Touchstone Health Medicare Advantage HMO To Host Free Health & Wellness Education Series

Online, April 10, 2013 (Newswire.com) - Touchstone Health HMO, Inc., a New York Medicare Advantage company, is hosting a free health and wellness education series for older adults in various locations in the Bronx, Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and Westchester County, NY. Touchstone Health's Chief Medical Officer Mitchell Strand, MD, will talk about a variety of health care topics focused on senior care, including the importance of preventive care, the management of chronic conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and diabetes, as well as medication management and safety.

"Nearly half of the adults in America have at least one chronic disease, and many of them are preventable," says Dr. Strand. "Healthy living starts with preventive health care and this is a great opportunity for older adults in the community, as well as Touchstone Health members, to get more involved in their health care."

Touchstone Health is committed to ensuring that older adults receive the care and education they need to maintain a healthy and active lifestyle. Everyone is welcome to attend the free health and wellness education series and guests are encouraged to ask about their most pressing health concerns. Attendees at previous seminars have received expert advice about how to manage their chronic conditions and several important preventive health practices. Seminars usually run for an hour and Dr. Strand allows ample time for audience interaction and questions.

"Preventive care and disease management may include examinations, vaccinations, screenings and lab testing, which can help detect health problems early and help manage current health issues," says Dr. Strand. "The goal of Touchstone Health's free health and wellness series is to inform older adults about how to manage their conditions and live well through knowledge and proper care."

All community events and seminars are listed online at http://tiny.cc/THevents or can be obtained by calling 1.877.867.5762.

The Affordable Care Act provides Medicare beneficiaries (Medicare Part B) with free preventive services such as cardiovascular, diabetes, cholesterol, and cancer screenings, and vaccines to offer valuable protection against serious or life-threatening diseases. Medicare also covers a free annual wellness examination, which is a great opportunity to create or update a personalized prevention plan based on current health and risk factors. Older adults may be eligible for important preventive services and immunizations at no cost and should talk to their health care provider to find out what preventive and screening services are covered.

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About Touchstone Health:
Touchstone Health is a New York-based Medicare Advantage HMO serving Medicare beneficiaries in New York City and in Westchester and Orange counties. Touchstone Health is a licensed managed care company offering a diverse portfolio of product options, including zero and low dollar co-pay plans with benefits including medical, pharmacy, dental and mental health. The company was founded in 1998 by a group of neighborhood physicians with a goal to bring personalized health care to New York.

About Mitchell Strand, MD
Mitchell Strand, MD, is the Chief Medical Officer at Touchstone Health HMO, Inc. Dr. Strand is responsible for Touchstone Health's medical management and all medical policies for the health plan. Dr. Strand still practices Emergency Medicine at local hospitals.