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Local Government Health Plan (LGHP)

Latest News - Archived

March – Colorectal Cancer Awareness

Big ones, small ones, everyone's got one.  We're talking about bums, bottoms and buttocks.  It's true, and it's important that you take care of yours.  This March, we are focusing on Colorectal Cancer Awareness, because colorectal cancer is the fourth common type of cancer in the US.  There are more than 100,000 new cases each year. But with early detection more than half of those deaths could be prevented.  Typically, it's not necessary to participate in colorectal cancer screenings until the age of fifty. But early detection can help to ward off the disease before it even has a chance to turn into a serious condition. Remember to remind your loved ones to get screened because that screening has the potential of saving lives. For more information, contact your plan provider.

Beyond Colonoscopies – 3 Tests to Catch Colorectal Cancer colon health blog- March.pdf

  • Health Alliance's blog is a trusted source of wellness information for our members – and for people throughout the State of Illinois. Among our regular articles, we feature a monthly piece https://blog.healthalliance.org/ dedicated to the State's current wellness topic.
  • Health Alliance created this short educational video to answer the most common questions our members have. Our guest this month is Dr. Robert Good, DO, Chief Medical Officer at Health Alliance.

    https://vimeo.com/391255100/22c6711f65

    For more wellness tools, tips and resources visit HealthAlliance.org/Wellness.

Employees

    Embracing differences

    Elements of diversity can include people's ethnicity, religious beliefs, cultural preferences, age group, physical abilities or handicaps, economic and educational background, and sexual orientation. You can learn and grow professionally if you make a concerted effort to understand and accept co-workers' differences.


    Thriving in a Multigenerational Workforce │ Wednesday, March 11

    Join this webinar to

    • Describe the five generations currently in the workplace
    • Learn how each generation impacts the workplace
    • Identify tips to help you navigate the multigenerational workforce

    Click Here to Register  ***

     *** If you receive the message "Preparing the room..." and the room doesn't open within a few seconds, please close out of the browser and click on the URL again—when the browser opens, pick the option "Open in Application." If prompted, please download the Adobe Connect Application. If your employer doesn't allow this download, please contact your IT department to assist with downloading the application.

Managers

Developing a culture of kindness

The pace of today's high-stress workplace can impact your emotional balance, mental wellness and physical health. Organizations characterized as having negative or fear-based cultures often is caused by significant workplace stress. Learn how to create a healthier work environment.

Bullying in a Team Environment and the Effects on the Bottom Line │ Wednesday, March 25

Join this webinar to

  • Define what overt and covert bullying are, common bully traits and the role of power in a bullying situation
  • Discuss who the bully targets and common traits of people who are targeted
  • Understand the current research on what makes companies successful and the role power plays in this equation
  • Describe the relationship between bullying and the bottom line and why good employees stay

Click Here to Register  ***

 *** If you receive the message "Preparing the room..." and the room doesn't open within a few seconds, please close out of the browser and click on the URL again—when the browser opens, pick the option "Open in Application." If prompted, please download the Adobe Connect Application. If your employer doesn't allow this download, please contact your IT department to assist with downloading the application.

Work-Life For Employees & Managers

Ring In Your Spring

With the days getting warmer, it's the perfect time to shake off your winter blues and hit refresh. Work-Life is available 24/7 with support and tools to help you tackle all of your spring to-dos so you can relax, revive and refocus. Work-Life can:

  • Connect you to home improvement and repair specialists
  • Locate summer care, camps and programs that meet your family's needs
  • Help you find residential cleaning services in your area, within your budget
  • Find moving and relocation resources to help de-stress your move
  • Help you plan and prepare for a baby, wedding, move or other major milestone
  • Provide savings on thousands of everyday products and services

Getting help online is easy! From webinars, live talks and audio to articles and downloadable guides, Work-Life provides insights and information to help warm up your winter. Call your program or go online to get started!

Transform Your Thoughts for Weight Loss Success (HWWL)

Presenter:         Joy Braunlich

*** If you receive the message "Preparing the room..." and the room doesn't open within a few seconds, please close out of the browser and click on the URL again—when the browser opens, pick the option "Open in Application." If prompted, please download the Adobe Connect Application. If your employer doesn't allow this download, please contact your IT department to assist with downloading the application.

Mindfulness: The Life-Changing Practice for Living a Happier, Healthier Life

Join this pre-recorded webinar to:

  • Discover the many benefits of mindfulness
  • Discuss various practices and programs
  • Learn how to incorporate mindfulness in your day to day life
  • Experience the power of being present

      https://magellanhealth.adobeconnect.com/_a825364167/p7kjujz6ny4o/?launcher=false&fcsContent=true&pbMode=normal ***

    *** If you receive the message "Preparing the room..." and the room doesn't open within a few seconds, please close out of the browser and click on the URL again—when the browser opens, pick the option "Open in Application." If prompted, please download the Adobe Connect Application. If your employer doesn't allow this download, please contact your IT department to assist with downloading the application.

 

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Tackling Life's Challenges with Resilience and Grit

Ever wonder what gives some people the ability to recover from hardship and reach their long-term goals, while others struggle? The answer might be resilience and grit.

Join us for this pre-recorded, one-hour webinar, brought to you by Magellan Healthcare. You will learn the meaning of resilience and grit, characteristic of people with these traits, benefits to building these skills, and ways you can improve your resilience and grit.

Updated: January 24, 2020

As we enter the new year and new decade, add another item to your 2020 Wellness goal-setting.  

Take better care of your eyes. Did you know that regular eye exams can detect early signs of certain chronic health conditions?
Ensure your vision and health is 20/20 in 2020 and beyond.  Live your Best Life and schedule your eye exam today.   

Read more about The Power of an Eye Exam for your overall Wellness.

#CMSChallengeAccepted2020

Posted January 3, 2020 

Recorded Webinar

Emotional Muscle Part Two: How to Grow Resilient School-Age Kids and Become Stronger Parents │

  • Define emotional muscle and how it pertains to resilience
  • Describe why it's essential for kids and teens to build their emotional muscle
  • Learn ways to help kids and teens develop emotional muscle and bounce back from difficulties

Here is a link to the recording Previously aired Wednesday, January 8, 2020: 

http://magellanhealth.adobeconnect.com/pymt7ag6605j/

Part One was previously offered in August.  You may watch it on the link below:

Emotional Muscle: Part One: How to Grow Resilient Children and Become Stronger Parents

∙ Learn about child development through the concept of emotional muscle

∙ Learn how parents and children can grow together through different life stages to become stronger and more resilient

∙ Learn how to bounce back when bad things happen

Here is a link to the recording Previously aired Wednesday, August 14, 2019:  http://magellanhealth.adobeconnect.com/p8q6h3w4w0va/

Amended: January 17, 2020

Oh the weather outside is frightful,

and the holiday season is so delightful, but with all those holiday festivities of sharing, hugs and Aunt Betty's kisses might have the flu bug celebrating the most this holiday season. 

The flu virus is contagious and preventable.  Be sure you're protected this holiday and winter season by getting vaccinated. If you think you don't need a vaccination, think again. It is anticipated that this flu season will be long and quite active. According to the CDC, cases of the flu start to rise in October, peak between December and February, and usually taper off around May.   Here are a few myths and facts about flu vaccinations from our friends at Health Alliance: https://blog.healthalliance.org/flu-prevention-myths-vs-facts/

CMS cares about your health and wellbeing.  Take care of your body.  It's the only place you have to live. 

Posted: December 17, 2019

December – Stress Free Holidays

Surviving the Holidays – Holiday Webinar

The holidays bring lots of joy, festivities and family, and shopping, and overdue bills and they are all rapidly approaching, are you ready?  No?  Well, take a deep breath. We know just how stressful the holidays can be because we've all been there, and sometimes, we could all just use a little help. That's why CMS is partnering with Magellan to bring you a "Surviving the Holidays" webinar presented by a certified counselor. 

This webinar will be chock full of tips and practices to cope through grief or divorce, helping to set up a budget and learning the fine art of 'thrift-giving,' overcoming anxiety, overindulgences and other stressors often associated with the holidays. It is also free to all State of Illinois employees. Click this URL for Viewing: http://magellanhealth.adobeconnect.com/pl6kbyrbg72s/  for the webinar.

  • Stress Management - Katherine Evans    United Health Care
  • Silver Sneakers - Katherine Evans - United HealthCare
  • Managing your Stress for Health and Wellness  - Nicole - Magellan
  • Nutrition and Fitness - Eddy Rosales – Blue Cross Blue Shield
  • Maintaining Your Health Through the Holidays - Kena Hahn - Health Alliance
  • Holiday Blues - Julie Augustine - Health Link

 Posted: December 4, 2019

For eligible members, the 2019 TRAIL Medicare Advantage Prescription Drug (MAPD) Open Enrollment period will run October 15 - November 15, 2018.  Watch your mailbox in late September - early October for more information.

 Effective July 1, 2015, CVS/caremark is the new prescription benefit manager (PBM) for the self-insured health plans of the Local Care Health Plan and the Local Consumer-Driven Health Plan, both administered by Cigna, Coventry OAP and HealthLink OAP.

  • The April 20, 2015 Benefit Choice Seminar video is now available.  04/28/15
  • To ensure that only eligible dependents are covered under the Local Government Health Plan, CMS has retained the services of HMS Employer Solutions (HMS) to conduct a Dependent Eligibility Verification Audit. 08/22/2013
  • A Special Enrollment Period is being held from now until January 31, 2013, for all members currently covered under Health Alliance Illinois.  Those members will need to change their carrier by January 31, 2013.  12/15/12
  • REMINDER: Medicare-eligible individuals enrolled in the Local Government Health Plan (LGHP) have prescription drug coverage that is on average as good as, or better than, the standard Medicare prescription drug coverage (Medicare Part D) and should not enroll in a Medicare Part D plan during this Medicare Part D open enrollment season, unless you qualify for low-income/extra-help assistance. 10/17/12
  • On August 24, 2012, Governor Quinn signed into law SB 3240 that allows Local Government Health Plan members and their covered dependents to assign their health and dental benefits to out-of-network providers. 09/28/12
  • The current emergency contracts with Health Alliance HMO, Health Alliance Illinois and Coventry HMO have been extended until the supplemental managed care procurement is completed, not to exceed June 30, 2013.  Check back for more information once the procurement is finalized. 09/05/12
  • The FY2013 Benefit Choice Period will be May 1 through June 15, 2012, for all members. 05/21/12

  • Four of the State's managed care plans that will be in place for FY2013 may now be elected during the Benefit Choice Period.  05/08/12

  • The FY2013 Benefit Choice Period begins May 1, 2012, for all members. 05/01/12

  • The Group Insurance Division will be moving from its current location at 201 E. Madison St. to 801 S. 7th St. in Springfield beginning Wednesday, February 1st.  Phones will be unavailable on February 2nd and 3rd.  Members needing assistance should contact their HPR during this time.  01/23/12

  • Coventry Health Care HMO members (previously PersonalCare HMO) who utilize a primary care physician (PCP) at Christie Clinic recently received a letter from Coventry Health Care indicating that Christie Clinic will not be a part of the Coventry HMO network after December 31, 2011.  If you received this letter, you have been identified as someone who will no longer be able to utilize their PCP after January 1, 2012, and therefore, have a qualifying event which allows you to change to a new health plan. 12/09/11

  • Special Enrollment Period will be held from October 10, 2011 through October 28, 2011

  • Important Message - Special Enrollment Period Finalized. The Chief Procurement Officer held a hearing today and approved the extension of contracts for all current 90-day emergency managed care vendors through the remainder of the fiscal year, June 30, 2012, for the health plans administered by the Department of Healthcare and Family Services (DHFS) and the Department of Central Management Services (CMS). 08/31/11

  • The timeframes for the Special Enrollment Period(s) have been set 08/30/11

  • The Commission on Government Forecasting and Accountability (COGFA) held a hearing on August 16, 2011, to consider a request by the State to continue to offer self-insured managed care plans. At the end of that hearing, COGFA voted to authorize the State to continue to offer the self-insured managed care plans through June 30, 2012. 08/17/11
  • The following vendors have signed a 90-day contract, which will be effective July 1st: Health Alliance HMO, Health Alliance Illinois, HealthLink OAP, PersonalCare HMO, and PersonalCare OAP. These options are in addition to HMO Illinois, BlueAdvantage HMO and CIGNA, which are also available. 06/27/11
  • Special Enrollment Period Update. In order to address any member concerns, CMS has committed to a Special Enrollment Period prior to the end of the calendar year. 06/07/11
  • On Friday, June 10, 2011, a trial judge for the Sangamon County Circuit Court entered an order prohibiting any further State action in the awarding or signing of self-insurance contracts by the State of Illinois. - 06/12/11
  • HealthLink OAP Network Update. St. Margaret’s PHO in Spring Valley has signed a Tier I agreement with HealthLink OAP. 06/09/11
  • At this time, a final decision regarding the managed care contracts for FY 2012 has not been made. As a result, vendor names, coverage areas and rates are not available. 04/29/11
  • Early Retirement Reinsurance Mailing. Effective November 29, 2010, members and dependents were mailed a letter mandated by the federal government regarding reimbursement to plan sponsors for healthcare benefits paid to early retirees.
  •