Health and Wellness

Preventive Care

An important part of HMSA’s commitment to improving the health and well-being of our members is our emphasis on preventive care. HMSA programs can help identify high-risk factors for members, prevent potentially serious diseases, and offer the best opportunity for early detection and successful treatment.

HealthPass
HealthPass is HMSA’s award-winning health promotion and preventive care program that provides members with information and education on health and personal risk factors. HealthPass staff measures members’ blood pressure, cholesterol, blood sugar level, and body fat percentage. They guide members through a review of their current lifestyle, health habits, and family medical history. They also create a personal health action plan to help members reduce their risk for diseases.

An HMSA plan benefit for eligible members, HealthPass is conveniently offered statewide at employer worksites and six HealthPass offices and through Web-based and telephonic tools. In 2009, HealthPass helped 25,600 HMSA members and delivered services at more than 180 worksites across the state.

Flu Shot Clinics
To help our members avoid getting the flu, HMSA provided seasonal flu shots at no cost to members at community clinics and in workplaces on Oahu, Maui, Kauai, and the Big Island. In 2009, 35,000 flu shots were administered through this program. Flu shot reminders also are sent to members who are at increased risk of developing complications from the flu.

HMSA also provided shots to guard against the novel H1N1 flu, a new virus that began affecting people worldwide in early 2009. Because of limited availability and supply, HMSA initially offered the vaccine by appointment only to people who were the most at risk of contracting the virus. Subsequently, an ample supply of the vaccine enabled HMSA’s HealthPass to administer it to HMSA members.

HMSA also supports Protect Hawaii’s Keiki: Stop Flu at School in collaboration with the Hawaii Department of Health, community agencies, and public and independent schools statewide. The program provides flu vaccines to schoolchildren age 5 to 13, faculty, and staff at no cost to help reduce illness and prevent the spread of the flu virus.

RSVP
Early detection of disease is the key to timely treatment and successful health outcomes. HMSA’s Reminder for Screening & Vaccination Program (RSVP) sends members personalized birthday greetings with reminders to get screenings for:

• Breast, cervical and colorectal cancers.
• Heart disease.
• Diabetes.
• Pneumococcal vaccinations.

HMSA also sends physicians corresponding lists of their patients and the services they need. In 2009, RSVP sent 264,000 reminders to HMSA members.

The Good Pregnancy – He Hapai Pono
He Hapai Pono offers prenatal care education for HMSA members. Expectant mothers receive a complimentary pregnancy or infant care book, phone access to OB-experienced registered nurses, guidelines for recognizing early warning signs of complications, and information on risk factors to help them have a safe and healthy pregnancy. In 2009, He Hapai Pono offered assistance to 4,400 expectant mothers.