CMCS Connections

Tips for Keeping Safe & Healthy this Winter By Linda Grosser, RN,CNP, CPHQ intertime is cold and flu season, and the best way to keep healthy or be ready for seasonal illnesses and emergencies is to practice prevention. Stay on top of your health; taking some time to prepare for a winter emergency may divert a disaster. Just as the old saying goes, "an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure." Here are some tips for staying healthy and safe this coming winter: W T IP # 1 M a i ntai n a h e alt hy li f e st y le • Get a flu vaccine. • Wash your hands and keep them away from your face. • Keep disinfectant near the tissue box. • Eat a healthy diet with lots of fruits and vegetables. • Get some exercise, enjoy a winter sport. • Don't share lip balm, food or drinks. • Get outside to get sunlight to prevent Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). • Get your annual health exam. • When you cough or sneeze, don't use your hands, and turn away from others. • Set a date to stop smoking and just do it! Visit itpc.in.gov for more information. Ten Years of QNXT By Jennifer Auker, Director of Information Management QNXT is a state of the art claims processing software that does much more than claims processing. It addresses all facets of claims administration, including member enrollment, benefit information, authorization data and provider and contract information for all CMCS' lines of businesses. QNXT is one of three core administration systems offered by TriZetto, one of the nation's largest healthcare information technology companies. TriZetto's cutting-edge solutions impact over half of the U.S. insured population. QNXT, a Microsoft based application, is the core application for CMCS' business. The data analyst team uses Microsoft SQL Server on the "back end" to create reports that are sent to provider networks and health plans. Because healthcare is an evolving industry, it is necessary for TriZetto to update the QNXT code and create new versions of QNXT on a yearly basis. QNXT 5.0 has been released this year, which CMCS is currently testing. The upgrade includes new functionality for fee schedules with multiple modifiers and is also ICD-10 compatible. CMCS has a QNXT team that tests and reviews the software and its upgrades. The team meets weekly to report their findings. The CMCS go-live date is tentatively scheduled for April 2013. The conversion is expected to run smoothly with no interruption to normal business activities. Currently CMCS has 144,000 members enrolled and processes over 1.4 million claims annually. With high volume and diverse lines of business, QNXT's flexibility and ease of configuration helps CMCS continually meet production and quality goals. By working with TriZetto and keeping QNXT current, CMCS will continue to provide high-quality service on a day-today basis for our customers who depend on us. CMCS connections 8 tip #2 Ke e p A HE alt h y E nvi ron me nt • • • • Test your smoke & C02 detectors. Change your furnace filters. Clean your fireplace & chimney. Keep your driveways and sidewalks cleared. • Change your hand towels frequently. • Clean and disinfect your bathroom regularly. • Disinfect or replace your toothbrush after an illness. tip #3 Be Pre pare d f or E me rge ncies • Keep your prescriptions filled. • Keep your gas tank full to prevent ice forming in the lines. • Stock a first aid kit. Keep it handy. • Stock foods which don't require refrigeration. • Keep baby supplies stocked. • Keep flashlights & batteries handy. • Get a battery-operated radio or a NOAA weather radio. • Keep your cell phone charged. • Consider an alternative heating source or fuel alternative. • Keep a blanket, gloves, ice scraper, flashlight, small snow shovel and kitty litter in your car. While there are no guarantees that doing all of the above will prevent an illness or totally equip you for a winter emergency, we do know it will decrease your chances of becoming ill and get you ready for the typical challenges of the winter season. Be safe and be healthy! CONTACT CMC S 9045 River Road, Suite 250 Indianapolis, IN 46240 Phone: 317.578.4300 Toll Free: 888.504.5556 Fax: 800.747.3693 4th quarter 2012

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