Empire Plan Disease Management Program Update

The Empire Plan offers a number of disease management (DM) programs for individuals with a chronic medical and/or mental health condition.  DM programs are available for individuals with:  asthma, cardiovascular/coronary artery disease, congestive heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, depression, diabetes and sleep apnea.  All of the DM programs use nationally-recognized clinical practice guidelines and recommendations. Participation is voluntary, free of charge to the participant, and confidential...Click here for more

CDC Recommends Shingles Vaccine

People age 60 and older should be vaccinated against shingles, or herpes zoster, a condition often marked by debilitating chronic pain, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) recommended recently. CDC recommends a single dose of the zoster vaccine, Zostavax, for adults 60 years of age and older even if they have had a prior episode of shingles. The good news is effective 7/1/08, Empire Plan enrollees will be able to get the shingles vaccine at age 55...Click here for more

Albuterol inhalers are used for asthma and related conditions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has mandated that albuterol inhalers containing the propellant chlorofluorocarbon (CFC) be discontinued from the market by December 31, 2008. They are being replaced by albuterol inhalers containing a more environmentally friendly propellant known as hydrofluoroalkane (HFA). Several HFA inhalers are available as alternatives to albuterol CFC inhalers; however, they are available only as brand name medications...Click here for more