Page 19 - Work Force September 2020

TUse Empire Plan network providers
he Empire Plan is a unique health doesn’t mean they are in the home care services and durable insurance plan that provides network. To get the most out of your medical equipment/supplies,
worldwide. Blue Cross also oversees the Empire Plan Center of Excellence Program for Transplants.
Beacon Health Options oversees the Empire Plan’s Mental Health and Substance Abuse Program
and provides a nationwide network for mental health
and substance abuse treatment, including
alcoholism.
CVS Caremark
oversees the Empire Plan’s Prescription
Drug Program and includes a nationwide
network of participating pharmacies and a Mail Order
Pharmacy.
Any questions about the Empire
Plan network benefits should be addressed to the appropriate administrator at the Empire Plan’s toll-free number: 1-877-7-NYSHIP (1-877-769-7447).
coverage whether you receive care from Empire Plan network providers or from non-network providers.
When you or a loved one needs health care, make sure you are visiting a participating Empire Plan network provider. Staying in the Empire Plan network can save you (and the Plan) time and money:
plan — and pay less — make sure
to confirm with providers ahead of time by asking, “Are you in network with (United Healthcare, Empire Blue Cross, Beacon, etc.) for The Empire Plan?”
You can search for Empire Plan participating network providers online by visiting NYSHIP Online at www.cs.ny.gov/employee-benefits and select Find a Provider.
Below is a listing of the administrators for The Empire Plan and the program they are responsible for overseeing.
United HealthCare oversees the Empire Plan Participating Provider Program for medical/surgical services (such as office visits and surgery) as well as:
• The Home Care Advocacy Program (HCAP) for covered
including diabetic supplies, diabetic shoes and enteral formulas.
• The Managed Physical Network (MPN) for chiropractic treatment and physical therapy.
• Centers of Excellence Program for Cancer and Infertility.
• Access to acupuncturists
under the Empire
Plan has increased. Effective July 1,
2020, The Empire Plan’s Acupuncture Network now includes over 400 network providers.
Empire Blue Cross oversees the Empire Plan’s Hospital Program and provides coverage at hospitals
• •
Your out-of-pocket responsibility is usually limited to only a co-payment for covered services by network providers.
Network providers will handle many administrative tasks for you, such as submitting claims to United Healthcare.
VERY IMPORTANT: Confirm network status before scheduling any visit.
Just because a provider says they’ll “accept” your insurance
Dependent heading to college? Ensure immunizations are up-to-date
Do you have or know a loved
one heading off to college this fall? The checklist of purchases and required protections necessary for college campus living seems to grow every day.
Before you and your loved ones complete that college-prep checklist, the CSEA Joint Committee on Health Benefits would like to provide
you with a reminder to ensure all immunizations are up to date.
Infectious diseases tend to spread wherever large groups of people gather. Teens and young adults are at increased risk for meningococcal disease. A meningococcal disease outbreak occurs when multiple cases of the same type (serogroup) happen in a population over a short time period. Outbreaks can occur
in communities, schools, colleges and other populations. Depending on the population size and specific circumstances, health officials may declare an outbreak after just two cases.
There are two meningococcal
vaccines (MenACWY and MenB)
that provide protection against
the serogroups that cause most meningococcal disease in the United States. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommends MenACWY vaccination at age 11 to 12. Since protections decrease over time, the CDC recommends a booster dose at age 16 (before first-year college students move into residence halls). College campuses have reported outbreaks of serogroup
B meningococcal disease in recent years. Since the MenACWY vaccines do not provide complete protection against serogroup B meningococcal disease, CDC also recommends a MenB (serogroup B) meningococcal vaccine.
The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practice and the CDC recommend children (male and female) routinely receive the HPV vaccine around age 11 or 12, which protects against the human papillomaviruses that cause most cervical and similar cancers. HPV
vaccinations are recommended and covered by insurances through age 26.
Vaccination recommendations vary due to health conditions, school or job-related requirements and other factors. Many colleges and universities require incoming students be vaccinated against numerous diseases due to the increased risk. Check with your health care provider for vaccination
recommendations to ensure everyone is up-to-date. For more information about vaccines and the diseases they can help prevent, visit https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/vpd/ index.html.
Questions regarding vaccination coverage through the Empire
Plan can be addressed by calling The Empire Plan and speaking with United HealthCare at 1-877-7(NYSHIP) 1-877-769-7447.
September 2020
The Work Force 19