INDIANAPOLIS, Sept. 29 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Pharmacy benefit management companies and health benefit plans at WellPoint, Inc. today announced the continuation of certain modified medical, pharmacy, dental and behavioral health guidelines to help members who are directly impacted by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. The revised guidelines will help members quickly access needed care and prescription drugs in the aftermath of these storms.
Members affected by these hurricanes should seek medical assistance wherever it is available and have their medications refilled at any pharmacy or shipped to them at an alternative address. In addition, all providers caring for affected members will be considered “in-network” providers and affected members will not be required to satisfy prior authorization, pre- certification or referral requirements during this time.
The revised guidelines apply to members 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 * WellPoint Behavioral Health * WellPoint Dental Services
For the affected members, below are some of the steps the health and dental plans are taking:
* Suspending requirements for prior authorization and pre-certification. * Suspending requirements for authorization or referral from a primary care physician. * Allowing the affected members to see any physician necessary to provide access to care. * Paying all claims as in-network, regardless of whether or not the health care provider is in network. * Suspending early refill limits and shipping prescriptions to members at alternative addresses. * Suspending utilization management (UM) review of in-hospital cases. * Waiving co-payments for dental visits.
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 without EAP Services. Any plan member may take advantage of this service by calling 800-999-7222.
These guidelines are in effect through Monday, October 31, 2005. At that time, it will be determined if these or any additional guidelines need to be adjusted.
These revisions apply to affected members in one of the following areas: * The Texas counties of Angelina, Aransas, Brazoria, Calhoun, Chambers, Galveston, Hardin, Harris, Jackson, Jasper, Jefferson, Jim Wells, Kenedy, Kleberg, Liberty, Matagorda, Nacogdoches, Newton, Nueces, Orange, Polk, Refugio, Sabine, San Augustine, San Jacinto, San Patricio, Shelby, Trinity, Tyler, Victoria, and Wharton; * The Louisiana parishes of Beauregard, Calcasieu, Cameron, Jefferson Davis, Jefferson, Orleans, Plaquemines, St. Bernard, St. Tammany, Tangipahoa, Washington and Vermilion; * In addition, Louisiana residents who worked in one of the parishes listed above or the parishes of Lafourche, Livingston, St. Charles, St. John the Baptist, St. James, St. Mary or Terrebone may contact member services to see if the revised guidelines apply to them.
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, all other health plans at 866-800-8776 and WellPoint Dental Services at 800-224-6720.
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.
