Page 18 - Work Force June 2020

Important: Protect your personal information during pandemic
Contact Tracing Tool for People Being Tested for COVID-19
If you test positive for COVID-19, you will get a call from a public health representative to identify any contacts you have had. This form can help you identify your contacts so you will be ready for the call.
Identify date of first symptoms
If you have had symptoms, put the date you first felt sick OR if you have had no symptoms then put your date of testing _____/_____/_____
SUBTRACT 2 DAYS: _____/_____/_____ = YOUR CONTACT TRACING DATE
Who has been in your house with you since your contact tracing date?
Include people who live in your home, and people who may have visited like friends, a babysitter or anyone else providing in-home services.
Make a list of what you did each day since your contact tracing date with as much detail as possible.
Include things like hanging out with neighbors, going to work, running errands, appointments, social or recreational activities outside the house, and if you used public transportation to get there. Use another piece of paper if needed.
Day One: _____/_____/_____
Name of Person
Date Last in Home
Their Phone Number
1
2
3
4
5
People you were with
Activity
Location
Name
Address
Phone Number
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to impact our communities, various reports of emerging scams have been reported throughout the country. We urge our members to remain vigilant of authentic contacts versus potential scams.
We all need to ensure we try and verify that contacts are legitimate before providing any personal information. Personal information scammers try to obtain include health insurance or Medicare information, financial data, as well as personally identifying information such as date of birth and Social Security numbers.
Potential Prescription Drug Scam — Empire Plan Members The New York State Department
of Civil Service, administrator of the New York State Health Insurance Program,
has been made aware
of a potential scam involving Empire Plan enrollees.
Empire Plan
enrollees have
reported being
contacted by companies unaffiliated with The
Empire Plan offering
medications at no cost or reduced costs. Enrollees are reminded not to provide personal information to these companies as they are not authorized by your health insurer.
If you receive a call or other contact and wish to verify it is authorized by the Empire Plan, please call 1-877-7-NYSHIP or 1-877- 769-7447. The prescription drug component of the Empire Plan can be reached by selecting option 4.
COVID-19 Contact Tracing
As New York State and the nation move forward with additional businesses opening and more people returning to the workplace, contact tracing programs for COVID-19 are being put in place.
The specifics of New York’s
contact tracing program have yet to be determined, but a common problem reported by other programs is people think it may be a telemarketer and do not pick up their phones to callers when it is an “unidentified caller.” The governor has noted if you get a call from a Tracer, the caller ID will in most cases say “NYS Contact Tracing.”
Contact tracing is not a new concept. State health departments have used this practice for generations for instances that include potential exposure to tuberculosis, measles or sexually transmitted diseases. The role
of COVID-19 contact tracers is
to track down people who have tested positive or have had close contact with others who have tested positive.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) states
that missed or ignored connections from contact
tracers could delay efforts to quickly notify
people and limit the
spread of the virus in communities.
Contact tracers may verify your date
of birth and address for identification. Contact tracers
follow federal HIPAA privacy guidelines; they will not reveal your information nor the identity of the person who tested positive.
When contacted by a contact tracer, conversation will include questions surrounding your COVID- 19 symptoms, travel history and individuals you have had contact with.
Contact tracers will NOT ask
for Social Security numbers or any financial information such as bank account or credit card information. The New York State COVID-19 Hotline can be contacted at 1-888- 364-3065.
Common COVID-19 Scams Recently Reported Suspicious contacts have
A portion of the New York State Department of Health’s contact tracer form.
Day Two: _____/_____/_____
Activity Location Name
included telemarketing calls,
information on social media
platforms as well as door to door
Day Three: _____/_____/_____ visits.
People you were with
Address Phone Number
or providing personal identifying and financial information.
Charity Scams: Seeking donations People you were with
Activity Location Name
fraudulently for illegitimate or non-
COVID-19 Testing, Treatment, and Medical Supplies Scams: Individuals selling fake at-home testing kits, fake or non-existent medical supplies,
Address Phone Number
existent charitable organizations. Fake Medical Billing: Being
contacted by phone or email by individuals pretending to be
insurance information. In turn, any information provided can be used to fraudulently bill for other services.
Day Four: _____/_____/_____
treatments or vaccines that can cure
People you were with
Activity Location Name
medical providers requesting health
COVID-19.
Phishing e-mails: Scam emails
Address Phone Number
that appear to be from national and
glo13b114al health authorities, incNluewdYoinrk gState DepartmenItfofyHoeaulth think that you or someo5n/2e0
the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Phishing e-mails are designed to trick recipients into downloading malware
you know has been a victim of COVID-19 fraud, contact the U.S. Department of Justice’s National Center for Disaster Fraud by calling 1-866-720-5721.
MyStrength Available to Empire Plan Enrollees
To assist members in dealing with the additional stress many of us are currently experiencing, CSEA Empire Plan enrollees now have access to myStrength, a unique, online emotional health program accessible via a computer or smartphone app.
It has an extensive library of articles, videos, and eLearning programs aimed at helping enrollees navigate new COVID-19
challenges, including a heightened level of stress and anxiety,
feelings of isolation, and parental challenges for families working and learning together all under the same roof.
The myStrength program can
be found on the Empire Plan AchieveSolutions website at https://www.achievesolutions.net/ achievesolutions/en/empireplan/ Home.do
18 The Work Force
June 2020