If you or someone you know is struggling, the 988 Lifeline is here to help. It is a free, confidential service that connects you with trained counselors, no matter what you are going through. You do not have to be suicidal to reach out. Talking with someone can help save your life. The 988 Lifeline is for anyone facing challenges such as:

• Stress or anxiety
• Economic worries
• Substance use
• Relationship issues
• Intimate partner violence
• Depression
• Culture and identity
• Mental or physical illness
• Loneliness

When you call or text 988 your conversation is confidential, and the support you get is free, anonymous, and available 24/7. Counselors are there to listen, help, and connect you support if needed. If law enforcement or medical emergency response is needed, then the counselor will ask for contact information so responders can help. If you are worried about a loved one or someone else, you can also call 988 on their behalf.

The service is available in over 200 languages, including Spanish, Vietnamese, Chinese, and Tagalog. Texting is available in English and Spanish.

If you are in Santa Clara County and do not have a 408, 650, or 669 area code, you can still reach the local service by calling the County Behavioral Health Services at 1-800- 704-0900 and pressing 1. This number can also be used for non-emergency calls about mental health and substance use treatment services and referrals.

For more details about the 988 Lifeline, visit www.988lifeline.org. For immediate help, call or text 988. To chat, visit: https://chat.988lifeline.org/.

Health Impacts of Tobacco Use
The health risks associated with tobacco use include cancer, heart disease, and respiratory problems.

Smoking affects every part of your body including ears, nose, lungs, stomach, blood, brain, eyes, mouth, heart, and bones. If you smoke, you are 10 times more likely to get cancer than a person who has never smoked.

Health Benefits of Quitting
Quitting smoking will improve your health and can add up to10 years to your life. As soon as you quit smoking, your body begins to repair the damage caused by smoking and amazingly continues to repair itself for many years.

Valley Health Plan’s Tobacco Cessation Program
Valley Health Plan’s Health Education Department offers a certified Tobacco Cessation Program to help VHP members quit smoking and using tobacco products.

This program helps identify and address individual triggers and reviews various nicotine replacement therapy (NRT) options, including how to safely use NRT. The goal for this program is to teach members how to successfully quit smoking even if they have attempted to quit in the past. This program is available to VHP members at no cost.

VHP’s Tobacco Cessation Program consists of two individual online sessions. In-person sessions can also be arranged by member request. A certificate of completion will be presented to members who attend both sessions.

Tobacco-certified VHP Health Education Specialists provide direct support to VHP members including:

• Understanding smoking history and routine
• Learning the benefits of quitting and different strategies to quit
• Managing withdrawal symptoms and smoking “triggers”
• Understanding options for nicotine replacement therapy to discuss with their doctors
• Recognizing the importance of selecting a “quit date”

To learn more about VHP’s Health and Wellness programs and how to enroll, visit our website at www.valleyhealthplan. org/members/health-and-wellness.

If you have any questions, please reach out to VHP’s Health Education Department at [email protected] or call us at 1-669-220-5235, option 1.

Lead Screening for Children
 

Lead is a natural occurring metal that can cause negative health effects. People are exposed to lead by eating lead paint chips, ingesting contaminated food or water, or by breathing in lead dust. Lead may be still found in and around older homes and buildings, as well as in some consumer products, remedies, and foods.

Even in small amounts, lead has harmful effects on the body. Lead exposure may lead to lifelong learning, behavioral, reproductive, cardiovascular, and other health problems.

Lead poisoning is one of the most common environmental illnesses in California, but it is completely preventable.

Lead poisoning in children
Children younger than 6 years old are more likely to be exposed to lead due to their hand- to-mouth behavior. Many children ingest lead dust by putting objects such as toys and dirt in their mouths.

Lead can harm your child, making it hard for your child to learn, pay attention, and behave. Most children who have lead poisoning do not look or act sick.

Lead sources that may put your child at risk

• Lead paint inside or outside the home that is chipped, peeling, or damaged in any way. If your home was built before 1978, it may have lead paint.
• Some imported dishes, pots, water crocks, or older dishware, especially if worn, chipped, or cracked.
• Imported food such as chapulines (fried grasshoppers).
• Brightly colored spices from other countries, such as chili powder, imported tamarind candy, turmeric, and khmeli suneli (dried spice blend).

Tips to protect your child from lead

• Do not let your child chew on painted surfaces or eat paint chips.
• Wash your child’s hand and toys often. Lead dust and dirt can stick to hands and toys that children put in their mouths.
• Avoid giving your child sweets from other countries. Some candies from outside the U.S. have lead in them.

• Keep your home clean and dust-free. This keeps lead in dust and dirt from spreading in the house.

Lead screening for children
Children ages 1 to 2 who are in publicly supported programs*, and all children at risk for lead exposure, should get tested. Children in publicly supported programs* ages 24 months to 6 years should be tested if they were not previously tested.

If you think your child might be at risk of lead exposure, ask your child’s doctor for a blood lead test. The only way to know if your child has lead poisoning is to get a blood test for lead. The cost of lead screening for children is covered by Valley Health Plan.

* Examples of publicly supported programs include Medi-Cal, CHDP, and Women, Infants, and Children (WIC).

Chlamydia Screenings for Women
 

Chlamydia is the most common, treatable, sexually transmitted infection (STI) in the United States. Chlamydia infections in women usually do not have signs or symptoms, and they can cause damage to a woman’s reproductive system. This can make it difficult or impossible to get pregnant later.

Chlamydia can also cause pelvic inflammatory disease and ectopic pregnancy (pregnancy that occurs outside the womb).

How is chlamydia contracted?
You can get chlamydia by having vaginal, anal, or oral sex with someone who has chlamydia. A pregnant person with chlamydia can give the infection to their baby during childbirth.

How can you reduce your risk?
The only way to completely avoid STIs is to not have vaginal, anal, or oral sex. If you are sexually active, the following things can lower your chances of getting chlamydia:

• Being in a long-term mutually monogamous relationship with a partner who has been tested and does not have chlamydia
• Using condoms every time you have sex

Chlamydia screenings for women 
Chlamydia screening is recommended for sexually active women including those who are pregnant without signs and symptoms of chlamydia if they are:

• 24 years or younger
• 25 years or older who are at increased risk for infection

Women 25 years or older are at increased risk if they have:

• A previous or existing STI
• A new or more than one sex partner
• A sex partner having sex with other partners at the same time
• A sex partner with an STI
• Inconsistent condoms use when not in a mutually monogamous relationship
• A history of exchanging sex for money or drugs
• A history of incarceration

Chlamydia During Pregnancy
Those who are pregnant should be tested for Chlamydia and other STIs as part of their medical care. The results of an STI can be more serious, even life-threatening, for the mother and the baby if they become infected while pregnant. It is recommended those who are pregnant get screened during the first prenatal visit and again during the third trimester.

VHP members who are interested can ask their doctors about getting tested for all sexually transmitted infections.

Ambulance Billing Update
 

End to Surprise Ambulance Billing
California State Senate passed Assembly Bill 716 to protect patients from surprise bills for ground ambulance services.

• A VHP member who receives covered services from a noncontracted ground ambulance provider will not pay more than the amount that would have applied to a contracted provider.

• The law further prohibits the ambulance provider from attempting to collect from the insured member any amount greater than the in-network cost-sharing amount owed by the member.

Where to find cost-sharing amounts

• Explanation of Benefits: Once a claim has been paid by VHP, the Explanation of Benefits will clearly identify if the member has any financial responsibility. A digital version of the Explanation of Benefits can be accessed through the member portal, VHP Connect, at www.vhpconnect.org.
• Schedule of Benefits and Coverage Matrix (SOBM): This document provides a high- level summary of benefits and cost-sharing amounts including Ambulance Services. Visit www.valleyhealthplan.org > Members > Forms and Resources:
  • Employer Group SOBM (by group)
  • Covered California SOBM (by metal tier)
  • Individual & Family Plan SOBM (by metal tier)

VHP pays the ambulance provider directly

• Ambulance provider claims will be paid directly by VHP.
• Members are only responsible for paying cost-sharing amounts (if any).
• If an ambulance provider is attempting to bill you directly, please notify VHP Member Services at 1-888-421-8444 or [email protected].
• Please note that members should not pay the claim directly to the ambulance provider nor seek reimbursement from VHP.

VHP News and Updates

Member Profile Updates: Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity

VHP’s mission is to ensure high-quality and affordable health care for all members. We will continue to provide equitable and inclusive health plan coverage and services to our LGBTQIA+ members, as well as advocate for all VHP members to be treated with respect and understanding.

During your next call to VHP, you may be asked to update your member profile with your preferred name, gender identity, sex assigned at birth, preferred pronouns, and sexual orientation. Collecting this information will help VHP understand the member population so we can improve services and provide the best care possible.

More Important Resources and Information

At VHP, we know that keeping up on how to get the most out of your health plan is important to you. So, we have made it easy. To find all your health information in one place, access our member portal, VHP Connect, at www.vhpconnect.org.

For information on the following subjects, visit: https://www.valleyhealthplan.org/members/forms-and-resources or www.valleyhealthplan.org > Members Tab > Benefits Handbooks. The Benefits Handbooks are also known as the Evidence of Coverage (EOC). This information is also available through alternative media upon request.

Advance Health Care Directive
Affirmative Statement About Financial Incentives Autism Care Management Program
Change of Address
Choosing and Changing Your Primary Care Practitioner (PCP)
Chronic Condition Management Program / Care Management
Combined Evidence of Coverage, including information such as: Benefits and services included and excluded from coverage

• Pharmacy management and general coverage
• Copayments and other cost sharing responsibilities
• Benefits and limitations to services outside the service area
• How to submit a claim forcovered services
• How to obtain specialty care, behavioral healthcare services, and hospital services
• How to obtain care outside the service area
• How to obtain care after normal business hours
• Authorization and denial of services (Independent Medical Review eligibility and process)

Coordination of Benefits
Emergency and Urgent Care Services Evaluation and coverage of new and existing technologies
Grievance and Appeals Process Language Assistance
Lock-In Provision
Member Rights and Responsibilities Non-Discrimination
Protected Health Information Provider Directory / Search
Self-Refer Services (Direct Access) Timely Access
Waste, Fraud, and Abuse

Teletypewriter and Telecommunications Device for the Deaf services are available for the hearing and speech impaired. Call the California Relay Service (CRS) by dialing 711 or the 800 CRS number of your modality.

The VHP Member Services Department has staff available Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5p.m. to assist with:

• utilization management issues
• authorizations
• claims
• benefits
• coverage
• general inquiries