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Video Source: Celeb Interview | Roseanne Episode 10×01 Roseanne & Dan Trade Their Medicine || Roseanne Scenes In the revival premiere, Roseanne and Dan struggle to afford their medications and opt to split to get by. This issue is likely occurring in many households today due to the ever-increasing prices of prescription medications. According to the CDC, nearly 1 in 10 adults skip medications due to costs.1 This isn’t surprising when you learn that deductible spending has risen 250% while copayments have declined 36%.2 What Can You Do to Save Money on Medications? The U.S. Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services suggests the following ways patients can save money on drugs: Take generic or other lower-cost medications, Choose an insurance plan that has additional drug coverage, Consider drug assistance plans offered by pharmacies and states, Apply to Medicare and Social Security for help reducing costs, Apply to community-based charities for help with medication costs. How does Tria Help with Medication Savings? If you take multiple medications and have a chronic condition, Tria Health provides private telephonic consultations with a pharmacist. Your Tria Health pharmacist will help identify clinically effective and lower cost medications. Members have on average saved up to $210 per year by switching medications. Questions? Contact the Tria Health Help Desk at 1.888.799.8742 SOURCES: Robin Cohen, Ph.D.; health statistician; Maria Villarroel, Ph.D., chief, special projects branch, both National Center for Health Statistics, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; David Katz, M.D., M.P.H., director, Yale University Prevention Research Center, New Haven, Conn.; Jan. 29, 2015, report, Strategies Used by Adults to Reduce Their Prescription Drug Costs: United States, 2013 Kaiser Family Foundation analysis of Truven Health Analytics MarketScan Commercial Claims and Encounters Database, 2005-2015 #MedicationCosts #Roseanne #Savings

Image source: iStock.com/slobo Did you know, if the drugs you’re taking are wrong, skipped, or make you sick, there’s the possibility of incurring additional cost? A recent study published by The University of California – San Diego estimated that the current cost of each possible consequence and estimated total annual cost of illnesses and deaths that result from non-optimized medication therapy to be $528.4 billion. They estimated that the average cost of an individual experiencing treatment failure, a new medical problem or both after initial prescription use to be approximately $2,500. How do Non-Optimized Medications lead to additional cost? Here’s an example of non-optimized medications: You are diagnosed with asthma and your doctor prescribes you with a rescue inhaler. When you go to fill your prescription, you discover that the copay is too expensive for your budget and you choose not to purchase it. You later suffer from an asthma attack and must go to the hospital. You’re now stuck with a very expensive medical bill. This isn’t the only example in which you could incur additional costs, sometimes medications lead to side-effects resulting in the need for added treatment. What can we do to solve this? The University of California – San Diego’s study reached the conclusion that to improve medication-related care, we need to expand comprehensive medication management programs, in which clinical pharmacists have access to complete medical records, improved dialogue with other members of a patient’s health care team and input as a medication is prescribed — similar to what is now taking place at many U.S. Veterans Affairs clinics. How can Tria Health help? Tria Health provides one-on-one consultations with pharmacists, allowing you to review all your medications and make sure everything is safe, affordable and effective. Visit www.triahealth.com to learn more! Source: Jonathan H. Watanabe, Terry McInnis, Jan D. Hirsch. Cost of Prescription Drug–Related Morbidity and Mortality. Annals of Pharmacotherapy, 2018; 106002801876515 DOI: 10.1177/1060028018765159 #Cost #medicationmanagement #NonOptimizedMedications #TheUniversityofCaliforniaSanDiego

Did you know that diabetes can cause eye problems and may lead to blindness? People with diabetes are 40% more likely to suffer from glaucoma and 60% more likely to develop cataracts. With regular checkups, you can keep your eyes healthy and catch problems early. What kind of Eye Exam do I need? The eye doctor will put drops in your eyes to see the retina. This is called a dilated eye exam. The eye drops will make the pupils or black part of your eyes bigger. Then your doctor can see the back of your eye and find any eye problems early. Why should I get a Dilated Eye Exam? Over time, high blood sugar can damage the tiny vessels that supply blood to the eyes. You can have eye damage even if your vision is fine. It has nothing to do with needing glasses. How often should I get a Dilated Eye Exam? You should get a dilated eye exam annually or as recommended by your eye doctor. Getting regular eye exams will help find any problems early, and prevent blindness. For additional recommendations on how you can avoid eye problems, visit the American Diabetes Association. Have any questions? Contact the Tria Health Help Desk at 1.888.799.8742 #Diabetes #DilatedEyeExam #EyeCare #highbloodsugarlevels #EyeExam

American Diabetes Association Alert Day is a day dedicated to spreading awareness of type 2 diabetes and encouraging people to take the ADA risk test. 9 out of 10 Americans most at risk for type 2 diabetes don’t know it. Take the Type 2 Diabetes Risk Test The American Diabetes Association offers a free anonymous risk test that only takes a minute to complete. Find out if you’re at risk today: How to Lower Your Risk Now that you’ve taken the test, here are a few ways you can lower your risk of Type 2 diabetes: Manage your Blood Glucose Manage your Blood Pressure Lower your Cholesterol Stop Smoking Unfortunately, there are some risk factors you can’t change, like age, race, gender & family history. But being aware of your risk factors can help you take smart steps to improve your health in other ways. Tria Health & Diabetes Management If you currently are diagnosed or have been recently diagnosed with Type 2 diabetes, Tria Health can assist you in managing your medications and finding a treatment plan that works for you. For select members, Tria Health also provides free diabetes testing supplies including a blood glucose meter, testing strips, and a mobile app designed to help you manage your diabetes better. Have Any Questions? Call the Tria Help Desk: 1.888.799.8742 #ADAalertDay #AmericanDiabetesAssociation #Diabetes #RiskTest

Image Source: iStock.com/macrovector Thanks to the Tria Health Help Desk, patients may ask pharmacists any medication-related questions. We’d like to share with you some frequently asked questions and the pharmacists’ answers Question: Is it OK to take leftover antibiotics to treat a current infection? Answer: No! The antibiotic might not treat the type infection that you have and might not be the full course of therapy required. Additionally, taking antibiotics inappropriately may also cause antibiotic resistance, making it harder to treat future infections. Question: How do I know what kind of vitamins I should take? Answer: It would depend on your diet, lifestyle, and other medical conditions. Taking a multivitamin is a great place to start. If you have concerns about being vitamin deficient, talk with your doctor about checking certain vitamin levels. Question: Which over-the-counter allergy products are safe to use during pregnancy? Answer: Both Zyrtec and Claritin are safe to use during pregnancy. Make sure these products do not carry any other active ingredients, like pseudoephedrine. Talk with your doctor or your Tria pharmacist before starting any over the counter allergy product. Question: I recently started a new medication and have had a stomach ache ever since. Am I allergic to the drug? Answer: Stomach aches are not a sign or symptom of a medication allergy. It is usually a side effect of the drug. Try to take the medication with food to help avoid stomach upset. Do YOU have a question for our pharmacists? Enroll with Tria Health and schedule your appointment today! Call 1.888.799.8742 or visit www.triahealth.com/enroll #Antibiotics #vitamins #Allergies #medicationmanagement #AskAPharmacist

Image Source: iStock.com/Andrei_r National Patient Safety Awareness Week was designed to mark a dedicated time and a platform to increase awareness about patient safety among health professionals and the public. One goal of the week is to bring together and engage health care professionals and patients to help spread this important message. One prominent safety issue in the health care world is medication mismanagement. Did you Know? 30% Never fill their prescriptions 50% Don’t take as prescribed 41% Heart attack patients don’t take blood pressure medications 50% children with asthma don’t use inhalers. The Benefit of Tria Health If a patient has multiple chronic conditions or multiple physicians, it can be overwhelming and easy to confuse medications or simply be unable to afford the cost. With Tria Health you can speak one-on-one with a pharmacist to help you feel better by getting the intended results from your meds. Additional Educational Resources: Ask Me 3 – A video on health literacy, designed to promote communication between health care providers and patients. Myths and Facts about Diagnostic Error Checklist for Getting the Right Diagnosis Have Any Questions? Call the Tria Help Desk: 1.888.799.8742 Source:  Health & Human Services, National Institute of Health #MedicationMismanagement #PatientSafety #PatientSafetyAwarenessWeek #TriaHealth

Image Source: Unsplash/Jannis Brandt What is National Nutrition Month? National Nutrition Month® is a nutrition education and information campaign created annually in March by the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. The campaign focuses on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. What Can I Do to Get Involved? There are a lot of different ways you can get involved with National Nutrition Month. You can either participate alone or with a group, here are a few ideas on how you can get started: Commit to trying a new fruit or vegetable each week during National Nutrition Month. Start a vegetable garden by planting seeds indoors or outside. Take a trip to a farmers market or local farm. Organize a healthy potluck, making sure each of the food groups is represented. View more ideas HERE. Chronic Conditions and Nutrition If you have a chronic condition, a carefully planned diet can make a difference. With certain diseases, what you eat may reduce symptoms. In other cases, diet can improve health. Although your diet might differ depending on your condition and lifestyle, there are three keys to a healthy eating plan that will work for diabetes, heart health, cancer prevention and weight management: Eat meals and snacks regularly (at planned times). Eat about the same amount of food at each meal or snack. Choose healthful foods to support a healthy weight and heart. Have any questions? Contact the Tria Health Help Desk at 1.888.799.8742. #Nutrition #chronicconditions #HealhtyEating #Diet #NationalNutritionMonth

Image Source: iStock.com/lionvision High Blood pressure affects more than 40% of adults over 25 years of age. In addition to visiting your doctor to ensure your blood pressure is under control, you should be doing out of office monitoring as one to two times per week.  The key to out of office monitoring is that you are consistent in the method of how you take your blood pressure. Rest for 10 Minutes If you have a blood pressure monitor at home, be sure to give yourself 10 minutes of resting time prior to taking your reading. Avoid Caffeine and Tobacco Avoid caffeine and tobacco 30 minutes prior to taking a reading as well. Sit in a Relaxed Position When taking your blood pressure, you should sit relaxed with both feet on the ground.  Arms should be supported at the heart level and free of constrictive clothing. At home blood pressure readings are also ideally taken at the same time every day and in the same arm. Check Your Cuff Sizing It is also important to consider the size of the blood pressure cuff when using an at home monitoring system.  Depending on the circumference of the arm, you may need a smaller or larger cuff to ensure accurate readings. Talk to your pharmacist about what the right cuff size is for you. Have any questions? Contact the Tria Health Help Desk! Phone: 1.888.799.8742 Email: support@triahealth.com

February is American Heart Month, sponsored by the American Heart Association. This month is designed to raise awareness about heart disease, the leading cause of death in the United States. One in three deaths in the US is caused by heart disease and stroke. Your friends at Tria Health want you to understand your personal risks, and what you can do to prevent heart disease in yourselves and your loved ones. Know Your Personal Risk Factors Knowing your numbers could potentially save your life! We encourage you to talk to our clinicians or another healthcare provider about your personal risk factors for heart disease. Blood Pressure Below 120/80 Cholesterol Blood Sugar fasting blood sugar of less than 100 Body Mass Index less than 25 You Have the Power to Control Some of Your Risk Factors There are many risk factors for heart disease, some within your control and others outside your control. The risks you CAN control include: High blood pressure Smoking High blood cholesterol Lack of regular activity Obesity or overweight Diabetes The risks outside your control are: Age Gender Family History Race Previous heart attack or stroke How to Live Healthy The American Heart Association recommends that to live a healthy lifestyle, you must: Eat Smart: Make healthy, delicious choices wherever and whenever you eat. Add Color: Make life more colorful with fruits and vegetables. Move More: Infuse more movement into your life for optimal health. Be Well: Create balance, vitality and wellbeing through self-care. If you would like more tips from the American Heart Association, visit: https://healthyforgood.heart.org/ This month, and always, we hope that you better understand your risks of heart disease, and what you can do to take better care of your heart. #PreventHeartDisease #AmericanHeartMonth #KnowYourNumbers #AmericanHeartAssociation #HeartDisease

Image Source: iStock.com/macrovector Tria Health would like to thank our followers for such positive feedback from our last “Ask a Pharmacist Edition.” Since then, we have seen even more questions coming through to our Help Desk. To better serve our audience, clients and patients, we will continue answering some of our most Frequently Asked Questions. Because it’s cold and flu season, this month we’re going to focus on the questions that will help you get through these next few months. Question: What basic items should be stored in a well-stocked medicine cabinet? Answer: Here are a few essentials to stock your medicine cabinet to treat common problems. Pain relievers Tylenol, Advil, or Aleve.  Remember the generic versions work just as well and will save you money.   If you have children in the home be sure to have children’s formulations as well, ask your pharmacist if you need help calculating the right dose for the little ones. Over the counter medications for minor stomach ailments Products like Pepto-Bismol can treat a variety of minor stomach symptoms. Medications like Tums or Rolaids can help with periodic heartburn symptoms. Mild laxatives, such as Colace or Senna, can help with constipation. Cold, Flu and Allergy Relief Antihistamines and cough suppressants are good to have on hand for common cold and flu symptoms. To make sure that you are targeting the right symptom with the right medication consult your pharmacist. Some common brands we recommend include Claritin, Zyrtec or Allegra. First Aid Kit It’s always important to be able to treat household injuries, be sure to have Band-Aids and Neosporin available for cuts and abrasions. Please don’t forget the importance of checking expiration dates on over-the-counter medications. Expired medications can lose their effectiveness. Additionally, remember the importance of properly disposing any expired medications. Question: Why don’t I need antibiotics when I have a cold? Answer: The common cold is almost always caused by viruses, not bacteria. Viruses do not respond to antibiotics and they typically run their course after a few days. Your best course of action is symptom management, pushing fluids, and rest—these are key to combating a virus. Additionally, over-use of antibiotics leads to antibiotic resistance which makes true bacterial infections harder to treat. Question: Is it true that you can alternate Tylenol and Ibuprofen for fevers? Answer: That is true. If you are combatting a high fever, alternating doses of Tylenol and ibuprofen every 2-3 hours is an effective way to keep the fever down. Always talk with a healthcare professional to ensure you are using the proper doses at the proper interval. Question: Why do I have to take all my antibiotics if I feel better after a few days? Answer: The symptoms associated with a bacterial infection will almost always resolve even before the bacteria is completely out of your system. While you may feel significantly better after only a few doses of an antibiotic, it is crucial to complete the full course of treatment. If the bacteria is not completely eliminated it can return and develop resistance to antibiotics which will make it harder to treat the second time around. Do YOU have a question for our pharmacists? If so, please comment below or call the Tria Health Help Desk at 1.888.799.8742, and we’ll gladly answer in next month’s “Ask A Pharmacist Edition.” #CCM #PharmacyFAQs #FrequentlyAskedQuestions #Pharmacy #ChronicConditionManagement #AskAPharmacist

Wear Red and Raise Awareness About Heart Disease for Women National Wear Red Day is February 2nd. Heart disease and stroke cause 1 in 3 deaths among women each year, killing approximately one woman every 80 seconds.  Fortunately, we can change that because 80 percent of cardiac and stroke events may be prevented with education and action. Go Red for Women is the American Heart Association’s national movement that advocates for more research and swifter action for women’s heart health. The movement also challenges people to know their risk for heart disease and act to reduce their personal risk. Take Steps to Reduce Your Risk Not only can you wear red to raise awareness but you can also take steps to reduce your own risk. The American Heart Association has developed an online tool called My Life Check. My Life Check allows you to find out your heart score and see if you’re at risk based on Life’s Simple 7: Managing your blood pressure Control your cholesterol Reduce your blood sugar Get Active Eat Better Lose Weight Stop Smoking Find out Your Heart Score Tria Health Helps Control Heart Disease? Tria Health offers Chronic Condition Management through our Pharmacy Advocate Program. Heart Disease and stroke are two of the many chronic conditions that Tria Health targets. Clinical Pharmacists provide one-on-one telephonic counseling for members and act as their personal advocate to help them navigate through the health care system. Through reviewing a member’s medications and lifestyle habits, Tria Pharmacists can make recommendations that will help control their chronic conditions and help them feel better! Questions? Call 1.888.799.8742 or visit www.triahealth.com. Wear Red and Support Heart Health! #HeartDisease #HeartDiseasePrevention #strokeprevention #WearRedDay