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Our quarterly newsletters provide vital health, wellness and prevention information for our members.

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Winter 2024 Newsletter (English)

Winter 2024 Newsletter (Spanish)

Helpful Tips for Completing Your Medicare Experience Survey

Did you know that you could be randomly selected to take a Medicare Experience Survey if you have been with our plan for at least six months? The survey is administered by a certified Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) vendor, and the details of the members that receive a survey are not shared with Prominence.

What is the survey used for?

The survey assesses your experience with our plan in the areas of access, quality of care, satisfaction with the prescription drug plan and your primary care provider.

What does this mean for you?

Plans that perform well on the survey get better premiums. In turn, Prominence invests in better supplemental benefits, lower copays, additional drugs in the formulary, and overall better care for members.

How do I know I have been selected to receive a survey?

If you are selected, you will receive a survey the first week of March. The survey is administered directly by CMS to gather honest information about your experience with Prominence. You will receive your survey in English or Spanish depending on the language preference you selected when you enrolled.

Give us a chance to improve your experience.

Our goal is for your experience with Prominence to be a perfect 10 out of 10. If that is not the case, let us know how we can improve prior to answering the survey.

Call 855-969-5882 (TTY:711) from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m., seven days a week.

Mental Health Awareness Month

Our Chief Medical Officer, Traci Biondi, MD, discusses the importance of early diagnosis of dementia.

As we think about getting older we know we may slow down a bit both physically and mentally. May is Mental Health Awareness Month so it’s a good time to talk about how mental health issues affect people living with dementia.

Memory loss is not the same as dementia.

Memory loss is often one of the first things seen in dementia. Dementia is a continuing decline in brain functioning so it may take time to get to a diagnosis. Early on, people with dementia may notice they are becoming a bit forgetful. From there, memory loss and mental decline become more and more obvious. This is usually when friends, neighbors and family members notice their loved one is having trouble with simple activities like following 2-step instructions or understanding a simple conversation.

Someone with dementia may forget the names of everyday objects. They may also ask a question without realizing they had asked the very same question only a few minutes before. As dementia goes from mild to severe, it can lead to confusion and frustration in the individual and their family. These serious mental changes are not a normal part of aging and should not be confused with “just getting older.”

Diagnosing dementia involves an initial assessment.

A full evaluation including a physical exam and lab tests can help rule out other possible causes of mental decline, such as recent illness or injury, certain conditions, medications, or anxiety/depression. It’s important to have a trusted family member or partner accompany the patient to the appointment when sharing their medical history. That person may be more able to describe the mental and behavioral changes.

When possible, an early diagnosis is key.

Early diagnosis gives the individual and their family the opportunity to plan and make important financial and medical decisions. It is also a good time to plan for the possibility of guardianship and keeping a safe, supportive living environment.

It’s a good idea to find services to help someone with dementia remain at home, living independently for as long as possible. An early diagnosis also helps avoid unnecessary hospital visits or nursing home admissions and allows for early advance care planning.

Your Primary Care Provider (PCP) can help recommend the most effective resources, medications, and treatment options available. Your PCP can also help family members as they learn to care for someone with dementia. This means family and friends can stay focused on positive experiences that bring compassion, meaning and joy to the life of their loved one.

Diet Plays an Important Role in Diabetes Management

Our Wellness Specialist, Dani Koltz, discusses how foods affect your blood sugar levels.

So how exactly do foods affect your blood sugar levels?

After we eat, the body breaks down carbohydrates into glucose that is absorbed into the bloodstream, causing a rise in your blood sugar. Elevated blood sugar also signals the pancreas to release insulin, which in turn makes your cells either utilize that insulin and use it for energy, or store it for later. Refined carbs (juices, soda, candy or white bread) can cause blood sugar to spike quickly.

Complex carbohydrates (vegetables, whole grains and beans) can also cause an increase in blood sugar but at a more controlled pace over time, thanks to their fiber and protein content. Therefore, controlling blood sugar — especially high spikes from simple carbohydrates — is much more difficult for people with diabetes. Uncontrolled blood sugar can cause long-term complications.

What foods should people with diabetes be eating?

It is not about avoiding carbohydrates altogether if you have diabetes, but rather eating the right types of carbs. A good rule of thumb for individuals who must watch blood sugar daily is to include a least one fat, protein or fiber in each meal or snack to keep blood sugar steady.

Some great options are quality fats from nuts, seeds, avocados and olive oils; fiber from vegetables; and protein from chicken, fish, eggs and dairy.

Top 10 snacks to eat when your blood sugar gets low:

1. Bananas
2. Avocados
3. Peanut butter/almond butter
4. String cheese
5. Apples
6. Greek yogurt
7. Berries
8. Hardboiled egg
9. Nuts
10. Whole-grain crackers or toast

Now Open! Northern Nevada Sierra Medical Center

Prominence is thrilled to extend our congratulations to Sierra Medical Center, the first full-service hospital built in Reno-Sparks, Nevada in more than a century.

As a Prominence Medicare member in northern Nevada, you now have access to this state-of-the-art hospital with 100-percent private rooms and surgical recovery suites, beautiful views of the Sierras and ample access to parking. And, all of this is provided to you with a $0 inpatient copay!

“The addition of Sierra Medical Center to our local market is a commitment to lasting healthcare in northern Nevada and supports economic and wellness benefits throughout the region. In partnership with Universal Health Services, Inc., (UHS), Prominence Health Plan and Northern Nevada Health System are dedicated to the health and wellness of the communities we serve.”
Kamal Jemmoua, CEO, Prominence Health Plan

With 170 total beds, Sierra Medical Center is a state-of-the-art hospital conveniently located with easy access for our Prominence members and other patients, providers, and short-term residents and travelers.

Hospital Services and Features:

• 100% Private Rooms & Procedural Suites
• Orthopedic & Surgical Services
• Diagnostic Imaging
• Laboratory Services
• Intensive Care Unit (ICU)
• Cardiovascular Services, including an Open-Heart Procedural Suite
• Women Services
• Advanced Neurological Services
• Surgical Services, including the most advanced technology
• Emergency Services, 24/7: Management of trauma conditions, stroke, heart attack, acute back pain, migraines, lacerations, crush injuries, abrasions, abdominal pain, acute eye conditions, and more
• Medical care for conditions such as cardiovascular disease, pulmonary disease, oncology, nephrology, infectious disease, and more

Visit Northern Nevada Sierra Nevada Medical Center website at nnsierra.com to learn more.

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Last update 2/7/2024