Staying Healthy

The Alliance's Healthy Moms and Healthy Babies (HMHB) program helps pregnant women get early prenatal and postpartum care. HMHB also provides education to support you in having a healthy pregnancy.

Members enrolled in the HMHB program are contacted by Alliance health educators. Health educators provide materials on a variety of topics, including prenatal and postpartum health, breastfeeding, pediatric care and parenting. Members also receive referrals to local resources, including Women, Infants, and Children (WIC) and free or low-cost community resources.

Alliance members have access to breastfeeding education and lactation support. These benefits are available to promote the health of the child and the mother.

Timing is everything when it comes to breastfeeding. Don’t wait to get the help you and your baby need. Alliance members are eligible for a breast pump at no cost to them if either:

• mother or baby has medical issues that prevent nursing at the breast (when medically necessary); or
• the mother is returning to work or school and wants to continue breastfeeding.

If you have problems with or questions about breastfeeding after your baby is born, we can connect you with one of our approved lactation consultants.

Make sure you and your children get all your shots to stay healthy. Talk to your PCP about which shots you need and when you need to get them. Vaccines are safe and can prevent many diseases when you are vaccinated on time. If you have questions or concerns about vaccines, talk with your PCP.

Who are you getting the flu shot for?
This flu season help your family stay healthy. Getting the flu shot each year is the best way to protect you from getting sick from the flu.

Shots for Adults
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provide a recommended adult immunization schedule.

Shots for Children and Teens (Birth through 18 Years Old)
The CDC provides a recommended child immunization schedule for children from birth through 18 years old.

As your child grows, it’s important for them to receive their Early and Periodic Screening, Diagnostic and Treatment (EPSDT) services. With EPSDT services, your child will have regular checkups, also known as well-child visits. These visits should happen at least once a year, even when your child is not sick.

If you are a member, the Alliance will mail you information about EPDST services, regular doctor visits and routine screenings. This is to help make sure your child gets the best care at the right time.

To make an appointment for your child, call your primary care provider.

Who can get EPSDT services?

• Alliance Medi-Cal members from birth through age 21.

Why are EPSDT services important for my child?
These services will:

• help prevent your child from getting sick.
• help your child’s PCP find health problems early.
• keep track of your child’s development.
• make sure your child receives vaccines and screenings at the right time.

Childhood obesity puts kids at risk for health problems that were once seen only in adults, such as type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease. The good news is that childhood obesity can be prevented.

The Alliance offers Healthy Weight for Life (HWL) program workshops. These workshops teach parents how to help children ages 2 to 18 reach a healthy weight. The program includes new ways for parents to support their child, make lifestyle changes, eat healthy and be more active.

What our members are saying about the HWL program workshops:

“I want to thank the program for all the sessions, healthier eating, active play, parenting routines, planning. Everything was very helpful information. Will continue to implement.”

“It really helped my mentality about how to eat healthier and provide for my family.”

“It helped me discover things that I hadn't noticed I was doing as a parent, and ways to change or alter my behavior.”

“I loved this program. It helped me a lot. I fell down but was able to get up back on track. It was a great program. I would love to do it again to refresh what I learned. Excellent help.”

The Alliance is committed to supporting members who want to stop smoking and/or using tobacco products. Members can participate in the Tobacco Cessation Support Program (TCSP). Smoking cessation programs teach smokers how to manage and cope with problems they have when trying to quit.

Through TCSP, we can connect you to in-person or over-the-phone counseling, both of which can be effective. Talk to your doctor to find the option that works best for you.

Additional Alliance support includes:

• Referrals to the California Smokers' Helpline at 800-NO-BUTTS (800-662-8887). The Helpline offers free counseling over the phone in English, Spanish and other languages.
• Help finding a quit-smoking class in your area. If you have the Alliance as your primary insurance, we will pay for you to attend classes.
• Help covering smoking aids such as Zyban, Chantix, nicotine gum or patches. These aids work best when you take a quit-smoking class. However, you no longer need to show proof to the pharmacist that you are enrolled in a class to receive the aids.
• Brochures with tips to help you quit. Call the Alliance Health Education Line to request brochures.

Check-ups are regular visits to the doctor that are important to your health and the health of your family.