Health assessment
If you want to enroll in the new Samaritan Choice Wellness Plan during Open Enrollment, you will need to complete an online health assessment.
Go here to learn more about the Wellness Plan's Open Enrollment requirements.
Q: What is a health assessment?
A: A health assessment is a valuable tool that provides you with personalized information about your health risks and strengths. When you complete the Vivacity (
www.vivacity4me.com) Health Assessment online, you'll immediately receive your results. The report that you receive displays information about each of your health indicators, such as weight, blood pressure, and cholesterol and places them in the strength or risk area. Recommendations provide a personalized and prioritized list on why and how you should address your risks to improve your health.
Q: Where do I go to access the Heath Assessment Questionnaire?
A: You can access the health assessment on the secure website within the Vivacity Health Portal.
Go here for instructions.
Q: Why should I take the Health Assessment?
A: Taking the Health Assessment is like giving yourself an annual health checkup. The report will help you focus on the things that can have the biggest impact on your health. You'll also get suggestions on how to take action with online tools or other resources available to you.
Q: How long will the Health Assessment take?
A: Taking the Health Assessment is quick and easy — it only takes about 15 minutes to answer questions on your health and health habits using the secure, online tool provided by Vivacity.
Q: What information is needed for the Health Assessment?
A: You will receive this information from your biometric screening: height, body weight, total cholesterol level, HDL cholesterol level, LDL cholesterol level, blood pressure, fasting triglyceride level and blood sugar level. If you do not have this information available, you can estimate and we will update with the results of your biometric screening later.
Q: What kinds of questions does the health assessment ask? Can I see the questions now?
A: The assessment will ask questions related to health, lifestyle and safety. We will not be able to provide you with the questions beforehand as they are proprietary to Vivacity.
Q: I've taken the Health Assessment in the past. Why should I take it again?
A: Small changes in health habits can make a big difference in determining your health risk. When you take the Health Assessment over time, you'll see where you're doing better and areas that may need improvement. You'll see in quick and easy terms where you need to take action. Your updated results will also help you create a list of important things to talk to your doctor about — tests you may need or treatments you may want to consider, such as for high cholesterol.
Q: Can I make changes to my answers once I have completed the Heath Assessment?
A: You'll have the opportunity to verify and change your answers prior to submission. Once submitted, you won't be able to make changes.
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Biometric screening
If you want to enroll in the new Samaritan Choice Wellness Plan during Open Enrollment, you will need to complete a biometric screening.
Click here to review all enrollment requirements for Wellness Plan.
Q: What is a biometric screening, and why should I know my numbers?
A: A biometric screening is a combination of measurements and readings about certain health factors that may be helpful in identifying potential risk factors for chronic diseases or conditions, like heart disease, hypertension, or diabetes.
A blood sample from a fingerstick will be used to determine your cholesterol levels, triglycerides, and glucose levels. Most of the risk factors identified through the screening have no symptoms, so participating in this screening can help you proactively identify possible risk factors which can lead to chronic illness. Or, you could simply confirm your health status and gain peace of mind.
All information is kept confidential and complies with the requirements of HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Privacy Act of 1996).
Q: How is a fingerstick performed?
A: The fingerstick test is exactly as the name suggests. It’s a stick of the finger; a little puncture is made in the second or third finger, and approximately four drops of blood are withdrawn.
Q: When and how will I get the results of my screening?
A: Your results will be sent to you within a few weeks after completing the screening.
Q: Can I talk to someone about my results?
A: You are encouraged to discuss your results with your doctor.
Q: Does it cost me anything?
A: No. Samaritan Health Services is funding the cost of this program and your participation is free. This is part of our commitment to creating a healthier employee community.
Q: Does this biometric screening replace an annual physical with my doctor?
A: No. Biometric screenings do not replace a complete preventive annual exam with a physician. It is meant to alert you to potential risk factors and you are encouraged to follow-up with your personal physician or other health care professional for further advisement, action, or possible diagnoses.
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Extra support programs
Q: I understand that the Wellness Plan’s health coaching, RN care coordination and Primary Care Home services have eligibility requirements. What are the eligibility requirements?
A: After employees have completed a health assessment questionnaire and biometric screening for Open Enrollment, we will look at our employee health data as a whole. Then, as an organization, we will set goals for improvement using last year's numbers to show our improvements and potential focus areas for our goals. Those goals will help determine the eligibility requirements. We will discuss with you Samaritan’s focus for improvement and report on the progress we make as a group.
Q: What happens if you ask me to participate in one of the Wellness Plan’s extra support programs? What happens if you ask someone from my family to participate?
A: We have received a number of questions about participation in these programs. Please review below.
Q. Will I have goals that I have to meet?
A. No. The purpose of the health coaching, RN care coordination and Primary Care Home programs are to complement the medical advice of your health care provider.
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Q. Will I have to leave my current doctor?
A. No.
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Q. What happens if I decide that I do not want to participate?
A. Not all employees or their family members will be asked to participate. If we ask you (Samaritan employee), and you choose not to participate, you and your family will be moved to the Basic Plan. If we ask one of your family members (not a Samaritan employee) to participate and they choose not to do so, you and your family will remain on the Wellness Plan.
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Q. Can I participate in these programs if I want to? Can my family?
A. No. We will ask you to participate if you meet eligibility requirements. Please see question above for more details on how these eligibility requirements will be determined.
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Q. Will I have to travel to participate in a program?
A. The health coaching and RN care coordination services are provided over the phone. You will be contacted at the phone number you provide on your health assessment questionnaire. Samaritan will designate Primary care home practices throughout Linn, Benton and Lincoln Counties. Depending upon where you are located, you may have to travel some for the Primary Care Home services.
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Q. How will you determine if my family members meet eligibility requirements? I understand that you will use the results from the employees’ health assessment questionnaires and biometric tests to help determine my eligibility for the extra support programs.
A. We pay the health insurance claims for medical services provided for you and your family. We will use data from those claims to determine eligibility for the extra support programs.
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Q. Who will be providing the extra support program services?
A. Samaritan Choice Plans’ RNs and qualified health coaches will provide the health coaching services. Samaritan Choice Plans’ RNs will provide the care coordination services. Samaritan Health Services’ health care providers located throughout Linn, Benton and Lincoln counties will provide the Primary Care Home services.
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Enrollment / premiums
Q: What steps do I need to take to become enrolled in the 2013 Samaritan Choice Wellness Plan? If I choose the Basic Plan or the High-Deductible, do I take different steps?
A: There are
enrollment requirements for the Wellness Plan. Please review the steps for health plan enrollment outlined in
How to enroll.
Q: What are the premiums?
A: Premium information for 2013 will be sent out after Oct. 29, 2012.
Confidentiality
Q: What type of data will my organization see when I complete the health self-assessment questionnaire and the biometric screening? Is it really private and confidential?
A:The online health self-assessment and onsite biometric screening will be managed by Vivacity (
www.vivacity.net), one of the most trusted names in health care. No personally identifiable information will be shared with Samaritan Health Services as your employer. Remember, it’s against the law for your employer to access your personal health information. Your personal health information will be handled by your health plan, Samaritan Choice.
Samaritan Health Services will receive only combined statistics stripped of any identifying information. This group data from Vivacity will help Samaritan evaluate current health programs and look for new ways to enhance our wellness benefits in future years. As promised by Dr. Mullins, Samaritan’s President and CEO, you will be able to view our group results so you are aware of the progress we make as an organization toward becoming a healthier workforce.
Q: How is my data stored and protected?
A: Vivacity, the vendor Samaritan has selected to conduct the biometric screenings and provide the online health assessment questionnaire, uses a secure website platform for the health assessment and stores the biometric screening data in compliance with all current federal regulations for privacy, security, and electronic data interchange (EDI), including but not limited to HIPAA, the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA), the Genetic Information Nondiscrimination Act (GINA), as well as all state requirements that give additional protection to sensitive protected health information (PHI).
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Last modified: Nov. 13, 2012