Page 17 - Work Force February 2023

February 2023
The Work Force 17
Empire Plan enrollees: Reminder of covered vaccines through network pharmacies
Benefit information for Empire Plan enrollees
The Empire Plan’s “Reporting On” publications are issued periodically by New York State Department of Civil Service to Empire Plan enrollees and their enrolled Empire Plan dependents.
Various series of the publication feature information crucial to understanding your Empire Plan benefits on topics such as:
Asthma (March 2021) discusses the causes and symptoms of asthma, how to avoid triggers,
the plan’s Asthma Management Program and Home Care Advocacy Program (HCAP).
Centers of Excellence (February 2022-online) describes how the Empire Plan’s Centers
of Excellence programs for cancer, transplants and infertility can help Empire Plan enrollees facing medical crisis.
Diabetes (April 2021)
discusses symptoms,
treatment and complications associated with Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes, as well as benefits available through HCAP and Empire Plan’s Diabetes Management Program.
Home Care Advocacy Program (January 2021) explains how HCAP under the Empire Plan provides in-home services and supplies when prescribed by your doctor.
Mental Health & Substance Use (July 2021) details how The Empire Plan’s Mental Health and Substance Use (MHSU) Program can help you receive treatment and care for mental health or substance use issues. Receiving the appropriate treatment from a network provider or facility can help you get on the right path toward your recovery.
Network Benefits (October 2020) discusses the benefits available to Empire Plan enrollees who use participating and network providers for medical/surgical, hospital, mental health and substance use services.
Prenatal Care (April 2021)
explains the components of good prenatal care, including pregnancy planning, nutrition, postpartum depression and the Empire Plan’s Future Moms Program.
Prescription Drugs (February 2021) discusses specific information on copayment levels, mandatory generic substitution,
the Flexible Formulary Drug List, Specialty Pharmacy
Program and Drug Utilization Review
under the plan.
Smoking Cessation (May 2021) discusses the addictive power of
nicotine, conditions and diseases caused
by smoking, quitting strategies and information
on the smoking cessation treatments covered by the Empire Plan.
These publications are available on NYSHIP Online: www.cs.ny.gov/ employee-benefits.
Choose your group (active state, then CSEA and Empire Plan), choose “using your benefits”
and then current publications. Once there, scroll down to find “Reporting On.”
Please note that the site uses cookies. You must enable cookies so that you will only need to access this page and select
your group once. The site will remember your group for future visits. You will have the option of changing your group at any time after the initial logon.
Select preventive vaccines are covered without copayment when administered at a pharmacy that participates in the CVS Caremark national vaccine network. Vaccines available at a pharmacy include:
• COVID-19
• Haemophilius influenzae
Type B
• Hepatitis A • Hepatitis B
• Herpes zoster (shingles)
• Human papillomavirus (HPV) • Inactivated poliovirus (polio) • Influenza (flu)
• Measles, mumps, rubella
• Meningococcal (meningitis)
• Pneumococcal (pneumonia)
• Rotavirus
• Tetanus, diphtheria, pertussis • Varicella (chickenpox)
To find out if a pharmacy participates in the CVS Caremark National Vaccine Network, call the Prescription Drug Program or visit www.empireplanrxprogram.com and select CVS Caremark, then select “Find a Local Pharmacy.”
Be sure to select vaccine network under advanced search. Only certain pharmacies are part of the CVS Caremark national vaccine network and certain vaccines have age limitations. Call the pharmacy in advance to verify availability of the vaccine.
If you have questions about this coverage or need help locating a vaccine pharmacy, call the Empire Plan at 1-877-769-7447, and press or say 4 to reach the Prescription Drug Program.
Empire Plan removes Strong Fertility Center as Infertility Center of Excellence
The Empire Plan annually evaluates the network of Infertility Centers of Excellence. Strong Fertility Center will no longer be designated as an Empire Plan Center of Excellence, effective Jan.1, 2023. Affected members have received notification.
Strong Fertility Center will remain an Empire Plan participating provider. Empire Plan enrollees and dependents will not lose access to the center, but the out-of-pocket
cost sharing requirements may change because of the center not being considered an Infertility Center of Excellence. Members currently in a cycle will be able to finish that current cycle without any copayments applied.
Questions regarding this change should be directed to United HealthCare at 1-877-769-7447 and choose option 1 for the Medical/ Surgical Program.