November is Bladder Health Awareness Month − a good reminder to talk with patients about urinary incontinence (UI) as appropriate. UI is a common but often underreported condition that can significantly impact a patient’s quality of life. Engaging your patients in regular discussions about UI may improve their comfort level with addressing UI-related issues. It may also improve Health Outcomes Survey (HOS) scores. HOS is a regulatory survey administered to Medicare-aged members by the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) that measures whether conversations about UI happen when you meet with them. 

Empowering your patients

Many patients mistakenly perceive incontinence as a normal part of aging, but it is not. As their health care provider, you play a pivotal role in correcting this misconception. Letting them know that UI is a treatable medical condition rather than an inevitable consequence of getting older, you can help them take proactive steps toward managing their symptoms. While some patients may feel embarrassed to discuss UI, the following strategies can help them feel more open to having these conversations:

• Create a comfortable environment: Ensure discussions occur in a private, comfortable setting where patients feel safe to express their concerns without fear of judgment.
• Empathetic communication: Use empathetic language and maintain a compassionate demeanor to encourage openness. Be patient. Do not rush the conversation as this may be a difficult topic for some patients.
• Normalize the discussion: Address UI at every annual wellness or preventive care visit to follow up and support any changes your patient is experiencing. Ensure they understand the cause of their symptoms and ways to treat them.
• Use simple language: Avoid medical jargon; use simple, plain language to explain the condition and its implications.
• Encourage patient involvement: Listen actively to the patient’s concerns and experiences, validating their feelings and perspectives.
• Collaborative goal setting: Involve patients in setting realistic and achievable goals for managing their symptoms.

Strategies for improving HOS scores

Here are some additional strategies for promoting bladder health and alleviating the stigma around UI:

• Visit HealthSpring Healthier Together for educational materials for your patients.
• Share Urinary Incontinence and Bladder Control Tips with your patients, including how to talk to you about UI.
• Overactive Bladder Assessment Tool (Urology Care Foundation).
• Educational Resources (Urology Care Foundation).
• Remind patients to check their evidence of coverage to determine if their plan offers over-the-counter benefits, including adult briefs, pads, barrier cream/skin protectant and medication to help with an overactive bladder (Oxytrol).
• 2025 HOS Success Series on-demand training with continuing medical education credits.

Cigna Healthcare^® Medicare Advantage is becoming HealthSpring^SM.Our new benefit plans will be rolled out under the HealthSpring name during the 2025 annual enrollment period. Starting in January 2026, you will begin seeing patients with HealthSpring benefit coverage. Learn more.