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| Volume 3, Issue 11: May 30, 2008 |
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From Barstow to Barcelona, We’ve Got You Covered Wherever our members may travel, for business or pleasure, their PacificSource travel benefits are there to help if they need to seek medical care. The First Health® Network—in the U.S., Outside Our Service Area “How sharp is that cactus?” Answering that question can mean a visit to a physician. Through the First Health Network, our members needing medical care outside of Oregon, western Idaho, and southern Washington have access to a network that includes physicians, hospitals, and other outpatient care facilities. Members will receive their plan’s participating provider benefits when using First Health providers outside the service area, simply by presenting their PacificSource member ID card. No matter where a member travels within the United States, they can find First Health providers through our online Provider Directory or by phone toll-free at (800) 226-5116. In medical emergencies, benefits are paid at the participating provider level even if a member is treated at a nonparticipating hospital. You can download a First Health sales flier (Bend, Boise, Eugene, Medford, Portland; 668 KB PDF) from the For Agents/Materials area of our Web site. Feel free to contact us if you have questions. Assist America® Global Emergency Services—100 Miles from Home or Abroad If a member gets a sprain stepping off a train in Spain, they can call Assist America Global Emergency Services for help. When traveling 100 or more miles from their primary residence or in a foreign country, members can call Assist America to help them get the care they need in a medical emergency. Assist America’s operations center is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year with trained, multilingual and medical personnel, including doctors and nurses, who are ready to help. Assist America provides a variety of services, including medical consultation and evaluation, medical referrals, critical care monitoring, and, if medically necessary, evacuation to the nearest facility that can appropriately treat the member. When they are ready to be discharged from a hospital and need medical assistance to return home (or to a rehabilitation facility), Assist America will arrange for their transportation and provide an escort, if necessary. Assist America’s services compliment rather than replace PacificSource coverage. Once a member is under the care of a physician or medical facility, the PacificSource policy’s terms and conditions apply. Assist America’s services ensure that in an emergency, members get access to the care they need. Global Emergency Services sales fliers (Bend, Boise, Eugene, Medford, Portland; 1.1 MB PDF) are available to download from the For Agents/Materials area of our Web site. You are welcome to contact us if you have questions. Groups Asked to Keep Member Addresses Current Anyone who has moved in recent years would agree that it’s a process fraught with details: arranging for utilities, mail service, magazine and newspaper subscriptions, and many other things. We realize that few people are likely to remember to notify their health plan of their new address. Because of that, we rely on our plan administrators to help us stay informed of our members’ addresses so we can ensure that members receive explanation of benefits statements, plan information, and other news in a timely manner. Our June billing statements included a reminder to clients about the importance of updating us with member address changes. Plan administrators can notify us of address changes by fax to their Membership Representative, or by calling (866) 999-5583. We would appreciate anything you can do to reinforce this message with your group clients. Providers Can Quickly Access Formulary Info Online Healthcare providers can now access our formulary lists from their computer or PDA using the Epocrates® online formulary-hosting service. At the point of care, providers can quickly determine how the drug will be covered under a member’s plan and if preauthorization is required, view alternative and generic substitutions, and check quantity limits. In addition, the site provides a wealth of information about each drug on the list, including dosing recommendations, possible side effects, and cautions. Drug lists are updated weekly, so providers always have access to the most up-to-date information. The service offers convenience to providers. “About 27 percent of doctors in Oregon already use Epocrates,” notes PacificSource Director of Pharmacy Services Dennis Rogers. “Even more will begin to use the site as additional health insurers include their formularies.” Not only is Epocrates a more efficient and effective way to make our drug lists available to providers, it helps manage rising drug costs by advising physicians of lower-cost alternatives and generics. This can mean out-of-pocket savings for our members. PacificSource Sponsors CE Classes in Eugene June 11 Classes in Eugene (Six credit hours total)
Invitations will be e-mailed with class and registration details. Class space is limited, so be sure to register as soon as you receive your invitation. Please e-mail Marketing Agent Coordinator Candice Wilkins to register or for more information. For details, check our 2008 schedule in the For Agents/Prof’l Development section of our Web site. East Cascades Association of Health Underwriters (ECAHU) will host two events in June:
Portland Association of Health Underwriters (PAHU) will host a meeting on June 18. For more information, visit www.pahuonline.org and select Upcoming Events. PacificSource is proud to sponsor Northwest community events that support healthy communities and health-focused organizations. We hope you will join us in supporting these events: Relay For Life—American Cancer Society Dogs for the Deaf—Dog Walk
Alive After Five Summer Concert Series Science Factory Bike Day Relay For Life—American Cancer Society Grants Pass Concerts in the Park Main Street Mile Annual Walk for Men’s Health 2008 U.S. Olympic Team Trials—Track & Field |
Questions? You’re always welcome to contact us! |
Eugene Bend Boise Medford |
Portland Manley Services Select Benefit Administrators |
