FAQ's
Questions are organized into the categories shown below. You can read all of the FAQs by scrolling through this document or you may click on the category that interests you and be taken directly to that section.
General Information
Eligibility
Health and Wellness Assessment
Online Health Resources
Condition Management
Health and Wellness Assessment Reports
Confidentiality and Consent
General Information
1. Question: What is Health Smarts?
Answer: Health Smarts is SISC’s comprehensive health improvement program for SISC PPO Plan participants. Through Health Smarts, SISC and our health partners, Anthem Blue Cross of California and Blue Shield of California, both supported by WebMD, provide a wide choice of online resources to help you take charge of your health – everything you need in the areas of preventive care, health improvement, condition management and decision support.
Although most SISC PPO plans provide coverage for preventive care, it is always a good idea to check your plan benefits before scheduling a preventive care appointment with your doctor.2. Question: Why is SISC introducing this program?
Answer: We all know that increases in health care costs are a national concern and are expected to continue for the foreseeable future. However, there are actions that each of us can take to slow the increases.
Research has shown that 70% of disease is preventable if health risks are reduced. When people are healthier, they are happier and more productive. So, if we can help district employees and their families reduce their health risks, we can slow the rate at which our health care costs increase, reduce absenteeism, and model healthy living in the workplace and the classroom. Health Smarts is designed to do all of those things.
3. Question: Why is Health Smarts only for PPO Plan participants?
Answer: SISC offers our members the choice of medical coverage under a health maintenance organization (HMO) or preferred provider organization (PPO).
HMOs have more typically been focused on keeping their members healthy, and in helping them improve their health. Participants in SISC HMOs already have health and wellness assessments and health improvement programs available to them directly through their HMOs.
The traditional focus of PPOs has been on providing coverage for medical care, including prevention. However, until recently there has been less emphasis on efforts aimed at helping participants improve their health to avoid preventable medical conditions. Programs such as Health Smarts represent a new focus on health and prevention for SISC’s PPO participants.
Eligibility
1. Question: Are all SISC members eligible for Health Smarts programs?
Answer: Health Smarts is generally available only to participants in the SISC PPO medical plans¾SISC members, including retirees and COBRA participants, and their covered dependents. SISC members who are enrolled in HMOs have health assessments and health improvement programs available directly through their HMO.
There are some limitations on the availability of Health Smarts for dependent children.- Dependent children under age 18
- Anthem Blue Cross –ConditionCare is available only for those with asthma and diabetes
- Blue Shield – can only participate in Health Management Programs; no other portion of Health Smarts is available
2. Question: I declined SISC medical coverage but did take dental. Can I participate in Health Smarts?
Answer: At this time, Health Smarts is available only to participants in one of SISC's PPO plans.
3. Question: Are all of my covered dependents eligible for Health Smarts?
Answer: In general, the answer is yes. Anyone who is covered under a SISC PPO Plan can access online health-related information and tools.
Eligibility to take the online health and wellness assessment depends on the plan: all Anthem Blue Cross PPO participants can take it; Blue Shield PPO participants who are age 18 or older can take it.
Under the Anthem Blue Cross ConditionCare program, covered dependent children can participate in the pediatric asthma and pediatric diabetes programs.
Blue Shield’s Health Management Programs are available to any PPO plan participant who is diagnosed with one of the conditions, regardless of age.
4. Question: If I am on an approved leave of absence, am I eligible to participate in Health Smarts?
Answer: Yes, as long as you are enrolled in a SISC PPO Plan during your leave.
Health and Wellness Assessment
1. Question: What is the health and wellness assessment?
Answer: The health and wellness assessment is an online tool that asks you a series of health-related questions. Based on your answers, it offers you a personalized assessment of your current health status and lifestyle practices. It includes a report that rates your health on a 100-point scale and compares your health status to others your age. The report also provides suggested activities to improve your health, and targeted health information.
The assessment will take between 15 and 20 minutes to complete. It is helpful¾but not required¾to have your most recent height and weight, waist size, total cholesterol, HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, blood pressure and blood sugar measurements available when you complete the health assessment. These measurements are typically part of an annual physical exam which is covered under most SISC PPO plans. (While most SISC PPO plans cover preventive care, be sure to check your plan’s benefits before scheduling your physical.)2. Question: Who is responsible for the health and wellness assessment?
Answer: SISC’s health partners for Health Smarts are our health plan administrators, Anthem Blue Cross of California and Blue Shield of California, each of which is supported by WebMD. The health and wellness assessment is powered by WebMD, one of the pioneers in the field of online health improvement programs. WebMD worked with each of our health plan administrators to develop a health and wellness assessment tool that would meet your needs.
3. Question: When can I take the health and wellness assessment?
Answer: You can take the health and wellness assessment anytime.
4. Question: How do I access the online health and wellness assessment?
Answer: The health and wellness assessment is available through SISC’s web site, www.sisc.kern.org. Click the Health Smarts link on the left navigation and, from the upper right corner of the Health Smarts page, click the button for your plan’s assessment: Either:
- Anthem Blue Cross Health Assessment or
- Blue Shield Wellness Assessment.
If it’s your first visit to the Anthem Blue Cross or Blue Shield site, you’ll be asked to register. Registering is easy and quick¾just be sure to have your medical plan ID card with you because you’ll be asked for your ID number.
If you have already registered, just log into the site using your user name and password and click on the health and wellness assessment link.
The first time you take the health and wellness assessment, WebMD will ask you to accept the terms and conditions of the site and complete a profile indicating areas of interest. Once you have completed this, you will be ready to take the assessment.5. Question: What if I get my "numbers" after I complete the health and wellness assessment?
Answer: No problem. If you want to see whether your assessment results are different when you enter your “numbers”, just go to www.sisc.kern.org, click Health Smarts, and on the upper right corner of the Health Smarts page, click the button for your plan’s assessment.
When you reach the health and wellness assessment, fill in your numbers in the spaces provided and click submit. On the next page of the assessment, if you don’t want to change any of your answers, just click submit: You don’t have to complete the rest of the assessment a second time. The system will take you to the results page where you will see a new report.
6. Question: What are my "numbers"?
Answer: Your "numbers" are measurements that provide one indicator of your health status. They include your:
- Height
- Weight (without clothes, pre-pregnancy)
- Waist measurement
- Normal resting pulse rate
- Percent of body fat
- Blood sugar level
- Total cholesterol
- LDL (bad) cholesterol
- HDL (good) cholesterol
- Triglyceride levels
- Blood pressure reading - systolic (upper number) and diastolic (lower number).
If you know your "numbers" when you complete the health and wellness assessment, the results will be more meaningful. However, you can take the assessment even if you don't know your "numbers."
Online Health Resources
1. Question: What are Health Smarts' online health resources?
Answer: Your first stop for online health resources is the SISC website at www.sisc.kern.org. From there, click on Health Smarts for an overview of all the programs, information and tools available to you through Health Smarts. If you want details, just click on your health plan administrator’s name or logo (Anthem Blue Cross or Blue Shield).
On your plan administrator’s website, you will find a library of health-related information. In addition, your health and wellness assessment report will contain links to information and programs that might help you reduce any risks revealed by your answers to the assessment questionnaire. The links will be to information and programs offered through either your health plan administrator or WebMD.2. Question: I completed the Blue Cross Health Assessment and the report suggested I visit a Lifestyle Center. What's that?
Answer: Lifestyle Centers are online tools and programs that Anthem Blue Cross offers to SISC PPO plan participants through WebMD. Lifestyle Centers are targeted to specific risk factors, such as weight, fitness, stress, cholesterol, etc., that are revealed by a member’s health and wellness assessment results.
3. Question: I completed the Blue Shield Wellness Assessment and the report suggested some Health Programs and Information Centers. What are they?
Answer: Health Programs are online tools and programs with 10-12 phases that Blue Shield offers SISC PPO plans who have specific risk factors, such as weight, fitness, stress, cholesterol, etc. that are revealed by their health and wellness assessment results. Health Programs are powered by WebMD.
Information Centers are online resources and tools addressing specific health topics that Blue Shield makes available to SISC PPO plan participants; Information Centers do not offer guided programs.Condition Management
1. Question: What is condition management?
Answer: SISC introduced condition management in the fall of 2007. It helps people with specific conditions manage the condition and stay as healthy as possible.
Although the name of the program will vary depending on your plan administrator (ConditionCare for Anthem Blue Cross; Health Management Program for Blue Shield), the program works in essentially the same manner for both. Condition management nurses who are knowledgeable about the condition will work over the telephone with PPO plan participants who are living with asthma, diabetes, heart failure (HF), coronary artery disease (CAD), or chronic pulmonary obstructive disease (COPD).
This voluntary, confidential program extends--but does not replace--your relationship with your doctor. It is offered at no additional cost to PPO plan participants who are diagnosed with any of the above conditions.2. Question: I was recently diagnosed with diabetes. How will I know if I’m eligible for condition management?
Answer: Your medical claims will alert your health plan administrator (Anthem Blue Cross or Blue Shield) of your condition. Shortly afterward, a representative from your health plan administrator will call to invite you to participate in the condition management program for diabetes. If you choose to participate, you will be given a number to call to set up an initial telephone meeting with a nurse who is knowledgeable about diabetes.
3. Question: How much will it cost me to be in the condition management program?
Answer: Nothing. The cost of the condition management program is paid by Health Smarts.
4. Question: What will happen to my medical coverage if I don't participate in condition management?
Answer: Nothing. Participation in condition management is completely voluntary. Condition management can be a valuable addition to the care your doctor already provides; and many doctors are pleased when their patients participate in supplemental care programs like this. So, if you're invited to participate, we ask that you seriously consider it. However, you are never under any obligation to participate.
5. Question: Can my spouse and children participate in the condition management program?
Answer: If your spouse or domestic partner is covered under a SISC PPO medical plan and has been diagnosed with asthma, diabetes, heart failure (HF), coronary artery disease (CAD), or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), he or she can participate in condition management.
If you’re a Anthem Blue Cross PPO plan participant, your covered dependent children can participate in the pediatric asthma and pediatric diabetes programs.6. Question: Will my doctor be involved with my condition management program?
Answer: The condition management nurse will notify your doctor about your participation in the condition management program. Condition management nurses don’t replace your doctor; they will work with your doctor to develop your individual goals. The condition management nurse may ask your doctor to complete a questionnaire to help ensure they are aware of your doctor’s treatment plan for you.
Health and Wellness Assessment Reports
1. Question: When will I get my health and wellness assessment report and what will it contain?
Answer: Within seconds of taking the online health and wellness assessment, you will receive an online report that highlights health issues you can modify and provides links to information and resources that can help reduce your health risks. The report also assesses your health on a 100-point scale and compares your health status to that of your peers. You can print this information to take to your next doctor visit. This action plan doesn’t replace your relationship with your doctor, but it gives you some things to think about, explore, and act upon.
2. Question: What will SISC, my district and my school site do with the data?
Answer: No one at SISC, your school district or your school site will ever see your data. We realize that the security of your personal health information is of great concern to you and SISC takes it very seriously. Your personal health information is protected by law. SISC does not receive individual participant data. We only receive aggregate reports, which help us to determine how to improve the program in the future.
No one at SISC, your school district or your school site will ever see your health and wellness assessment results or any other personal health information because all program components are offered by third-party vendors—not SISC.
3. Question: Can I get a copy of the report for my doctor?
Answer: Yes. You can print your health and wellness assessment report from the site and take it with you to your next doctor visit.
Confidentiality and Consent
1. Question: How is my data protected?
Answer: We realize that the security of your personal health information is of great concern to you and SISC takes it very seriously. Your personal health information is protected by law. Any personal health information collected on the site is governed by WebMD’s HIPAA privacy policy.
Through your user name and password, you will be the only one with access to your personal health information. If the results of your health and wellness assessment reveal an opportunity for you to improve your health, you may share that information with Anthem Blue Cross or Blue Shield condition management nurses or your personal physician. However, any personal health information you provide within the site will not be shared with SISC, your school district or your school site. SISC only receives aggregate data to help determine how to improve the Health Smarts program in the future.
No one at SISC will ever see your health and wellness assessment results or any other personal health information, because third-party vendors offer all program components—not SISC.