Congestive Heart Failure

The Horizon NJ Health Congestive Heart Failure (CHF) Program is available to help you improve your quality of life, reduce hospitalizations and emergency room visits, and to provide members with more information about CHF.

Through the CHF Program, members are given helpful hints to reduce the symptoms of CHF, such as proper diet and nutritional steps and medications to control blood pressure. The program can help coordinate your health care between your Primary Care Physician (PCP) and specialist.

For eligible members, a scale can be provided, so that they can maintain a daily weight record to keep their CHF under control and keep them healthy.

Congestive heart failure occurs when the heart is too weak to do its job of pumping all of the blood out of the heart and back into the body. Symptoms of congestive heart failure include:

• Increased heart rate.
• Shortness of breath.
• Persistent coughing or wheezing, especially when lying down.
• Swelling of the face, hands, ankles, legs, and feet.
• Sudden weight gain of three to five pounds in one week.
• Feeling tired or fatigued.
• Decreased appetite or nausea.
• Feeling confused.

Members who have these symptoms should tell their doctor. The doctor may order tests to check for congestive heart failure. The doctor will advise those with congestive heart failure and explain what to do and how to take better care of themselves.

To find out more about the CHF Program, members can talk to their PCP or call Horizon NJ Health toll-free at 1-800-682-9694 and ask for the CHF Program. Hearing- and speech-impaired members may use their TDD/TTY equipment or service to call our TDD/TTY toll-free line at 1-800-654-5505.