Select Health makes it easier for members to get medical help during Hurricane Irma

Policies Temporarily Lifted to Help Members in Affected Areas Access Needed Care and Services

North Charleston, S.C. — Select Health of South Carolina, the state’s oldest and largest Medicaid managed care organization and part of the AmeriHealth Caritas Family of Companies, is committed to the health and safety of South Carolina’s communities during Hurricane Irma, which is currently impacting the state. Select Health is working to ensure continuity of care for members of its First Choice Medicaid and First Choice VIP Care Plus Medicare-Medicaid plans during this critical time.

In coordination with South Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS), Select Health has made important temporary adjustments to its coverage policies and procedures for members living in the affected areas.

For members and network providers of Select Health’s First Choice Medicaid plan, the following changes are effective immediately and will remain in effect through Tuesday, September 12^th:

• Members may refill their regular medications earlier than usual to ensure a sufficient supply.

• Members may receive a temporary, five-day supply of medications that normally require prior authorization.

• Members travelling out of state may fill their medications by showing their First Choice member identification card at any retail pharmacy.

• Essential medical supplies and equipment for those members impacted by the storm will be approved by the health plan, as needed.

• Use of out-of-network and/or out-of-state providers will be allowed for medically necessary services.

• Administrative denials for late notification will be waived at this time.

• Medically necessary emergency care will be covered.

• Health plan members and network providers are encouraged to check the First Choice by Select Health website at www.selecthealthofsc.com for the latest information on these changes.

 

For First Choice VIP Care Plus members and network providers, the following changes will remain in effect for the duration of the declared state of emergency:

• Members may refill their regular medications earlier than usual to ensure a sufficient supply.

• Use of out-of-network pharmacies is authorized when access to in-network pharmacies is unavailable or when traveling to in-network pharmacies is difficult, unsafe, or not practical.

• All requests for emergency inpatient hospital admissions, as well as admissions to skilled nursing facilities, nursing facilities, and rehabilitation and long-term acute care facilities will be approved by the health plan, as needed.

• All urgent outpatient procedures requiring prior authorizations will be approved by the plan, as needed.

• Essential medical supplies and equipment for those members impacted by the storm will be approved by the health plan, as needed.

• Use of Medicare-certified out-of-network and/or out-of-state providers will be allowed for medically necessary services.

• Administrative denials for late notification will be waived at this time.

• Health plan members and network providers are encouraged to check the First Choice VIP Care Plus website at www.firstchoicevipcareplus.com for the latest information on these changes.

Members of both health plans are reminded to keep their member identification cards with them at all times and take their cards if they evacuate their homes.

Offices and staff in unaffected regions, as well as the Nurse Call Line, will be available to assist members with urgent needs. Select Health’s Member Services team may be reached at 1-888-276-2020 (TTY 1-888-765-9586) for First Choice Medicaid members and at 1-888-978-0862 (TTY/TDD 711) for First Choice VIP Care Plus members. The Nurse Call Line is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week for First Choice Medicaid members at 1-800-304-5436, and for First Choice VIP Care Plus members at 1-855-843-1147.

Members experiencing a medical emergency should call 911 or seek medical attention immediately.

“For more than two decades, we have been part of the fabric of South Carolina’s communities, and we will continue to stand by our communities and members throughout the duration of this crisis,” said Select Health Market President Rebecca Engelman. “Our top priority is helping to ensure the health and safety of the members and communities we serve. We are working with SCDHHS and other stakeholders across the state to help ensure that our members continue to have access to needed care and services.”

“It’s most important that our members do whatever is necessary to try and assure their own safety and that of their loved ones,” said Jay Powell, vice president, South Carolina Medicare for AmeriHealth Caritas and head of First Choice VIP Care Plus. “We want to do our best to accommodate our members in need who might be affected by this weather event by temporarily easing access to some of our services.”

 

About Select Health
Select Health of South Carolina, part of the AmeriHealth Caritas Family of Companies, contracts with South Carolina’s Department of Health and Human Services (SCDHHS) to offer First Choice, the state’s oldest and largest Medicaid managed care health plan, in all 46 counties statewide. First Choice by Select Health is the top-rated Medicaid health plan in South Carolina, according to the National Committee for Quality Assurance’s (NCQA) Medicaid Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2015 – 2016 and 2016 – 2017.  First Choice was the top-ranked Medicaid health plan in South Carolina per NCQA from 2010 to 2014. First Choice is the first health plan in South Carolina to earn NCQA’s Multicultural Health Care Distinction, an honor it has achieved four times since 2011. For more information about First Choice by Select Health, visit www.selecthealthofsc.com.

Select Health also offers the First Choice VIP Care Plus Medicare-Medicaid plan in 39 South Carolina counties. For more information about First Choice VIP Care Plus, visit www.firstchoicevipcareplus.com.

 

About AmeriHealth Caritas
AmeriHealth Caritas is part of the Independence Health Group in partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan. AmeriHealth Caritas is one of the nation’s leaders in health care solutions for those most in need. Operating in 17 states and the District of Columbia, AmeriHealth Caritas serves more than 5.7 million Medicaid, Medicare and Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP) members through its integrated managed care products, pharmaceutical benefit management and specialty pharmacy services, behavioral health services, and other administrative services. Headquartered in Philadelphia, AmeriHealth Caritas is a mission-driven organization with more than 30 years of experience serving low-income and chronically ill populations. For more information, visit www.amerihealthcaritas.com.