Effective January 1, 2012, unless otherwise noted, the following member
benefits changes and clarifications will be implemented for several commercial
programs for Pennsylvania members:
Type of service
Plans affected
Change/clarification
Air or ground ambulance
All HMO, All POS,
All DPOS
Language is being added to this benefit to permit HMO/POS
members to be transferred back into the service area via air
or ground ambulance for covered rehabilitative care after an
out-of-area emergency.
Appeals
All HMO, All POS,
All DPOS
Language is being revised to comply with Health Care Reform.
Benefit period calendar
year vs. contract year
All HMO, All POS,
All DPOS
Language is being clarified to clearly state whether the group's benefit period
is the contract year or calendar year in the group and member?s Schedule of
Benefits and that a calendar year is from January 1 through December 31.
Capitated laboratory
services
All HMO, All POS,
All DPOS
Language is being added to clarify that laboratory services are covered
capitated services.
Dependents to 26
All HMO, All POS,
All DPOS
Language is being revised in our policy for removing
dependents who have reached the maximum age.
Discretionary language
All HMO, All POS,
All DPOS
Language is being added to clarify that AmeriHealth has the
discretion to interpret benefit plans and to determine whether
or not a member is entitled to benefits.
Durable medical
equipment ? safety
equipment
All HMO, All POS,
All DPOS
Language is being added to clarify that ?equipment for safety?
is not considered durable medical equipment because it is not primarily medical
in nature and is not covered.
Genetic testing
All HMO, All POS,
All DPOS
Language is being clarified to bring it into alignment with the
evolving field of genetic testing.
Medical Policy defined
All HMO, All POS,
All DPOS
Language is being added to clarify that Medical Policy is
used to determine whether covered services are medically
necessary.
Nutrition counseling and diabetic education
Effective December 1, 2011
All HMO
Language is being revised to state that HMO referral
requirements for nutrition counseling and diabetic education
are being removed.
Preventive care
immunizations
All HMO, All POS,
All DPOS
Language is being added to state that a full list of pediatric
and adult immunization schedules can be found by accessing the Advisory
Committee on Immunization Practices website.
Reliable Evidence
All HMO, All POS,
All DPOS
Language is being added to clearly identify what is considered appropriate
Reliable Evidence in determining whether a drug, biological, product, device,
medical treatment or procedure is Experimental/Investigational.
Retroactive terminations
Effective March 1, 2012
All HMO, All POS,
All DPOS
Language is being revised to reflect the changes to the
period of time in which AmeriHealth will retroactively
terminate members.
Rosa?s Law ? Federal mandate
All HMO, All POS,
All DPOS
Language will comply with Federal law that requires that the
terms ?mental retardation? and ?retarded? be replaced with
the term ?intellectual disability.?
If you have questions regarding these benefits changes and clarifications,
please call Customer Service at 1-800-275-2583