Two Kelsey clinics closed

New rules for grandkids' coverage

Exercise your brain as you work out

Things change including Rxs

Fat Facts

Two Kelsey clinics closed
Kelsey-Seybold has closed the Palm Center and Baybrook clinics. Three Palm Center doctors relocated to Kelsey-Seybold’s main campus, 2727 W. Holcombe Blvd., (713) 442-0000.

Dr. Nicole Tarrant-Smith, who no longer provides routine pediatric services, still practices part-time at the Sugar Land Clinic.

Doctors who practiced at the Baybrook location have relocated to Kelsey-Seybold Clear Lake, 830 Gemini, (713) 442-4500.
Palm Center and Baybrook members have been mailed a new ID card showing the Kelsey-Seybold main campus as their designated location.

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New rules for grandkids’ coverage
Effective May 1, 2003, HMO Blue Texas stopped automatically adding newborn dependent grandchildren to their medical plans. A grandchild will be covered from birth only if the grandparent submits a benefits change form and other paper work within 31 days after birth.

After 31 days, HMO coverage will not become effective until 90 days after the Human Resources Benefits Division receives the paper work. Only claims incurred after a grandchild is covered will be paid.

Charges associated with the birth of a grandchild are covered. However, if the baby is not discharged with the mother, the baby starts incurring bills that will be covered only if the paper work adding the newborn dependent is submitted within 31 days after the baby’s birth.

After 31 days, POS coverage becomes effective only on May 1 of the next open enrollment.

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Exercise your brain as you work out
If you’ve neglected working out, remember you can’t make up lots of idle time in one workout. People push too hard because of the urge to make up for lost time, then injure themselves, get discouraged and miss more time. Moderate exercise is better.

If you’re over 50, you should talk to your doctor before starting or intensifying a fitness routine. Your physician can identify your risks, and a health professional or trainer can plan your exercise program accordingly.

Don’t skip stretching. Stretching after working out is also vital. It reduces muscle soreness and improves recovery. Hold stretches for 10-20 seconds. If it hurts, you’re stretching too far.

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Things change, including Rxs
On May 1, prescription drugs may have moved from the preferred category to the nonpreferred category or vice versa. Some prescriptions also have generic equivalents.

Copayments for a 30-day supply of generic are $10; for preferred, $30; and for nonpreferred, $45. It is easy to find the tier your prescriptions are in. Just check the list on the HMO Blue Texas Web site, www.bcbstx.com.

Fat facts
There are several types of fat, some healthy and some harmful.
• Saturated fatty acids are usually solid at room temperature. Saturated fatty acids raise cholesterol. They are found in food from animals such as beef, pork, lard, butter, milk and cheeses and food from plants such as coconut oil, tropical oils and cocoa butter.
• Monounsaturated fatty acids are liquid at room temperature but start to solidify at refrigerator temperatures. Monounsaturated fatty acids seem to lower blood cholesterol. They are often found in plants such as sesame and sunflower seeds, soybeans and many nuts and their oils.
• Polyunsaturated fatty acids are liquid at room temperature and in the refrigerator. Polyunsaturated fatty acids help lower total blood cholesterol. They are often found in plants including olive and peanut oils and avocados.

The FDA does not require trans fatty acids to be listed under nutritional information. Look for partially hydrogenated oils listed under ingredients. The best way to avoid these trans fatty acids is to reduce overall consumption of fat. In addition, avoid commercially baked and fried fast foods such as French fries, donuts, cookies, crackers and other foods that contain partially hydrogenated oils.

For more information about cholesterol and fats go to www.americanheart.org and check out the healthy lifestyle or diseases and conditions links.

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