Getting regular care is an important way to stay healthy. Parkland Community Health Plan offers several benefits and services that make it easier to access the care you need. Non-Emergency Medical Transportation (NEMT) NEMT benefits are available to all STAR members. Services include no-cost rides to and from the doctor, dentist, hospital, drugstore, or other Medicaid service providers. If you need a ride, PCHP may be able to help with: Public transportation, like the city bus. Money to buy gas. A taxi ...
Parkland Community Health Plan is excited to introduce our new and improved Member Portal . Members now have easier access to details about their coverage, including recent claims, ID cards, forms, member rewards, and more – all in one place, available 24/7. After logging in to the portal, visit your homepage for a quick look at the resources available to you as a member. From the My Health Plan menu, you can view a summary of your current benefits, learn about value-added services, and verify yo...
After your baby is born, the first days and weeks back home can be exhausting. It’s important to take extra-good care of yourself as you recover from childbirth. Your labor and delivery might be normal. However, you should watch for signs of infection, high blood pressure, and other symptoms. Otherwise, you could end up back in the hospital! Call your doctor right away if you notice any of the symptoms listed below. “Postpartum depression” feelings, such as: Extreme anxiety Lack of interest in things yo...
Is your child ready for eyeglasses? Texas Medicaid covers it. Do you need a pregnancy checkup? Texas Medicaid covers that, too. In fact, Medicaid has a long list of services to help you and your family stay healthy and well. Medicaid benefits include: dental care allergy medicine vaccinations (shots) birth control hearing tests rides to the doctor and more! Top Medicaid Benefits for Children Dental Care You should take your child to the dentist every six months, starting when they are 6 months old. Your...
During warmer times of the year, you might notice that you get thirsty more often. However, when you don’t have enough fluid in your body—also known as dehydration—you can feel many other symptoms besides thirst. Dehydration can lead to: headaches feeling weak or dizzy mental “fogginess” nausea constipation kidney stones urinary tract infections According to Harvard Medical School , water helps your body to: keep your blood pressure stable cool down on hot&nb...
Redeem Your Parkland Rewards Points by August 31, 2025 If you have a Parkland Rewards account , be sure to redeem your 2024-2025 points before August 31, 2025. You can spend reward points on: games and toys infant care supplies children's clothing sports equipment fitness tools art sets health and beauty products kitchen and nutrition items and many other items from the rewards catalog gift cards Remember: You have to “use them or lose them.” ...
Is your child ready for potty training? It’s an exciting time. It’s also a major step in their growth from infancy to young childhood. Potty training can also be a time of frustration and “two steps forward, one step back.” The move from diapers to using a child-sized toilet can take three to six months or more. If you start potty training too early, the entire process can take even longer. (Staying dry overnight is unrelated to toilet training. If your child is unable to stay dry overnight and is at le...
Sometimes, staying healthy takes a little extra effort – and it’s nice when you can get rewarded for it! Parkland Community Health Plan’s Member Rewards program gives members the chance to earn reward points for completing health and wellness activities. Once you earn the points, you can use them to get gift cards and other items from a rewards catalog. One way to earn rewards: take charge of your health! When you take steps to understand and improve your overall health, it can have lasting benefits for...
Sometimes, staying healthy takes a little extra effort – and it’s nice when you can get rewarded for it! Parkland Community Health Plan’s Member Rewards program gives members the chance to earn reward points for completing health and wellness activities. Once you earn the points, you can use them to get gift cards and other items from a rewards catalog. One way to earn rewards: managing a chronic condition. Earn a $20 reward value when you: Complete a diabetic (retinal or dilated) eye exam (age 15 and o...
Sometimes, staying healthy takes a little extra effort – and it’s nice when you can get rewarded for it! Parkland Community Health Plan’s Member Rewards program gives members the chance to earn reward points for completing health and wellness activities. Once you earn the points, you can use them to get gift cards and other items from a rewards catalog . One way to earn rewards: visiting the doctor! Earn a $20 reward value when you : Visit your primary care provider (PCP) within 90 days of joining Parkl...
Visiting your doctor isn’t the only way to stay healthy – it’s important to see your dentist and eye doctor, too. Parkland Community Health Plan offers a number of benefits for dental and vision care. Dental Benefits Your child’s Medicaid dental plan cover services that help prevent tooth decay and services that fix dental problems. You do not need a referral from your doctor to visit a dentist. It’s a good idea to visit the dentist every six months for a checkup and cleaning. Call your child’s Medicaid...
You probably already know that you should get a flu shot, also called flu vaccine, every year. But do you know the symptoms of having the flu? And do you know the difference between the flu and COVID-19 or the common cold? See them here: Why is the flu dangerous? The flu is caused by viruses that infect the nose, throat and, sometimes, the lungs. It can make you—and others around you—very sick. Some people die from the flu. If you get the flu, you will not be ab...
Is your child in school? You probably know that good sleep and good nutrition are important for their success in the classroom. Good vision is just as important. School days are long, with many demands on your child’s eyes. These demands include: Reading , including books with longer paragraphs and smaller words as your child advances through the school years. Writing , which requires them to copy letters and words neatly within the lines. Chalkboard work , which means your child will need to see distan...
Health insurance is an important tool for staying healthy – but sometimes, it can be challenging to make sense of your coverage. You may need help understanding your benefits, but you’re not sure where to start. If you’re a PCHP member, you can get help from one of our Member Advocates. What does a Member Advocate do? PCHP’s Member Advocates help members with: Writing and filing complaints and appeals. Understanding their rights and responsibilities. Locating community resources and specialists. E...
Are you—and your family—drinking enough water every day? Hot weather is hard on the human body. It can affect how much sleep we get, how much energy we have, and how well we recover from illness. This is especially true for young children, the elderly, and people with chronic health conditions. One of the best ways to stay as cool and healthy as possible is to stay hydrated. Learn more about the importance of hydration from Dr. Mary Strength, a pediatrician in north Texas. How do bodies use water and ot...
It’s almost time for summer fun outdoors. Whether you like team sports, a solo bike ride, or enjoying the warm weather as a family, summer has something for everyone. As you plan your outdoor exercise, be sure to keep safety in mind. That way, you’ll prevent the accidents and injuries that can keep you from your favorite activities. Learn more: Check out these summer safety tips from Dr. Mary Strength, a pediatrician in north Texas. How to stay safe at the playground For young children, a trip to the pl...
Just like adults in your family, babies and children can have problems with their vision. The good news is that most of these problems can be treated. Paying close attention to your child’s eyesight is the first step. The second step is to schedule vision screenings and eye exams. A vision screening is: A basic test. Often provided by school nurses, family doctors, or other healthcare professionals. Able to find signs of eye or vision problems. Is not used to diagnose the exact problem. An eye exam is: ...
If you have diabetes, it’s important to manage your condition to lower the chance of complications. A combination of medicine, healthy eating, regular physical activity, and managing stress are all part of a healthy lifestyle that can help with diabetes control. One of the most important things you can do is keep track of your hemoglobin A1c. The A1c test is a blood test that’s usually done to diagnose diabetes or pre-diabetes. It measures the overall control of your blood glucose (blood sugar) over the...
Staying healthy is important – but sometimes, managing your family’s care can be a challenge, especially when you’re dealing with several health issues. PCHP offers a service coordination program to help members manage their care. Our Service Coordination team explains the program below. What is service coordination, and why would someone need it? Service coordination is a specialized care management service that is performed by a Service Coordinator. It includes, but is not limited to: Identifying need...
From birth through late teen years, your child will visit the pediatrician often. Regular doctor visits are a normal part of growing up as healthy as possible. Make it easy for your child—and for you. Prepare ahead of time with these tips from Dr. Mary Strength, a pediatrician in North Texas. What kinds of appointments are available for my child? Some pediatrician visits are unplanned, such as those for diagnosing and treating sudden illness and injury. Others are scheduled in advance, such as well-baby...
September is Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and it’s a good time to learn more about how you can help your child maintain a healthy weight. In the United States, 1 in 5 children and teens are affected by obesity, meaning they are above a healthy weight for their age and height. Excess weight gain can have many causes, including behavior, genetics, and taking certain medicines. Compared to children with healthy weight, children with overweight or obesity are more likely to develop asthma, sleep apnea...
Exercise is fun—and it’s good for everyone in the family. It’s especially good for growing bodies. Children and teens who are active can enjoy: better sleep better mood better grades Moving more can also help children and teens maintain a healthy weight – click here for some resources and tips. How much activity is best? According to the Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion , children and teens should aim for an hour of exercise every day. Can’t squeeze that much into your busy life? The go...
Do your children spend many hours a day reading or watching screens? If so, they’re not alone. Screen time can include viewing computers, tablets, TVs, games, and phones. Children use them for entertainment, education, and socializing. These activities can be a healthy way to spend time. When does screen time become unhealthy? When your child spends too many hours on their favorite devices. According to the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry (AACAP), too much screen time may lead to: Po...
If you’re getting ready to welcome a new baby, you might be thinking about breastfeeding. It’s a great idea. Breastfeeding is good for your baby, and it’s good for you. However, many new moms are not able to do it for more than a few weeks—or at all. Some moms and babies have medical conditions that make it hard to stick to a nursing routine. Other women choose to formula feed because they have high demands at work or home. If you want to try breastfeeding, plan ahead. Talk to your doctor about it as so...
Is someone in your family sneezing, wheezing, or coughing? It might be asthma, allergies—or both. Keep reading to learn ways to control symptoms and breathe easier, indoors and out. What are the symptoms of asthma? Asthma is a long-term condition that causes the airways inside your lungs to become inflamed. Asthma symptoms can be mild, but an asthma attack can be a medical emergency. Common symptoms include: coughing shortness of breath wheezing chest tightness How is asthma diagnosed? A doctor ma...
If your child or teenager is overweight, they could be at risk for developing Type 2 diabetes. When a person has type 2 diabetes, their body does not use insulin well. That means they cannot keep their blood sugar at normal levels. Over time, too much blood sugar stays in the body. This can cause serious problems such as: heart disease blindness kidney disease Type 2 diabetes used to be called “adult-onset diabetes.” However, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention , type 2 diabetes ...
There are many ways to improve your eating habits. Even small changes can make a big difference. If you want to focus on changing just one behavior, try this: Eat less added sugar. What are added sugars? A few examples include: honey brown sugar sucrose cane juice high-fructose corn syrup fructose fruit nectars malt syrup molasses raw sugar sucrose Sugar is hard on your body. It adds calories but has almost no nutrition. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), eating a lot of ...
You probably already know that Texas law requires children to ride in a car seat. But did you know you can get a car seat for free? Free car seats are just one of many Value-Added Services for pregnant women and new moms enrolled in a STAR Medicaid or CHIP insurance plan. Keep reading to learn more about: Types of car seats for babies, toddlers, and older children How to get a free car seat How to get help installing your car seat Types of car seats Car seats are made by many different companies, or bra...
Do you need no-cost birth control pills, diaphragms, condoms, or other family planning services? If you live in Texas, here are two options to consider. You might be able to get birth control through: Parkland HEALTH first , a health plan for people on STAR (Medicaid) The Healthy Texas Women Program Parkland HEALTH first family planning services help you to: not get pregnant plan ahead of time for a healthy pregnancy and baby get and stay healthy for any children you already have What does the HEALTH fi...
Summer’s almost here. It’s the perfect time to make some small changes in your daily routine to build better health habits. Small changes in diet and exercise are easy to start. They’re also easier to stick with than major, “all or nothing” goals. Over time, step by step, small changes can add up to big gains for your health. Here are a few to consider. Try something new Do you find yourself eating the same foods and drinks for breakfast, lunch, or dinner every day? A “new food challenge” can help you t...
You’re ready to exercise—and so are the kids. But it’s too hot, too rainy, too dark, or just not the right time to go outdoors. No problem! The whole family can have fun with the easy at-home exercise ideas listed here. Whether you have just 10 minutes or an hour or more, it all adds up. Every little bit of movement helps to build a healthier body, whether you’re a child or an adult. Dance Dancing is a fun way to burn energy and calories. Clear a space to make a “dance floor” and turn on your favorite m...
As the weather gets warmer, you might notice that you get thirsty more often. However, when you don’t have enough fluid in your body—also known as dehydration—you can feel many other symptoms besides thirst. Dehydration can lead to: headaches feeling weak or dizzy mental “fogginess” nausea constipation kidney stones urinary tract infections According to Harvard Medical School , water helps your body to: keep your blood pressure stable cool down on hot days carry oxygen to your cells flush bacteria from ...