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Physicians Health Plan of South Michigan will be transitioning its membership to Priority Health, subject to regulatory approval.

Learn more about Priority Health

Physicians Health Plan of South Michigan Named One of the Best in The Nation by U.S.News & World Report/NCQA “America’s Best Health Plans” 2006

For the second year in a row, Physicians Health Plan of South Michigan has been named one of the best commercial health plans in the nation by the U.S.News & World Report/NCQA "America's Best Health Plan"* 2006.

iSave

PHPSM is proud to offer you iSave - our six new high deductible health plans (HDHP's). iSave features low premiums and first dollar coverage for preventive care. iSave helps you get your healthcare spending back on track. For more information, please click the title link above.

Leapfrog

Leapfrog is a program to provide information about health care safety, quality and customer value. Click the title above for more details.

Physicians Health Plan of South Michigan Employers Area

Asthma, Diabetes & Depression Programs Available to You!
PHPSM offers Healthy Focus programs to help you improve the status of your health. If you have asthma or diabetes, or experience depression, you will receive case management services from our team of Registered Nurses, as well as educational materials regarding managing your condition and working with your physician to have the highest quality of life. For more information on the Healthy Focus programs listed below, please call our Care Management Department at 517-782-8238 or 888-807-7633.
AsthmaWatch
Asthma is a chronic disease and managing asthma is a lifelong process. Most individuals with this disease can live a normal healthy lifestyle when their asthma is controlled. We want to help you improve your quality of life by helping you achieve and maintain control of symptoms, prevent increased symptoms, maintain normal activity, including exercise, avoid adverse effects from asthma medication and prevent costly hospitalizations.

This program offers information, education, and individual case management services for members to assist them in obtaining and maintaining control of their asthma. PHPSM members (children and/or adults) with asthma are identified through pharmacy/claim information, physician referrals and self-referrals and are offered the AsthmaWatch program. In addition to receiving an Asthma Information Kit, included in your benefits is coverage for:

  • Special equipment-peak flow meter, and spacers
  • Asthma education classes
  • Pharmacy benefits
PHPSM goals for asthma treatment:
  • Learn to keep asthma symptoms under control every day and night
  • No missed school or work and fewer trips to the hospital or emergency room
  • Maintain normal exercise and other physical activities
  • Have normal or near-normal breathing
  • Be satisfied with the asthma care received
  • Have few or no side effects while taking asthma medications
  • Review your asthma treatment plan with your doctor at least once a year
Asthma Downloads
When Is Your Inhaler Empty? (PDF)


Living Well with Diabetes
Diabetes is a unique health problem. Most of the day-to-day treatment is in the patients’ hands, and in order to effectively treat and manage diabetes, patients must learn as much as possible about the disease.

This program is designed to help diabetic members become more involved in managing their healthcare by increasing their understanding of diabetes. PHPSM members—children and adults—are automatically enrolled in this program based on their pharmacy and/or medical claim information. Information is distributed every six months and our registered nurses are available to work with members and their doctors to develop a plan tailored to meet their specific healthcare needs. Information packets include:

  • Information booklets on self-care
  • A healthcare checklist
  • Information regarding Foote Hospital Diabetes Center
  • PHPSM goals for diabetes treatment:
    • Yearly dilated eye exam
    • Foot exam at each doctor’s visit
    • HbA1C every 3 months
    • Yearly lipid screen
    • Yearly urine microalbumin
Diabetes Links

BMI Calculator

Diabetes Checkpoint Worksheet (print and track)

Diabetes Downloads

Make the Link! Diabetes, Heart Disease and Stroke (PDF)

Gettin to the Heart of the Matter with Diabetes (PDF)
Overcoming Depression
In any given 1-year period, 9.5 percent of the population, or about 18.8 million American adults, suffer from a depressive illness. The economic cost for this disorder is high, but the cost in human suffering cannot be estimated. Depressive illnesses often interfere with normal functioning and cause pain and suffering not only to those who have a disorder, but also to those who care about them. Serious depression can destroy family life as well as the life of the ill person. But much of this suffering is unnecessary.

This program is designed to increase understanding of depression and to improve overall health. It was developed with the help of PHPSM participating doctors, nurses, pharmacists, and Behavioral Healthcare specialists. An information packet is sent to PHPSM members if their records show that they have received care for depression and were prescribed an antidepressant medication. The informational packet includes:

  • A "Depression" booklet published by the National Institute of Mental Health
  • An “Overcoming Depression” patient reminder form to help keep track of follow-up appointments
  • Community Resource information and internet resources
  • Information on how to reach Foote Behavioral Health Services for 24-hour crisis intervention or a referral to a counselor at 1-877-285-7900
PHPSM goals for depression treatment:
  • Three (3) follow-up visits in the first 12 weeks of treatment to monitor improvement
  • Take medication exactly as described
  • Refill prescriptions as needed
  • Seek 24-hour assistance if needed through Foote Managed Behavioral Health Services
  • For more information on enrolling in the PHPSM Overcoming Depression program, please call our Care Coordination Department at 517-782-8238 or 1-888-807-7633.

Depression Downloads

Overcoming Depression (PDF)
Healthy at Heart
Cardiovascular disease, or heart disease, is one of the leading causes of death and disability in the United States. If you have high blood pressure and/or high cholesterol, your heart risk is high. You can keep your blood pressure and cholesterol at goal and reduce your risk for heart disease by taking small steps.
  • Snack on fruits and vegetables
  • Take the stairs instead of the elevator
  • Cut down on salt and fat
  • Cut down or stop smoking
  • Lower your stress level
  • Take medicine as it is prescribed by your doctor
In late 2005, PHPSM identified heart disease as having a significant impact on our membership; therefore, we implemented the Healthy at Heart initiative in collaboration with Pfizer Pharmaceuticals. This initiative identifies participants with cardiac disease and provides them educational information and nursing assessments (for higher risk participants) to manage their condition, thereby decreasing the risk of recurrent cardiac events and in some cases lowering the risk of a first time major event. It is designed to increase participant compliance by working with physicians and helping participants become more involved in the management of their care.

After being identified through claims by PHPSM, members are sent an invitation to participate. If they choose to do so they will begin receiving different tools to help them be successful in managing their health. If you would like to participate in the Healthy at Heart Initiative please call the Care Coordination department at (517) 782-8238 or (888) 807-7633.