[ Individuals who practice more preventive medicine, such as well-care visits and exercising, are more likely to perceive their health to be "good" or "excellent." Preventive care leads to lower health care costs. Those who practice less preventive medicine are more likely to perceive their health as "poor."¹ They tend to have higher health care costs due to frequent emergency room and hospital visits and fewer well-care visits.

As AmeriHealth makes changes for the better — for our providers and our members — we look to lead more members toward "good" or "excellent" perception of their health. One resource we use to improve our Medicare-eligible members' health and well-being is the Healthways SilverSneakers Fitness Program, the national leader in older-adult fitness programming. SilverSneakers includes a fitness membership with access to more than 11,000 fitness locations nationwide, use of all amenities, specially designed classes, and social and educational opportunities.

Each year SilverSneakers surveys program members on their health status and program participation. On the 2012 Annual Member Survey for AmeriHealth members, 56 percent of respondents reported that their health care provider advised them to exercise compared to 61 percent from 2011.² We encourage you to discuss fitness with your AmeriHealth patients; they listen to you. Here are some key points for those discussions:

• AmeriHealth respondents' scores on the SF-12^? survey, which measures generic health concepts relevant across age, disease, and treatment groups, were well above those of national seniors. The SF-12 measures physical functioning, role limitations due to physical health problems, bodily pain, general health, vitality (energy/fatigue), social functioning, role limitations due to emotional problems, and behavioral health (psychological distress and psychological well-being). Results are expressed in terms of two constructs: the physical component summary (PCS) score and the mental component summary (MCS) score. The standardized results can be compared across populations.²
• The latest independent study, conducted in 2008, compared health care costs for SilverSneakers members (study group) to members of the same age and gender who were not enrolled in the program (control group). SilverSneakers participants had fewer hospital admissions, lower inpatient care costs, and significantly lower overall health care costs than those in the control group. Program members also showed increased commitment to preventive health care services; in both the first and second years of SilverSneakers membership, the study group had more primary and specialty care visits than control group members.³

Enrolling in SilverSneakers

Enrolling in SilverSneakers is easy. AmeriHealth New Jersey Medicare Advantage HMO members receive their personal SilverSneakers ID card in a special mailing. They simply need to take the SilverSneakers ID card to their closest SilverSneakers location to sign up and get started. (Members who don't have a SilverSneakers ID card can call SilverSneakers to have it mailed.) Your patients can visit www.silversneakers.com or call 1-888-423-4632 for more information on the program and to find their closest participating location.

Help your patients experience positive changes in their lives by practicing preventive care — refer them to SilverSneakers today.

Note: SilverSneakers is offered to AmeriHealth 65^® NJ HMO and AmeriHealth 65^® Preffered HMO members at no cost.

References

¹Idler, E. & Benyamini, Y. (1997). Self-Rated Health & Mortality. A Review of Twenty-Seven Community Studies. Journal of Health and Social Behavior.

²2012 SilverSneakers Annual Member Survey

³Nguyen, H.Q., Ackermann, R.T., Maciejewski, M., Berke, E., Patrick, M., Williams, B., LoGerfo, J.P. (2008). Managed-Medicare Health Club Benefit and Reduced Health Care Costs Among Older Adults. Preventing Chronic Disease, 5(1), 1-10. www.cdc.gov/pcd/issues/2008/jan/07_0148.htm.

This is not a statement of benefits. Benefits may vary based on Federal requirements, Benefits Program (HMO, PPO, etc.), and/or employer groups. Providers should call Customer Service for the member's applicable benefits information. Members should be instructed to call the Customer Service telephone number listed on their ID card.

SilverSneakers is a registered mark of Healthways, Inc.