American Heart Association offers resources to help your patients manage their health conditions

This is part of an ongoing series of articles focusing on the tools and resources available to help FEP members manage their health.

The American Heart Association has provided some easy-to-use fact sheets for people who want to better manage their health conditions. Answers by Heart** is a series of downloadable patient information sheets on various health topics.

Fact sheets include:  

• What Is Diabetes and How Can I Manage It?**
• What Is High Blood Pressure?**
• How Do My Cholesterol Levels Affect My Risk of Heart Attack and Stroke?**
• What Are Cholesterol-Lowering Medications?**
• How Do I Manage My Medicines?**

The fact sheets provide a place for patients to write down questions and log and track personal data, such as blood pressure, cholesterol and A1c lab results.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program^® members have additional resources and tools to help with heart health as follows:

• Diabetic Meter program — 1-855-582-2024
• Members can receive one glucose meter kit per year at no cost when they meet the program criteria.
• Telehealth for nutritional counseling — 1-855-636-1579
• Members can talk with a registered dietician to evaluate nutritional needs and develop a personalized meal plan.
• Blue Cross Coordinated Care program — 1-800-775-BLUE (2583)
• This program assists members with coordination of care, education and clinical support for specific chronic and complex conditions.
• Online programs at www.fepblue.org.
• Hypertension Management program
• Members can receive a free blood pressure monitor every two years when they meet the program criteria.
• Diabetes Management program by Livongo
• Provides members who have diabetes with:
• A free glucose meter with unlimited test strips and lancets
• Personalized coaching and support
• Tobacco Cessation Incentive program***
• Members can receive tobacco cessation products at no charge after creating a Tobacco Cessation Quit Plan using the online health coach. FEP Blue Focus also has prescription drug benefits for tobacco cessation.

FEP members and health care providers who have questions about FEP support programs or benefit coverage can call Customer Service at 1-800-482-3600 or go online to www.fepblue.org.

**Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan doesn’t own or control this website.

***Standard and Basic Option plans only.

Livongo Health Inc. is an independent company contracted by the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan to provide diabetes services to FEP members.