the past three months. It’s one of the commonly used tests to pinpoint prediabetes and diabetes. The A1C blood test is the main test to help you and your health care team manage your diabetes. Higher A1C levels are linked to diabetes health problems. Normal Below 5.7% Prediabetes 5.7% to 6.4% Diabetes 6.5% or above The higher your A1C, the greater your risk of getting type 2 diabetes.
FAMILY HEALTH 5 Q I have had COVID-19 and recovered. Do I still need to get vaccinated with a COVID-19 vaccine? Yes, you should be vaccinated if you’ve had COVID-19. That’s because research has not yet shown how long you are protected from the coronavirus after you recover. The vaccine helps protect you even if you’ve had COVID-19. Evidence is emerging that unvaccinated people who already had COVID-19 are more likely than fully vaccinated people to get it again. Experts are still learning more about how long vaccines protect against the coronavirus. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention will keep the public informed as new evidence becomes available. Carlos Bello, MPH, CHES Senior Member Health Educator Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Q Is it safe for me to get a COVID-19 vaccine if I would like to have a baby one day? Yes. COVID-19 vaccination is recommended for all who are 5 years of age and older. This includes people who are trying to get pregnant now or might become pregnant in the future. At this time there is no research that shows the COVID-19 vaccines cause fertility problems (problems trying to get pregnant). If you have concerns about this vaccine, talk with your doctor. They can help you make the best choice for you and your health. If you get pregnant after getting your first shot of a COVID-19 vaccine that requires two doses, you should still get your second shot. This will protect you the best against COVID-19. Flor Del Hoyo Galvan, MPH Member Health Educator Source: Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Q How do mRNA vaccines work? Pfizer’s and Moderna’s COVID-19 vaccines use messenger RNA (mRNA) technology. These mRNA vaccines don’t contain the real coronavirus. They cannot give you COVID-19. And they can’t change your own DNA in any way. mRNA orders the cells in your body to make copies of a harmless spike protein, like the spike on the coronavirus. These proteins trigger an immune response. Your body then creates antibodies. If you’re exposed to the real virus later, your immune system will be ready for it. Bernardo Ochoa, MPH Member Health Educator Health Education Corner
TO SIGN UP FOR A CLASS, log in to your KFHC Member Portal account on the website or with the LINK app. You can also call us at 800- 391-2000 and ask for the Health Education Department. FAMILY HEALTH 6 It’s time for a fresh start to quit smoking We know it’s not easy to quit. You don’t have to do this alone! We have a four-class series that meets online once per week. The class will inspire tobacco users to overcome addiction and provide support for quitting. Class topics for each week: 1. Why Start. 2. When to Start. 3. Making the Change. 4. Keeping the Goal! Get up to $130 worth of gift cards to help you quit smoking and stay healthy! For each class you complete, you get rewarded with a gift card (from $25 to $40). You can choose gift cards from Amazon, Finish Line, Nike, Starbucks, Target or Walmart. Help for asthma: Virtual classes Managing asthma can be tough. Extreme weather, wildfires and climate change may be causing more intense or frequent symptoms. That’s why KFHC is offering virtual asthma classes for members. You can join these classes with the Zoom app. Classes are offered in English and Spanish. What are the class topics? Classes will focus on controlling asthma triggers, nontoxic cleaning, asthma medication— and more! You can also learn how to talk to your doctor or about programs that can help you live a cleaner lifestyle. When are the classes? Classes are offered every first and second Wednesday at 6 p.m. Go to kernfamilyhealthcare. com to see the class dates, times, languages and topics. Members who have asthma can receive a $15 gift card for each class they attend. Terms are subject to change. After attending an asthma class, members will receive followup calls to check their asthma control. Members can receive help with doctor appointments, medication prescriptions and referrals to asthma resources. DON’T WAIT: REGISTER TODAY! By phone or online: • Call 800-391-2000 and ask for the Health Education Department. • Log in to the KFHC Member Portal at kernfamilyhealthcare.com.
FAMILY HEALTH 7 Added support Starting Jan. 1, 2022, some KFHC members became eligible to receive Community Supports Services from KFHC at no cost. Community Supports Services are additional services that provide added support to address any social needs that could be impacting your health. They may help you live more independently. You may be contacted if you qualify for the services. Examples of Community Supports Services include: y Housing transition navigation services. y Housing deposits. y Housing tenancy and sustaining services. y Short-term posthospitalization housing. y Recuperative care (medical respite). y Asthma remediation. To learn more, visit our website at kernfamilyhealth care.com or give us a call at 800-391-2000 (TTY/TDD: 711). You can also talk to your doctor to find out if you qualify for Community Supports Services. What is chlamydia? Chlamydia is a sexually transmitted disease (STD). In Kern County, the rate of chlamydia is very high. It can infect both men and women. It is spread through sexual contact with someone who has chlamydia. If left untreated, it can cause serious, long-term damage that can make it hard for women to get pregnant. Here are a few ways you can lower your chances of getting chlamydia: y Get routine testing by your doctor. y If you test positive, complete your treatment as prescribed. y Use condoms. y Be in a relationship with one partner only (a partner who has been tested and is negative for STDs). Symptoms to look for Men: y Discharge from penis. y Burning feeling when urinating. y Pain and swelling in one or both testicles. Women: y Abnormal vaginal discharge. y Burning feeling when urinating. For more about STDs, visit CDC’s website at cdc.gov. Kern Family Health Care complies with applicable federal civil rights laws and does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, disability, or sex. ATTENTION: If you speak a language other than English, language assistance services, free of charge, are available to you. Call 800-391-2000 (TTY: 711). ATENCIÓN: Si habla español, tiene a su disposición servicios gratuitos de asistencia lingüística. Llame al 800391-2000 (TTY: 711). 注意：如果您使用繁體中 文 ， 您可以免費獲得語言 援助服務。請致電 800-391-2000 (TTY: 711)。
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. Follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/_KFHC Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/KernFamilyHealthCare Watch the Kern Family Health Care channel on YouTube HEALTH FAMILY HEALTH is published as a community service for the members, friends and patrons of Kern Family Health Care, 2900 Buck Owens Blvd., Bakersfield, CA 93308, 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 Chief Executive Officer Douglas A. Hayward Chief Medical Officer Martha Tasinga, MD Chief Operating Officer Alan Avery Chief Health Services Officer Deborah Murr, RN Director of Marketing and Public Relations Louis Iturriria Director of Health Education, Cultural & Linguistic Services Isabel Silva 2022 © Coffey Communications, Inc. All rights reserved. Medi-Cal Rx: Your Medi-Cal pharmacy benefit As of Jan. 1, 2022, your prescriptions are paid by Medi-Cal Rx instead of by KFHC. Why did it change? KFHC is your Medi-Cal managed care plan. In 2019, California Gov. Gavin Newsom made a rule that Medi-Cal pharmacy benefits would stop being managed by Medi-Cal managed care plans like KFHC and start being managed by Medi-Cal Rx. How do I fill my prescription? Remember to take all your health plan ID cards with you to the pharmacy when filling your prescriptions. This includes your Medi-Cal card, KFHC ID card, and any other health coverage card you may have. What if I have questions? For any questions about your pharmacy benefits, please call the Medi-Cal Rx Call Center Line at 800-977-2273. They are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
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