On April 1, 2012, IBC will introduce a
new urgent care benefit designed to provide members with a lower cost
alternative to emergency rooms, when appropriate. This new benefit will allow
members to receive services for urgent medical issues when they cannot access
their physician?s office but do not require the advanced medical services of an
emergency department.
Generally, urgent care is considered
medically necessary treatment for an unexpected illness or accidental injury
that is not life- or limb-threatening, where immediate services are required in
order to prevent a serious deterioration in the member?s health.
In order to be recognized as an
approved IBC urgent care provider, centers must meet
specific criteria (including network need) and be credentialed and contracted
as an urgent care center by IBC. Approved providers will be identified
in the IBC provider directory as such and will be eligible to treat members
without the need for a referral or authorization.
Look for future communications
concerning details surrounding the new urgent care member benefit. If you have
any questions about this new urgent care network, please call 1-800-ASK-BLUE.