PPGs should offer health education programs at each PPG delivery site (including satellites) with 5,000 or more Health Net members. Each PPG plans health education programs based on the recommended program criteria and protocols included in the Health Education Program subtopic.

Providing health education programs is part of the contractual agreement between Health Net and the PPG. The PPG is responsible for planning, implementing and evaluating its health education programs.

All PPGs should recommend the following core topics: diabetes management, early prenatal education, baby care basics, and for Health Net Medicare Advantage (MA) members, a senior-specific health education or disease management program. Health Net encourages PPGs to provide additional program topics that reflect the breadth and depth of their members' needs. This includes efforts to identify members who smoke and to refer them to appropriate programs.

PPGs may select additional topics from the following list. PPGs are encouraged to select additional topics based on demographic and diagnostic data specific to their members.

Participating physician groups (PPGs) should designate a standing health education advisory committee, including at least one physician and the health education coordinator, to be involved in program planning, evaluation, internal communication, and promotion. This committee can be the same as the PPG Quality Improvement Committee (QIC). The health education advisory committee is responsible for:

Health Net recommends that PPGs:

PPGs should designate a health education coordinator responsible for coordination and delivery of the health education programs, including PPG staff program orientation and record keeping.

Health education coordinators should spend the following number of hours per week coordinating the health education programs based on the PPG's Health Net membership.

The health education coordinator's responsibilities are to:

Health Net recommends that:

Health education program protocols are recommendations for success when providing classes on diabetes, early prenatal education and baby care basics. Program protocols also include disease-specific education programs and smoking cessation for participating physicians groups (PPGs).

All diabetes education programs should encourage an active partnership between the member, the member's family and the health care provider. Such partnerships can improve member adherence to treatment plans and enable families to better support efforts to control the member's diabetes.

It is also important that all diabetes education programs emphasize the concept of self-management of diabetes rather than teaching individual skills.

The following topics are required for all diabetes education programs:

One-to-one counseling should be offered on an ongoing, as-needed basis. Health Net recommends that participating physician groups (PPGs) also offer seminars or classes at least monthly. The diabetes education program may also be a one-session class, multiple-session classes, one-to-one counseling, or any combination of these modes. The recommended minimum length for group programs is three to four sessions, each two hours in length. Classes and seminars should be followed by a one-hour, one-to-one follow-up appointment to develop individualized care plans.

PPGs should give documented feedback regarding a member's program attendance to the physician for him or her to include in the member's medical chart.

It is important that all disease-specific education programs encourage an active partnership between the patient, the patient's family, and the health care provider. Such partnerships can improve patient adherence to treatment plans and enable families to better support the patient's efforts to manage his or her disease.

Content may be expanded and additional components incorporated as indicated by the specific disease or condition.

All disease or condition-specific education programs should cover the following topics, as applicable:

One-to-one counseling should be offered on an ongoing, as-needed basis and should be at least one hour in length. Health Net recommends that participating physician groups (PPGs) offer seminars or classes, which are at least two hours in length, at least monthly. Programs may be offered as a combination of quarterly group programs with one-to-one counseling available in the other two months, as long as both programs are equally available to members.

PPGs should document feedback regarding a member's program attendance to be given to the physician for him or her to include in the member's medical chart.

Patient health education is the effort to keep members fully informed about the availability and use of participating physician group (PPG) facilities and services.

PPGs must offer patient health education as a covered service to members in two main areas:

Health Net has developed an enrollment packet, which includes a plan overview that explains to members how to use Health Net and PPG services. This enrollment packet is distributed to members, along with identification (ID) cards and the member's Schedule of Benefits. Members are directed to contact their PPGs if they have questions.

PPGs must make an effort to keep members fully informed about the availability and use of PPG facilities and services. New member interviews, letters of introduction and the Health Net Member Services Department provide sources of ongoing education and information.

Health education services, including educational activities and publications that contain instructions on achieving and maintaining physical and mental health and preventing illness or injury, should be developed by the PPG.

Health Net offers a library of pre-recorded information on a variety of health topics to all Health Net members through the AudioHealth Library^®. Members may access the library by contacting the Health Net Member Services Department.

Participating physician groups (PPG) and its participating providers should dedicate and maintain a physical environment or setting conducive to the delivery of health education programs and optimal learning and ensure that is appropriate for its Health Net membership. Specifically:

Health Net recommends that groups evaluate all classes and seminars using a written participant evaluation form. The evaluation form should include an overall satisfaction question using a five-point rating scale, such as:

Written participant evaluation forms are not required for one-to-one counseling sessions.

PPGs should conduct follow-up telephone calls or use other means to evaluate the quality of one-to-one counseling sessions.

PPGs should promote all programs to Health Net members and PPG staff. Health Net encourages PPGs to mail promotional materials to Health Net members at least once per year to promote all health education programs. Suggested promotional activities include:

PPGs may not use the Health Net corporate logo on material without Health Net's permission.

PPGs should use and maintain appropriate medical and non-medical records (for example, attendance lists, evaluation forms, patient education sign-in sheets, and documentation of feedback to physicians).

Specifically, PPGs should maintain the following documentation:

Participation in Health Net's Speakers Bureau program is optional. Participating physician groups (PPGs) are asked periodically to provide presentations or screenings to Health Net employer groups.

For more information, select any subject below: