Sarasota Memorial Hospital's Diabetes Classes

Understanding your Diabetes can play an important role in living a healthy life. SMH offers Diabetes classes for both newly diagnosed and those who have been previously diagnosed. This comprehensive class series is offered on various dates throughout the month for three consecutive days or evenings, usually on a Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday. The day time classes are held from 9:00am-12:00pm and the evening classes are held from 6:00-9:00pm. Your Aetna medical insurance through Sarasota County Government covers this class at 100% with no member co-pay or coinsurance. Here are the steps you should follow to ensure that this class is covered by your insurance:

Step #1 Your doctor will need to complete a referral form which he/she will forward to SMH. Your doctor may already have this form, however you can download and print a copy by clicking on this icon  Diabetes Class Referral Form ***The referral form is required for all participants regardless of the type of insurance they have.

Step #2 If you are an HMO participant you will need a referral from your Primary Care Physician (PCP) for Aetna in addition to the referral mentioned above, the referral must be obtained prior to taking the class. POSII participants can skip this step and processed to #3.

Step #3 Once SMH has received the referral from your doctor they will contact you to set up the class.

Step #4 SMH patient registration will contact you after you have been registered in the class to obtain your insurance information.

Step #5 HMO participants prior to taking the class should follow up with Aetna to make sure they received the referral from your PCP.

Step #6 Enjoy the class and be sure to take your insurance card with you as they will request a copy.

Step #7 If you receive a bill from SMH for $640, they may not have billed your insurance. You can log on to the Navigator at www.aetna.com or call Aetna’s member services to determine whether or not Aetna has received the claim. If they have not, call SMH and provide insurance information and request they bill Aetna.

Aetna's Diabetes Classes

Participation in this program is voluntary and members continue to have access to their physician for care. Aetna identifies members eligible to participate in the program. Primary care physicians and Endocrinologists of identified members receive a letter describing the program and a list of potential members. The program components are based on individual health status and may include the following:

 Educational materials and/or instructional video on how to manage diabetes
 Monitoring of diet, blood glucose level, medications and other appropriate health information
 Scheduled telephone calls with a LifeMasters nurse.
 News magazine with information about the condition, tips on managing symptoms, healthy eating, and stress management

To enroll in the program call Aetna Disease Management at (866) 269-4500

Requests for participation in any Healthy Outlook Program can be made 24 hours a day, 7 days a week at the disease management unit in Middletown, CT by calling (866) 269-4500. Members can also participate by completing the survey on Aetna Navigator (for Asthma, Diabetes & CHFprograms only) at www.aetna.com.

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Aetna's Online Healthy Living Program: Diabetes Fighting

With so many studies linking obesity to diabetes, it is becoming more evident that people can help to reduce their risk by making basic lifestyle changes. This six-week program will help you make small changes today that can produce long-term health benefits. You will receive information to help you:

• Learn how good nutrition and physical activity can contribute to diabetes prevention.
• Follow a meal plan tailored to your personal preferences and goals.
• Discover which "superfoods" — delicious foods with natural diseases-fighting properties — are right for you.

To sign up for this class complete the health risk assessment, Simple Steps To A Healthier Life^® and choose the "Diabetes-Fighting" program under your Personal Action Plan.

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Diabetic Counselors & Nutritionists in Sarasota Co

NOTE: To verify that a physican is a provider for Aetna, please call member services at 1-888-287-4296 for HMO, 1-877-432-7733 for PPO & POS II, or log onto Aetna's doc find web-site at http://www.aetna.com/docfind/index.html

Provider Name:     Lenita Hanson, MD

Specialty:             Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism

Address:                1872 Tamiami Trail, Suite B, Venice, FL 34293

Phone:                  (941) 629-3211

Program Description: This provider takes HMO - POS II. They have a very rigorous Nutrition -Diabetic program offering classes several times a week at Englewood, Venice and Port Charlotte locations.

Specialty:             Endocrinology, Diabetes & Metabolism

Address:                21216 Olean Blvd., Unit 5 & 6, Port Charlotte, FL 33952

Phone:                  (941) 629-3211

Provider Name:      Jose R. Antunes, MD

Program Description: This provider takes HMO - POS II. They have a registered nurse that meets with diabetic patients and goes over Nutrition Counseling and Diabetic Counseling.

Program Description: This provider takes HMO and POS II and only handles thyroid patients.

Learn more about Type II Diabetes at Aetna InteliHealth®

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