November 2020

Welcome

November brings falling leaves, colder weather, and, most of all, Thanksgiving. As challenging as 2020 has been, there are still many reasons to be thankful. At ActivStyle, we are grateful for all the wonderful customers and referral sources that we have. It’s because of you that we can serve so many people across the United States with the medical supplies they need to live happy and productive lives. We don’t say it enough: thank you for your loyalty and business.

 

Industry News

November is Bladder Health Awareness Month!

Encourage others to start talking and gain control of their bladder health! The Urology Care Foundation, the official Foundation of the American Urological Association, is drawing on the month of November to help break the stigma surrounding bladder health issues and to offer resources to raise awareness and help start the conversation between a patient and their healthcare provider.

Here are a few factoids to help you learn more about bladder health.

• More than 33 million Americans have overactive bladder – about 1 in 10
• One in two women over the age of 65 are impacted by stress urinary incontinence
• Bladder cancer is the sixth most common cancer in the United States
• An estimated 1 to 4 million men and 3 to 8 million women have symptoms of Interstitial Cystitis/Bladder Pain Syndrome
• Nocturia affects 1 in 3 adults over the age of 30

The Urology Care Foundation has developed a web page with resources for the public, in addition to its Twitter (hashtag #BladdersMatter), Facebook, Pinterest and Instagram platforms to disseminate this information for public use and dialogue.

If you have questions for the ActivStyle Provider Services staff, feel free to give them a call toll-free at 855-373-5141, Monday thru Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Central Time. You can also email our staff at

If you have clients who you would like to refer to ActivStyle for services, you may conveniently make client or patient referrals online.

 

FAQs

Q: What are the HCPC codes and pricing of our products?
A: We bill using the standard HCPC codes for medical supplies. We are contracted with many Medicaid plans, Medicaid replacement plans, Medicare and Medicare replacement plans, and commercial insurance plans. Pricing for our products depends on our contracts with individual insurance plans.  We can easily supply specific pricing and HCPC codes upon request, based on the insurance, and client needs. We would simply need to know the name of the insurance, the client’s ID/policy number, the items being requested, and quantities of products being ordered.

Q: Are all products covered by the insurance company?
A: Coverage varies from one insurance plan to the next. As part of our service, we determine if a particular product is covered by a patient’s specific plan.

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 .

 

Health News

Overactive Bladder

Overactive bladder, also called OAB, causes a frequent and sudden urge to urinate that may be difficult to control. One may feel like they need to pass urine many times during the day and night, and may also experience unintentional loss of urine.

Symptoms of OAB include:

• Feel a sudden urge to urinate that’s difficult to control
• Experience unintentional loss of urine immediately after an urgent need to urinate (urgency incontinence)
• Urinate frequently, usually eight or more times in 24 hours
• Wake up more than two times in the night to urinate (nocturia)

Those who suffer from overactive bladder may feel embarrassed, limit their work and social life, or isolate themselves. The good news is that a brief evaluation by a healthcare professional can determine whether there’s a specific cause for overactive bladder symptoms.

People with OAB may be able to manage symptoms of an overactive bladder with simple behavioral strategies, such as dietary changes, timed voiding and bladder-holding techniques using the pelvic floor muscles. If these initial efforts don’t help enough with overactive bladder symptoms, additional treatments are available.

Although it’s not uncommon among older adults, overactive bladder isn’t a normal part of aging. It might not be easy to discuss OAB symptoms with a doctor. However, if the symptoms are distressing or disrupting to life, it’s essential that a doctor be consulted.

There are a variety of incontinence products available to help individuals who experience OAB. Disposable absorbent pads are a convenient way to control leaks and stay dry. These pads are ideal for light to moderate incontinence needs and they are available for both women and men. Disposable protective underwear come in a lot of styles, are comfortable, discreet, and pull on and off like regular underwear. These incontinence garments are good for those who need moderate to heavy protection. Adult briefs (diapers) have tabs that are infinitely adjustable for a perfect fit against leaks. These are useful for everyday or overnight protection when moderate to heavy leakage is experienced.

Our goal is to make your life easier and help keep your clients dry and comfortable. If you think that your client could benefit from the use of incontinence products, please contact ActivStyle for recommendations and eligibility requirements. Our staff can be reached at 855-373-5141, Monday thru Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Central Time. You can also email our staff at . If you have clients who you would like to refer to ActivStyle for services, you may conveniently make client or patient referrals online.

 

ActivStyle is Your Partner in Patient Care

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, MN, 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 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, Monday thru Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM, Central Time, 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. Emails to our staff are welcome at .

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