• Tobacco Use — Is It Worth the Cost?

• Relay For Life

• Working on Wellness

• Spotlight in Wellness

• Benefits Corner

• Employee Assistance Program

• Safety Tip!

• Ballroom Dancing Lessons

• Water Aerobics

Relay For Life

Relay for Life is the national signature activity of the American Cancer Society. The event was started by Dr. Gordon Klatt, who held a one-man, 24 hour marathon in 1985. Since then, the momentum of Relay for Life has grown into over 4,000 separate events that raised over $1 billion. Relay volunteers celebrate life by honoring cancer survivors, caregivers, remembering loved ones, and educating the public about prevention and early detection.

Relay for Life keeps getting bigger and better. Teams organize a campsite near the track and keep vigil all night, ensuring that at least one member of the team is walking on the track at all times. The first lap of the relay is reserved for cancer survivors.

Since the event is held after dark, luminarias are used not only to light the way, but as a remembrance and honor to those who have battled cancer. Each luminaria represents a treasured relationship as well as a donation to the American Cancer Society’s mission—supporting research, education, advocacy, and patient services.

If you know…

• A child who has been cured of leukemia

• A woman who had a lumpectomy or was treated with Tamoxifen for breast cancer

• A man whose prostate cancer was diagnosed with the PSA test

• Anyone who has quit smoking

Then you know someone who has benefited from research supported by the American Cancer Society.

The McAllen Relay for Life will take place April 28—29, at McAllen Memorial Stadium. Campuses are encouraged to participate. If you need information regarding donations, team organization, or schedule of events, contact Sharon Wilkes at  sharon.wilkes@mcallenisd.net or the American Cancer Society at 682-8329.

Sharon B. Wilkes, RN, MA, CPS, CCS, Coordinator, Prevention Services
© American Cancer Society, Inc. All rights reserved.

National Playground Safety

The US Consumer Products Safety Commission reports that playground equipment is a leading source of childhood injury.  In 2002, there were more than 228,000 hospital emergency room injuries relating to all playground equipment. Many deaths also occur, mostly on home playgrounds.  According to a CPSC study, from 1990 to August 2000, nearly 150 deaths occurred relating to playgrounds, and at least 90 children under 15 died on home playground equipment.

National National Playground Safety Week is April 26-30.  For more information on making playgrounds safer visit the National Program for Playground Safety (NPPS) or the US Consumer Products Safety Commission web site.

The NPPS is a non profit playground safety organization that serves as a national resource for the latest educational and research information on playground safety.  The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission is charged with protecting the public from unreasonable risks of serious injury or death from more than 15,000 types of consumer products.

Source NPPS & USCPS

http://www.playgroundsafety.org/
http://www.cpsc.gov/

Ballroom Dancing Lessons

Great Fun, Great Exercise!

Who may participate: MISD employees only 

Cost: It’s FREE!!! 

Site: Wilson Elementary School Gymnasium, 1200 Hackberry

Session II (Beginners or Intermediate): Mondays, February 27—April 10, 2006 (no class March 13th), 7 - 8:30 p.m.

Call Tonie at 632-3275 to sign-up.  

Water Aerobics

Wellness...a way of life!

As the District’s Prevention Specialist, I have promoted a strong anti-tobacco message to our students for many years. It is important for our students to make wise choices regarding the use of tobacco products in order to have a healthy future.

We discuss with them that smoking is hazardous to our health. It damages lungs, teeth, the tongue, taste buds, sinuses, and many other organs, even the brain. They look at pictures of diseased lungs, stomachs, reproductive organs, etc. and vow that they will never, ever smoke or chew. Statistics indicate that fewer students are smoking these days, thanks to our prevention efforts, but despite our best efforts, some youth and adults continue use. Threats of cancer may not be enough to encourage them to quit, but what about threats to the pocketbook? The financial impacts of tobacco use are great and increasing all the time.

A pack of cigarettes in the U.S. now costs an average of $4.32. Simple math tells us that the pack-a-day user will burn up almost $130 monthly or $1560 annually. On the other hand, a forty-year-old smoker who quits and invests that amount into a 401(k) earning 9% interest will have $250,000 by age 70.

A pack of cigarettes in the U.S. now costs an average of $4.32. Simple math tells us that the pack-a-day user will burn up almost $130 monthly or $1560 annually.

Some companies are refusing to hire smokers because of the high cost of their health care and insurance. According to the American Civil Liberties Union more than 6,000 companies refuse to hire smokers. Some companies require potential employees to take a nicotine test and have applicants sign an “affidavit of non-tobacco use”. The Center for Disease Control asserts smokers cost the economy nearly $94 billion each year in lost productivity, while an additional $89 billion is estimated to be spent on health care.

Car dealers may reduce the trade-in value of vehicles by more than $1000 if the owner has smoked in it. Even homes of smokers can be a turn-off to potential buyers because of the costs related to “de-smoke” the dwelling (repainting, cleaning carpets, AC ducts, etc.)

Life insurance premiums are also affected. One company quoted the annual rate for a 44-year-old male non-smoker at $695, but said it could increase to as much as $2000-$4,495 annually for a smoker.

Health insurance premiums may be affected, perhaps not as drastically as life insurance; however, home owner’s insurance agencies often give a 10% discount to non-smokers.

Smokers who pay into Social Security, due to higher mortality rates, obtain lower lifetime benefits than nonsmokers. The Center for Health Policy Management reported this fact. Benefits that were paid into the system were never collected because the beneficiary died prematurely.

What do we need to be doing? First of all, support prevention programs for children and youth. Secondly, if you smoke, seriously consider quitting. Tobacco use is one of the most difficult addictions to address, but help is available.

A smoking cessation class is being planned. If you are concerned about someone’s use of tobacco, email sharon.wilkes@mcallenisd.net  to indicate your interest.

I would also like to know how many of you previously used tobacco and have managed to quit. Email your story or comments, and I’ll report that in the next month’s issue.

Good Health to You!

Sharon B. Wilkes, RN, MA, CPS, CCS, Coordinator, Prevention Services

Wellness on Wednesday Sessions, 4:30 – 6:30 p.m.  All sessions held at MISD Staff Development Center, 1009 N. 10th Street.

Wellness on Wednesday Sessions, 12:00 Noon – 1:00 P.M.  All sessions held at MISD Board Room, 2000 N. 23rd Street.

Staff development sessions for time equivalency regarding Wellness topics are now posted on the ERO (Look under Wellness).

It gives me great pleasure to introduce a delightful, energetic, multi-talented young woman to you this month. You may have seen Andrea Hathcock with her fancy camera in front of her face, taking your picture for the Community Information Department. Andrea can create masterpieces with a camera. We have seen her work in the newspaper, on numerous brochures and programs for the district, and even on the walls of McAllen Airport. Her favorite subject to photograph is people; that is easy to understand when you see the faces of adults and especially the children in her creations.

Andrea was born on Christmas Day, 1974 in Houston, but she and her two brothers grew up in Harlingen. She has a BS in Entomology from Cornell and an MA in Photojournalism from UT Austin. She loves to travel, having visited Turkey, Greece, Venezuela, England, Canada, and Mexico. She loves language, crossword puzzles or any word games. In addition to English, she speaks Spanish, Greek and Turkish.

Andrea is very health-minded. She eats a nutritious diet and keeps her tiny body fit and trim, sometimes riding bicycles with her new husband Chris (they were married last October).

The most recent health activity Andrea has taken on is that of kickboxing instructor for the MISD Wellness Program. Andrea writes, “I was a tomboy as a girl. So, I always played with boys in any sport, to the total exasperation of my grandmother, but complete satisfaction of my father. I played rugby for Cornell, and it was there I took my first kickboxing class. Team sports were always my favorite, but kickboxing was the best option for me when not playing on a team. It had the necessary element of roughness and competition of team sports without the monotony of say a step aerobics class.”  Andrea’s class is full and has a waiting list. If you are interested in a future kickboxing class, please contact me.

So, be on the look out for Andrea. She is definitely In the Spotlight!

Sharon B. Wilkes, RN, MA, CPS, CCS, Coordinator, Prevention Services

Self Funded Medical Plan

Are you aware that the District’s health and dental plan is self funded? 

Annually, the District has to budget the amount of money it projects it will cost to pay for all the medical, pharmacy, dental bills and all other eligible health and dental expenses that will be incurred by all the District’s covered employees and dependents.  The “insurance premiums” paid by employees on a monthly basis are pooled with an additional monthly “insurance” contribution from the District.  From this pooled fund, the District, not an insurance company, pays for all the applicable health plan expenses.  This practice is referred to as “Self-funding”.  This differs from a conventionally insured plan where premiums are paid to an insurance company and the insurance company is responsible for paying the bills.

To administer the self-funded health plan, the District contracts with a Third Party Administrator (TPA).  The TPA, currently American Administrative Group, has the expertise, personnel and access to the necessary resources to maintain eligibility, provide customer service, process claims, etc.  The TPA is responsible for the administration of all aspects of the health plan on behalf of the District. 

Here are two simplified examples of the types of eligible health care services, claim process and the role of the TPA in a self funded plan:

• Consider a routine office visit.  Covered members would expect to pay the applicable copay, at a minimum, depending of the nature of the visit.  The provider then bills the balance of the office visit charge to the District through the District’s current TPA, American Administrative Group.  The provider would be paid on behalf of the District by American Administrative Group from the pooled funds. 

• Similarly, when filling a prescription at a retail pharmacy, covered members would expect to pay the applicable prescription copay.  The actual cost of the medication is considerably higher than the copay amount.  Who is responsible for paying the balance?  As the sponsor of the self funded plan, the balance of the prescription cost is paid by the District. 

The District and all the employees share in the cost of the health plan because it is self-funded.  We can all help contain the rising health care costs and its impact on the pool funding (premiums) by being informed health care consumers and practicing a health lifestyle.

UNUM Provident Disability Plan

Employees enrolled in the UNUM Provident Disability Plan recently received a letter at home from the servicing agent, Dennis Carruth.  The servicing agent has brought it to the District’s attention that the letter incorrectly referred to Vision Plan coverage instead of the Disability Plan.  Through the District’s self funded health plan, a vision exam is an eligible benefit once per calendar year but the District does not sponsor nor payroll deduct for a Vision Plan through this or any other agent.  No action is required relating to the letter but if you have any questions, contact Dennis Carruth & Associates at 682-1023 or contact the Employee Benefits Office.

Visit the MISD Employee Benefits Department web site for up-to-date benefit forms and information.

Mr. Andres Silva is the Director of Employee Benefits/Risk Management