INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 22 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pharmacy benefit management companies and health benefit plans at WellPoint today announced modified pharmacy guidelines and expanded behavioral health services to help members who are directly impacted by Hurricane Rita. The revised guidelines will help members quickly access needed prescription drugs and assistance during evacuations along the Texas Gulf Coast.
Members who evacuate can refill prescriptions (for up to 90 days of medicine) before leaving, or if medicine is lost or left behind. The mail- order pharmacy is also replacing lost or damaged mail-order delivery prescriptions and will mail to alternate addresses if needed.
These revisions apply to affected members who are currently living in Texas and are covered by one of the following plans:
* Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Colorado, Connecticut, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, New Hampshire, Nevada, Ohio and Virginia * Blue Cross Blue Shield of Georgia * Blue Cross Blue Shield of Missouri * Blue Cross Blue Shield of Wisconsin * Blue Cross of California * UniCare * Anthem Prescription Management * WellPoint Pharmacy Management
In addition, the company is extending its 24-hour phone counseling for trauma and grief as well as a database of disaster recovery centers and referrals to other resources. This service, provided by the Employee Assistance Program is available to any medical member enrolled in one of our plans without EAP Services. Members may take advantage of this service by calling (800) 999-7222.
These guidelines are in effect through Monday, September 26, 2005. At that time, it will be determined if these or any additional guidelines need to be adjusted.
Members with questions should contact the customer service center using the toll-free number on their membership cards. If they do not have their membership card, they should call (888) 209-7978 for UniCare and all other plans at (866) 800-8776.
About WellPoint, Inc.
WellPoint, Inc. is the largest publicly traded commercial health benefits company in terms of membership in the United States. WellPoint, Inc. is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association and serves its members as the Blue Cross licensee for California; the Blue Cross and Blue Shield licensee for Colorado, Connecticut, Georgia, Indiana, Kentucky, Maine, Missouri (excluding 30 counties in the Kansas City area), Nevada, New Hampshire, Ohio, Virginia (excluding the Northern Virginia suburbs of Washington, D.C.), Wisconsin; and through HealthLink and UniCare. Additional information about WellPoint is available at http://www.wellpoint.com .
WellPoint, Inc.
CONTACT: Investor Relations: Tami Durle, +1-317-488-6390, or Media: DebbieDavis, +1-317-488-6207, both of WellPoint, Inc.
Web site: http://www.wellpoint.com/
