June 2019

Welcome

Welcome to ActivStyle Insights newsletter. It’s already summer. Can you believe how time flies? Well, rest assured that the team at ActivStyle are still hard at work providing our mutual clients with the medical supplies that they need. Thanks again for trusting your clients to ActivStyle. Every employee at ActivStyle strives to have a positive impact on the lives of our valued customers.

Health News

Urinary Incontinence in Older Adults

It may be comforting for those who experience incontinence to know that they do not suffer alone. Approximately 26 million Americans are incontinent. The vast majority of them are women, about 18 million. Unfortunately, many people suffer in silence because incontinence can be a difficult or embarrassing topic to discuss with family, friends, or even one’s healthcare provider. However, it is important for those dealing with incontinence to talk to with their doctor about the issue because, more than ever, there are treatments and products available to help maintain continence and live life to the fullest.

Urinary incontinence means a person leaks urine by accident. While it may happen to anyone, urinary incontinence is more common in older people, especially women.

What Causes Urinary Incontinence?

What causes bladder control problems? The bladder stores urine and, during urination, muscles in the bladder tighten to move urine into a tube called the urethra. Simultaneously, the muscles around the urethra relax and let the urine pass from the body. When the muscles in and around the bladder don’t work properly, urine can leak. Incontinence typically occurs if the muscles relax without warning.

Incontinence can happen for many reasons. For example, urinary tract infections, vaginal infection or irritation, and constipation can cause incontinence. Some causes of incontinence can include:

• Weak pelvic floor muscles
• Weak bladder muscles
• Overactive bladder muscles
• Blockage from an enlarged prostate in men
• Damage to the nerves that control the bladder, caused by diseases such as diabetes, multiple sclerosis, or Parkinson’s disease
• Diseases such as arthritis may make it difficult to get to the bathroom in time
• Pelvic organ prolapse, which is a condition where the pelvic organs (such as the bladder, rectum, or uterus) shift out of their normal place into the vagina. When pelvic organs are out of place, the bladder and urethra are not able to work normally, which can cause urine to leak

Most incontinence in men is related to the prostate gland. Male incontinence may be caused by:

• Prostatitis—a painful inflammation of the prostate gland
• An enlarged prostate gland
• Injury, or damage to nerves or muscles from surgery

Treating Urinary Incontinence

If someone is experiencing incontinence, the first step they need to take is to see a doctor. A doctor will give them a physical exam and review their medical history. The doctor may ask about the symptoms they’ve experienced related to incontinence and what medicines they currently take. He or she may ask if the patient has been sick recently or had surgery. There are a couple of tests that the doctor may also order to get more information about the patient’s current condition:

• Urine and blood tests
• Tests that measure how well one empties their bladder

In addition, the doctor may ask a patient to keep a daily diary of when they urinate and when they leak urine. He or she may also refer the patient to a urologist, a doctor who specializes in urinary tract problems.

Products that Help with Urinary Incontinence

There are many products to help both women and men manage urinary incontinence. Some of the most common products include:

• Absorbent pads/liners are disposable and designed for both women and men. Adhesive strips hold them inside underwear. They trap 8 or more ounces of urine and keep it away from the skin. They also block odor and can be easily changed throughout the day.
• Adult diapers/briefs have tape tab closures on the sides so they are adjustable and can be easily removed during diaper changes. They come in a range of colors as well as day and overnight versions.
• Disposable underwear (pull-up or pull-on style) come in lots of styles. Some look similar to elastic-banded underwear but are designed to be disposable.
• Protective underpads are disposable or reusable flat pads with an absorbent layer on one side and a moisture barrier on the other. They protect mattresses, chairs, or other furniture from urine leaks.

For your clients who deal with incontinence, make their lives easier by referring them to ActivStyle. Call us toll-free at 855-373-5141, we’ll be happy to talk with you and take a referral over the phone, or you may conveniently make referrals online.

FAQs

Q: I have MA, but why don’t you accept it?
A: Some MA insurances have specific vendors that are contracted by the state to provide services to their members. While we try and be providers for most states, we cannot be providers for every plan in every state.

Q: Why does the inactive insurance have to be removed from the verify before we can proceed?
A: If the primary insurance that you are requesting us to bill is showing as active on the website, they will not pay on our claims without a denial from that insurance. The current primary insurance needs to be notified that the other insurance is no longer active before we can provide services.

We want to hear what FAQ topics you are interested in seeing! If you have questions or suggestions for future FAQs, please email us at .

If you have other questions for the ActivStyle staff, feel free to give us a call at 855-373-5141, Monday thru Friday, 7:30 AM to 5:00 PM, Central Time. We want to make your life easy, so you can provide the best service and information to those you serve.

Product News

ActivStyle’s Rely^® Brand Represents a High-Quality, High-Value Solution

If your clients get protective underwear (pull-ups) or breathable briefs (diapers) from ActivStyle, you are probably familiar with the Rely brand. Rely isn’t a knock-off brand, it’s a high-quality, medical-grade incontinence product that’s made exclusively for ActivStyle by the industry-leading manufacturer that pioneered the incontinence category of products more than thirty years ago.

Because not all incontinence is the same, Rely brand breathable briefs and protective underwear are designed to meet a wide range of incontinence care needs. Leakage control, skin care, and comfort are the driving forces of performance in all Rely products. In fact, The Rely brand has been independently tested and meets or exceeds the stringent standards of the National Association for Continence and state Medicaid programs that ActivStyle services.

Constructed of super-absorbent polymers that capture and lock moisture away from the body, Rely products help to keep the wearer comfortable, dry, and odor-free. The stretchy waist/belly panels of the protective underwear provide a comfortable and discreet fit. Many customers say they like that the Rely products are less bulky and more discreet under clothing. The soft, cloth-like cover also makes them quiet and rustle-free for added discretion. Rely incontinence products are available in a range of styles and sizes, from Small to X-Large, to fit a variety of individuals.

Learn more about the Rely brand of incontinence products on the ActivStyle website.

If you have questions about the Rely brand or other incontinence products, our factory-trained Product Experts are available to discuss product options, insurance benefits, free delivery, or product samples. Feel free to call one of our Provider Services representatives toll-free at 855-373-5141. Our representatives can also take patient referrals over the phone or you can conveniently make referrals online.

Industry News

It’s never too early to plan ahead for important conferences. ActivStyle booth at the St. Louis County Health & Human Service Conference in Duluth, Minnesota, October 9 & 10. If you are at the conference, please stop by our booth and meet our staff. They’ll be ready and willing to answer any questions you may have about ActivStyle’s medical supply service. We look forward to meeting you in person.

Working with ActivStyle

Wouldn’t it be great if you spent less time mired in case-related paperwork and details and more time helping those who need you?

ActivStyle is a full-service provider of high-quality, high-value home medical supplies serving thousands of practitioners and case managers across the United States. Our product expertise and knowledge of constantly changing state and federal regulations allow us to give you — and the clients who depend on you — the level of service you need and deserve.

Founded in 1997 in Minneapolis, Minnesota, ActivStyle has grown to over 200 employees compassionately serving patients in 47 states with their medical supply needs. Specializing in incontinence, urological, and ostomy supplies, our Product Experts are available to discuss product options, insurance benefits, free delivery, or product samples. Feel free to call one of our Provider Services representatives toll-free at 855-373-5141, they’ll be happy to talk with you and answer any questions you may have about our products, services, or take a referral over the phone. You may also conveniently make client or patient referrals online.

At ActivStyle, we’re dedicated to making your life easier.