A Health Maintenance Organization
Serving: Upstate, Hudson Valley, and Central New York.
Enrollment in this Plan is limited; see page 7 for requirements.
This Plan has Excellent accreditation from
the NCQA. See the 2001
Guide for
more information on NCQA.
Enrollment codes for this Plan:
Region I includes the Capital Area
of New York.
SG1 Self Only SG2 Self and Family
Region II includes the Hudson Valley of New York.
QB1 Self Only QB2
Self and Family
Region III includes the North and Central New York area.
PW1 Self Only
PW2 Self and Family
Authorized for distribution by the:
RI 73-549
For changes in benefits,
see page 8. 1
1
Page 2 3
Table of
Contents
Introduction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Plain Language . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Inspector General Advisory .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Section 1. Facts
about this HMO plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
How we pay
providers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Who provides my
health care? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Your Rights . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Service Area . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
Section 2. How we change for
2002 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Program-wide changes . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Changes to this Plan . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Section 3. How you get care . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Identification cards . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Where you get covered care . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Plan providers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 9
Plan facilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 9
What you must do to get covered care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Primary care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Specialty
care . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
Hospital care . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10
Circumstances beyond our
control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Services requiring our prior approval
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 11
Section 4. Your costs for covered services . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Copayments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . 12
Deductible . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 12
Coinsurance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 12
Your out-of-pocket maximum . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
Section 5. Benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 13
Overview . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . 13
(a) Medical services and supplies provided by physicians
and other health care professionals . . . . . . . . . 14
(b) Surgical and
anesthesia services provided by physicians and other health care professionals .
. . . . . . 22
(c) Services provided by a hospital or other facility, and
ambulance services . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
(d)
Emergency services/ accidents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
(e) Mental
health and substance abuse benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
(f) Prescription drug
benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
(g) Special features . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
Flexible benefits option
2002 CDPHP 2 Table of Contents 2
2
Page 3 4
Table of
Contents continued
Non-emergency routine care for full-time
students out of the area
Childhood Education Reimbursement Program
Services for deaf and hearing impaired
Centers of excellence for
transplants/ heart surgery/ etc.
(h) Dental benefits . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
(i) Non-FEHB benefits available to Plan
members . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . .35
Section 6. General exclusions things we don't cover . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 36
Section 7. Filing a claim for covered services . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 37
Section 8. The disputed claims process . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . 38
Section 9. Coordinating benefits with other coverage . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 40
When you have
Other health coverage . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 40
Original Medicare . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 40
Medicare manage care plan . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
TRICARE/
Workers' Compensation/ Medicaid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 43
Other Government agencies . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
When others are responsible for injuries
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 43
Section 10. Definitions of terms we use in this
brochure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 44
Section 11. FEHB facts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Coverage information . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
No pre-existing condition limitation . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 45
Where you get information about enrolling in the FEHB Program . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45
Types of coverage
available for you and your family . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . 45
When benefits and premiums start . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 46
Your medical and claims records are confidential . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
When you retire .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
When you lose benefits . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
When FEHB coverage ends . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . 46
Spouse equity coverage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . 46
Temporary Continuation of Coverage (TCC) . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
Converting to
individual coverage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47
Getting a Certificate of Group
Health Plan Coverage . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 47
Long term care insurance is coming later in 2002 . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . 48
Index . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 49
Summary of benefits . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51
Rates . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . Back cover
2002 CDPHP 3 Table of Contents 3
3
Page 4 5
Introduction
Capital District Physicians' Health Plan, Inc.
Patroon Creek Corporate Center
1223 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY
12206-1057
This brochure describes the benefits of Capital District Physicians' Health
Plan, Inc. under our contract (CS 2612) with
the Office of Personnel
Management (OPM), as authorized by the Federal Employees Health Benefits law.
This brochure
is the official statement of benefits. No oral statement can
modify or otherwise affect the benefits, limitations, and
exclusions of this
brochure.
If you are enrolled in this Plan, you are entitled to the benefits described
in this brochure. If you are enrolled for Self and
Family coverage, each
eligible family member is also entitled to these benefits. You do not have a
right to benefits that
were available before January 1, 2002, unless those
benefits are also shown in this brochure.
OPM negotiates benefits and rates with each plan annually. Benefit changes
are effective January 1, 2002, and changes
are summarized on page 8. Rates
are shown at the end of this brochure.
Plain Language
Teams of Government and health plans' staff worked
on all FEHB brochures to make them responsive, accessible, and
understandable to the public. For instance,
Except for necessary technical terms, we use common words. For instance,
"you" means the enrollee or family
member; "we" means Capital District
Physician's Health Plan (CDPHP).
We limit acronyms to ones you know. FEHB is the Federal Employees Health
Benefits Program. OPM is the Office of
Personnel Management. If we use
others, we tell you what they mean first.
Our brochure and other FEHB plans' brochures have the same format and
similar descriptions to help you compare plans.
If you have comments or
suggestions about how to improve the structure of this brochure, let OPM know.
Visit OPM's
"Rate Us" feedback area at www. opm. gov/ insure or e-mail OPM
at fehbwebcomments@ opm. gov. You may also write to
OPM at the Office of
Personnel Management, Office of Insurance Planning and Evaluation Division, 1900
E Street, NW,
Washington, DC 20415-3650.
2002 CDPHP 4 Introduction/ Plain Language 4
4 Page 5 6
Inspector General Advisory
Stop health care
fraud! Fraud increases the cost of health care for everyone. If you suspect
that a physician, pharmacy, or hospital has charged you for services you did not
receive, billed you twice for the same service, or misrepresented any
information, do the following:
Call the provider and ask for an explanation. There may be an error.
If the provider does not resolve the matter, call us at 1-800-280-6885 and
explain the situation.
If we do not resolve the issue, call or write
THE HEALTH CARE FRAUD HOTLINE 202/ 418-3300
The United States
Office of Personnel Management
Office of the Inspector General Fraud Hotline
1900 E Street, NW, Room 6400
Washington, DC 20415.
Penalties for Fraud Anyone who falsifies a claim to obtain FEHB
Program benefits can be prosecuted for fraud. Also, the Inspector General may
investigate anyone
who uses an ID card if the person tries to obtain
services for someone who
is not an eligible family member, or is no longer
enrolled in the Plan and
tries to obtain benefits. Your agency may also take
administrative action
against you.
2002 CDPHP 5 Inspector General Advisory 5
5 Page 6 7
Section 1. Facts about this HMO plan
This
Plan is a health maintenance organization (HMO). We require you to see specific
physicians, hospitals, and other
providers that contract with us. These Plan
providers coordinate your health care services.
HMOs emphasize preventive care such as routine office visits, physical exams,
well-baby care, and immunizations, in
addition to treatment for illness and
injury. Our providers follow generally accepted medical practice when
prescribing
any course of treatment.
When you receive services from Plan providers, you will not have to submit
claim forms or pay bills. You only pay the
copayments, coinsurance, and
deductibles described in this brochure. When you receive emergency services from
non-Plan
providers, you may have to submit claim forms.
You should join an HMO because you prefer the plan's benefits, not because
a particular provider is available. You cannot change plans because a provider
leaves our Plan. We cannot guarantee that any one physician,
hospital, or
other provider will be available and/ or remain under contract with us.
How we pay providers
We contract with individual physicians,
medical groups, and hospitals to provide the benefits in this brochure. These
Plan providers accept a negotiated payment from us, and you will only be
responsible for your copayments or
coinsurance.
Who provides my health care?
The Capital District Physicians'
Health Plan, Inc. (CDPHP) provides medical care through participating providers
in their
private offices, area hospitals, and other health care facilities.
The first and most important decision each member must make is the selection
of a primary care doctor. The decision is
important since it is through this
doctor that all other health services, particularly those of specialists, are
obtained. When
you enroll, you will be asked to let the Plan know which
primary care doctor( s) you have selected for you and each of
your family
members. In addition, female members may also select an obstetrician/
gynecologist. The Plan's provider
directory lists primary care doctors,
(general practitioners, family practitioners, pediatricians, and internists),
with their
locations and phone numbers, and notes whether or not the doctor
is accepting new patients. Directories are updated on a
regular basis and
are available at the time of enrollment or by calling the Member Services
Department at 518/ 641-3700.
If you need help choosing a doctor, call the
Plan. You may change your doctor selection by notifying the Plan thirty (30)
days in advance.
Your Rights
OPM requires that all FEHB Plans provide certain
information to their FEHB members. You may get information about
us, our
networks, providers, and facilities. OPM's FEHB website (www. opm. gov/ insure)
lists the specific types of
information that we must make available to you.
Some of the required information is listed below.
CDPHP is licensed in New York State.
CDPHP has been in existence for
more than 16 years.
CDPHP is a not-for-profit health maintenance
organization.
If you want more information about us, call 1-800-777-2273, or write to
Member Services, CDPHP, Patroon Creek
Corporate Center, 1223 Washington
Avenue, Albany, NY 12206-1057. You may also contact us by fax at 518/ 641-5005
or visit our website at www. cdphp. com.
2002 CDPHP 6 Section 1 6
6 Page 7 8
Section 1. Facts
about this HMO plan continued
Service Area
To enroll
with us, you must live or work in our service area. This is where our providers
practice. Our service areas are:
Ordinarily, you must get your care from providers who contract with us. If
you receive care outside our service area, we
will pay only for emergency
care benefits. We will not pay for any other health care services out of our
service area
unless the services have prior plan approval.
If you or a covered family member move outside of our service area, you can
enroll in another plan. If your dependents
live out of the area, you should
consider enrolling in a fee-for-service plan or an HMO that has agreements with
affiliates in other areas. If you or a family member move, you do not have
to wait until Open Season to change plans.
Contact your employing or
retirement office.
2002 CDPHP 7 Section 1
Region I Code SG Region II Code QB Region III Code PW
Albany County
Dutchess County Broome County
Columbia County Orange County Chenango County
Fulton County Ulster County Delaware County
Greene County Essex County
Montgomery County Hamilton County
Rensselaer County Herkimer County
Saratoga County Madison County
Schenectady County Oneida County
Schoharie County Otsego County
War ren County Tioga County
Washington County 7
7 Page
8 9
Section 2. How we change for 2002
Do not rely on these change descriptions; this page is not an official
statement of benefits. For that, go to Section 5
Benefits. Also, we edited
and clarified language throughout the brochure; any language change not shown
here is a
clarification that does not change benefits.
Program-wide changes
We changed the address for sending disputed
claims to OPM. (Section 8)
Changes to this Plan
We changed speech therapy benefits by
removing the requirement that services must be required to restore functional
speech. (Section 5 (a))
We no longer limit total blood cholesterol
tests to certain age groups. (Section 5 (a))
We now cover certain
intestinal transplants. (Section 5 (b))
Your share of the non-Postal
premium will increase by 13.3% for Self Only or 11.0% for Self and Family for
enrollment
code SG.
Your share of the non-Postal premium will increase
by 13.8% for Self Only or 14.4% for Self and Family for enrollment
code PW.
Your share of the non-Postal premium will increase by 3.8% for Self Only or
decrease by 8.8% for Self and Family for
enrollment code QB.
Allergy
injections are covered in full. (Section 5 (a))
Advanced infertility now
requires a 50 percent coinsurance (Section 5 (a))
Occupational therapy
will be covered for up to 120 days per condition. (Section 5 (a))
2002 CDPHP 8 Section 2 8
8 Page 9 10
Section 3. How
you get care
Identification cards We will send you an identification
(ID) card. You should carry your ID card with you at all times. You must show it
whenever you receive services from
a Plan provider, or fill a prescription
at a Plan pharmacy. Until you receive
your ID card, use your copy of the
Health Benefits Election Form, SF-2809,
your health benefits enrollment
confirmation (for annuitants), or your
Employee Express confirmation letter.
If you do not receive your ID card within 30 days after the effective date of
your enrollment, or if you need replacement cards, call us at 1-800-777-2273
or 518/ 641-3700.
Where you get covered care You get care from "Plan providers" and
"Plan facilities." You will only pay copayments or coinsurance, and you will not
have to file claims.
Plan providers Plan providers are physicians and other health care
professionals in our service area that we contract with to provide covered
services to our members.
We credential Plan providers according to NCQA
national standards.
We list Plan providers in the provider directory, which
we update periodically.
The list is also on our Web site.
Plan facilities Plan facilities are hospitals and other facilities
in our service area that we contract with to provide covered services to our
members. We list these in
the provider directory, which we update
periodically. The list is also on our
Web site.
What you must do It depends on the type of care you need. First, you
and each family member to get covered care must choose a primary care
physician. This decision is important since your
primary care physician
provides or arranges for most of your health care.
The Plan provider
directory lists primary care doctors, with their locations
and phone
numbers, and notes whether or not the doctor is accepting new
patients. If
you need help choosing a doctor, call the Plan. You may change
your doctor
selection by notifying the Plan thirty (30) days in advance.
Primary care Your primary care physician can be a family
practitioner, internist, general practitioner, or pediatrician. Your primary
care physician will provide most
of your health care, or give you a referral
to see a specialist. Women may
also select an OB/ GYN in addition to their
primary care physician.
If you want to change primary care physicians or if your primary care
physician leaves the Plan, call us. We will help you select a new one.
Specialty care Your primary care physician will authorize you to a
specialist for needed care. When you receive a referral from your primary care
physician, you
must return to the primary care physician after the
consultation, unless your
primary care physician authorized a certain number
of visits without
additional referrals. The primary care physician must
provide or authorize
all follow-up care. Do not go to the specialist for
return visits unless your
primary care physician gives you a referral.
However, you may see your
obstetrician/ gynecologist of record, seek
coverage for emergency care, or
obtain a routine eye exam once every 24
months without a referral.
2002 CDPHP 9 Section 3 9
9 Page 10 11
Section 3. How
you get care continued
Here are other things you should know
about specialty care:
If you need to see a specialist frequently because
of a chronic, complex, or
serious medical condition, your primary care
physician will work with the
specialist, the Plan, and the member or
member's designee to develop a
treatment plan that allows you to see your
specialist for a certain number
of visits without additional referrals. Your
primary care physician will use
our criteria when creating your treatment
plan (the physician may have to
get an authorization or approval
beforehand). The treatment plan must be
approved by CDPHP.
If you are seeing a specialist when you enroll in our Plan, talk to your
primary care physician. Your primary care physician will decide what
treatment you need. If he or she decides to refer you to a specialist, ask
if
you can see your current specialist. If your current specialist does not
participate with us, you must receive treatment from a specialist who does.
Generally, we will not pay for you to see a specialist who does not
participate with our Plan.
If you are seeing a specialist and your specialist leaves the Plan, call
your
primary care physician, who will arrange for you to see another
specialist.
You may receive services from your current specialist until we
can make
arrangements for you to see someone else.
If you have a chronic or disabling condition and lose access to your
specialist because we:
terminate our contract with your specialist for other than cause; or
drop out of the Federal Employees Health Benefits (FEHB) Program
and you
enroll in another FEHB Plan; or
reduce our service area and you enroll in another FEHB Plan,
you may be
able to continue seeing your specialist for up to 90 days after
you receive
notice of the change. Contact us or, if we drop out of the
Program, contact
your new plan.
If you are in the second or third trimester of pregnancy and you lose access
to your specialist based on the above circumstances, you can continue to see
your specialist until the end of your postpartum care, even if it is beyond
the
90 days.
Hospital care Your Plan primary care physician or specialist will
make necessary hospital arrangements and supervise your care. This includes
admission to a skilled
nursing or other type of facility.
2002 CDPHP 10 Section 3 10
10
Page 11 12
Section 3. How you get care continued
If you are in the
hospital when your enrollment in our Plan begins, call our
member service
department immediately, or as soon as possible, at 518/ 641-
3700 or
1-800-777-2273. If you are new to the FEHB Program, we will
arrange for you
to receive care.
If you changed from another FEHB plan to us, your former plan will pay for
the hospital stay until:
You are discharged, not merely moved to an alternative care center; or
The day your benefits from your former plan run out; or
The 92nd day
after you become a member of this Plan, whichever happens
first.
These provisions apply only to the hospital benefits of the hospitalized
person.
Circumstances beyond our control Under certain extraordinary
circumstances, such as natural disasters, we may have to delay your services or
we may be unable to provide them. In
that case, we will make all reasonable
efforts to provide you with the
necessary care.
Services requiring our Your primary care physician has authority to
refer you for most services. For prior approval certain services,
however, your physician must obtain approval from us. The
approval is based
on whether the service is covered, medically necessary,
and follows
generally accepted medical practice.
We call this review and approval process prior approval. Your physician or
specialist must obtain prior approval for the following services:
hospitalization
or skilled nursing facility care, home health care,
inpatient rehabilitation unit
or facility services, prosthetic devices, some
identified medications, durable
medical equipment, home dialysis, and
hospice care. Prior approval is also
required for physical therapy,
occupational therapy, speech therapy, mental
health/ substance abuse, GHT,
and other services such as off-plan referrals.
Your primary care physician and/ or specialist contacts CDPHP's Resource
Coordination Management Department with a description of the medical
necessity of the request.
A nurse reviewer reviews the request. Clinical information is obtained to
support the medical necessity of the request. Clinical information is
reviewed
against established criteria. Decisions are based on the
appropriateness of
care. Ultimate determinations are made by the Plan's
Medical Director. Upon
approval you and your provider are notified via
telephone and mail. Services
that do not receive prior approval will not be
covered by the Plan.
2002 CDPHP 11 Section 3 11
11
Page 12 13
Section 4. Your costs for covered services
You must share the
cost of some services. You are responsible for:
Copayments A
copayment is a fixed amount of money you pay to the provider, facility,
pharmacy, etc. when you receive services.
Example: When you see your primary care physician you pay a copayment
of
$10 per office visit and when you go in the hospital, you pay nothing per
admission.
Deductible We do not have a deductible
Coinsurance
Coinsurance is the percentage of our negotiated fee that you must pay for
your care.
Example: In our Plan, you pay 20% of our allowance for durable medical
equipment and 50% for infertility services.
Your catastrophic protection We do not have an out-of-pocket maximum.
out-of-pocket maximum
2002 CDPHP 12 Section 4 12
12
Page 13 14
Section 5. Benefits OVERVIEW (See page 8 for how our benefits
changed this year and page 51 for a benefits summary.)
NOTE:
This benefits section is divided into subsections. Please read the important
things you should keep in mind at the beginning of each subsection. Also read
the General Exclusions in Section 6; they apply to the benefits in the following
subsections. To obtain claims forms, claims filing advice, or more
information about our benefits, contact us at 518/ 641-
3700 or
1-800-777-2273 or at our Web site at www. cdphp. com.
(a) Medical services and supplies provided by physicians and other health
care professional . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14-21
Diagnostic and
treatment services Hearing services (testing, treatment, and supplies)
Lab, X-ray, and other diagnostic tests Vision services (testing, treatment,
and supplies)
Preventive care, adult Foot care
Preventive care,
children Orthopedic and prosthetic devices
Maternity care Durable
medical equipment (DME)
Family planning Home health services
Infertility services Chiropractic
Allergy care Alternative treatments
Treatment therapies Educational classes and programs
Physical and
occupational therapies
Speech therapy
(b) Surgical and anesthesia services provided by physicians and other health
care professionals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 24
Surgical procedures
Oral and maxillofacial surgery
Reconstructive surgery Organ/ tissue
transplants
Anesthesia
(c) Services provided by a hospital or other facility, and ambulance services
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25 26
Inpatient
hospital Extended care benefits/ skilled nursing care facility benefits
Outpatient hospital or ambulatory surgical Hospice care
center Ambulance
(d) Emergency services/ accidents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
27 28
Medical emergency Ambulance
(e) Mental health and substance abuse benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29 30
(f) Prescription drug benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. 31 32
(g) Special features . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . 33
Non-emergency routine care for full-time
Childbirth Education Reimbursement Program
students out-of-area Centers of
Excellence for transplants, surgery, etc.
Services for deaf and hearing
impaired
(h) Dental benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . 34
(i) Non-FEHB benefits available to Plan members . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . 35
Summary of benefits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . . . . . . . . . 51
2002 CDPHP 13 Section 5 13
13
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Section 5 (a) Medical services and supplies provided by physicians and
other health care professionals
Here are some important things to keep in
mind about these benefits: Please remember that all benefits are subject
to the definitions, limitations, and
exclusions in this brochure and are
payable only when we determine they are
medically necessary.
Plan
physicians must provide or arrange your care.
Be sure to read Section 4,
Your costs for covered services, for valuable
information about how
cost sharing works. Also read Section 9 about coordinating
benefits with
other coverage, including with Medicare.
Benefit Description You pay
Diagnostic and treatment services
Professional services of physicians $10 per office visit
In
physician's office
Preventive annual adult routine physical
Well-child visits are covered
in full for the following visits: 2 weeks, Nothing
1 month, 2 months, 4
months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months,
15 months, and 18 months; ages 2 up
to age 22, an annual exam
Professional services of physicians $25 per visit
In an urgent care
center
During a hospital stay Nothing
In a skilled nursing facility up to 90
days with prior approval
Off ice medical consultations $10 per visit
Second surgical opinion
At home $10 per visit
Not covered All charges
Surgery primarily
for cosmetic purposes
Homemaker services
Storage of blood and blood
derivatives, except in the case of autologous
blood donations required for a
scheduled surgical procedure
2002 CDPHP 14 Section 5( a) 14
14
Page 15 16
Lab,
X-ray and other diagnostic tests You pay
Tests, such as: Nothing if you
receive these services
Blood tests at a preferred facility;
otherwise,
Urinalysis $10 per office visit
Pathology
X-rays
Non-routine Mammograms
CAT Scans/
MRI
Ultrasound
Electrocardiogram and EEG
Non-routine Pap tests $10 per office visit
Preventive care, adult
Routine screenings, such as: Nothing
Total blood Cholesterol once every three years
Colorectal Cancer Screening, including
Fecal occult blood test
every 5 years starting at age 50
Sigmoidoscopy, screening every
five years starting at age 50
Prostate Specific Antigen (PSA test) one annually for men age 40 and older
$10 per office visit
Routine Pap test
Note: The office visit is covered
if Pap test is received on the same day;
see Diagnosis and Treatment, above
Routine mammogram covered for women age 35 and older, as follows: Nothing
From age 35 through 39, one baseline during this five-year period
From age 40 through 64, one every calendar year
At age
65 and older, one every two consecutive calendar years
Not covered: Physical exams required for obtaining or continuing All
charges
employment or insurance, attending schools or camp, or travel.
Routine immunizations, limited to: Nothing
Tetanus-diphtheria (Td)
booster once every 10 years, ages 19 and
over (except as provided for under
childhood immunizations)
Influenza/ Pneumococcal vaccines, annually, age 65 and over
2002 CDPHP 15 Section 5( a) 15
15
Page 16 17
Preventive care, children You pay
Childhood immunizations
recommended by the American Nothing
Academy of Pediatrics
Well-child care charges for routine examinations, immunizations and care
Nothing
up to age 22. Well-child care for the following visits: 2 weeks, 1
month,
2 months, 4 months, 6 months, 9 months, 12 months, 15 months, and
18 months; ages 2 up to age 22, an annual exam
Examinations, such as: $10 per office visit
Eye exams through
age 17 to determine the need for vision correction.
Limited to one every 24
months.
Ear exams through age 17 to determine the need for hearing
correction
Examinations done on the day of immunizations (up to age
22)
Maternity care
Complete maternity (obstetrical) care, such as: $10
office visit for the initial
Prenatal care diagnosis. You pay nothing
thereafter
Delivery
Postnatal care
Note: Here are some things to
keep in mind:
You do not need to precertify your normal delivery; see page
10 for other
circumstances, such as extended stays for you or your baby.
You may remain in the hospital up to 48 hours after a regular delivery
and 96 hours after a cesarean delivery. We will extend your inpatient stay
if medically necessary.
We cover routine nursery care of the newborn child during the covered
portion of the mother's maternity stay. We will cover other care of an
infant who requires non-routine treatment only if we cover the infant
under a Self and Family enrollment.
We pay hospitalization and surgeon services (delivery) the same as for
illness and injury. See Hospital benefits (Section 5c) and Surgery
benefits (Section 5b).
Not covered: Routine sonograms to determine fetal age, size or sex All
charges
2002 CDPHP 16 Section 5( a) 16
16
Page 17 18
Family planning You pay
Family planning services, limited to $10
per office visit
Voluntary sterilization
Surgically implanted contraceptives $5 for a covered generic, $20 for a
Injectable contraceptive drugs covered brand name
Intrauterine devices (IUDs) $10 per office visit
Diaphragms
Genetic counseling when approved
NOTE: We cover oral contraceptives under
the prescription drug benefit.
Not covered: reversal of voluntary surgical sterilization All charges
Infertility services
Diagnosis and treatment of infertility,
such as: 50% of charges
Artificial insemination:
intravaginal
insemination (IVI)
intracervical insemination (ICI)
intrauterine
insemination (IUI)
Fertility drugs
Note: We cover fertility drugs
under the prescription drug benefit for up to
six cycles per lifetime;
prescription drug copay applies.
Not covered: All charges
Assisted reproductive technology (ART)
procedures, such as:
in vitro fertilization
embryo transfer, gamete
GIFT and zygote ZIFT
Services and supplies related to excluded ART
procedures
Cost of donor sperm
Leuprolide Acetate when used for
cessation of ovulation
Items such as ovulation predictor kits and home
pregnancy testing kits
IVIG when utilized for infertility or pregnancy
loss
Allergy care
Testing and treatment $10 per office visit
Allergy injection Nothing
Allergy serum
Not covered: provocative food testing and sublingual allergy
desensitization All charges
2002 CDPHP 17 Section 5( a) 17
17
Page 18 19
Treatment therapies You pay
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy
$10 per office visit
Note: High dose chemotherapy in association with
autologous bone marrow
transplants are limited to those transplants listed
under Organ/ Tissue
Transplants on page 23.
Respiratory and inhalation therapy
Dialysis Hemodialysis and
peritoneal dialysis
Intravenous (IV)/ Infusion Therapy Home IV and antibiotic therapy $10 per
office visit if received as an
outpatient. Covered in full if part of
home health care.
Growth hormone therapy (GHT) $10 per office visit
Note: We will only
cover GHT when we preauthorize the treatment. Your
physician will call for
preauthorization. We will ask you to submit information
that establishes
that the GHT is medically necessary. If you do not ask or if
we determine
GHT is not medically necessary, we will not cover the GHT
or related
services and supplies. See Services requiring our prior approval
in
Section 3.
Physical and occupational therapies
Up to 120 calendar days per
condition for the services of each of the $10 per office visit
following:
$10 per outpatient visit
qualified physical therapists and Nothing during covered inpatient
admission occupational therapists
Note: We only cover therapy to restore bodily function when there has
been a total or partial loss of bodily function due to illness or injury.
Cardiac rehabilitation following a heart transplant, bypass surgery, or a
myocardial infarction is provided for up to 36 sessions.
Not covered: All charges
Long-term rehabilitative therapy
Exercise programs
Continuous ECG Monitoring and Thallium stress tests
Services for chronic or maintenance phase of cardiac rehabilitation
Speech therapy
Up to 60 calendar days per condition $10 per
office visit
$10 per outpatient visit
Nothing during covered inpatient
admission
Not covered: All charges
Care beyond treatment period.
2002 CDPHP 18 Section 5( a) 18
18
Page 19 20
Hearing services (testing, treatment, and supplies) You pay
First hearing aid and testing only when necessitated by accidental
injury $10 per office visit
Hearing testing for children through age 17
(see Preventive care, children)
Not covered: All charges
All other hearing testing
Hearing
aids, testing, and examinations for them
Vision services (testing, treatment, and supplies)
One pair of
eyeglasses or contact lenses to correct an impairment $10 per office visit
directly caused by accidental ocular injury or intraocular surgery
(such
as for cataracts)
Eye exam to determine the need for vision correction for children $10 per
office visit
through age 17 (see preventive care)
Eye refractions once every 24 months
Eye exercises and orthoptics when
approved
Not covered: All charges
Eyeglasses or contact lenses
Radial keratotomy and other refractive surgery
Foot care
Routine foot care when you are under active treatment
for a metabolic or $10 per office visit
peripheral vascular disease, such as
diabetes.
See orthopedic and prosthetic devices for information on podiatric shoe
inserts.
Not covered: All charges
Cutting, trimming or removal of
corns, calluses, or the free edge of
toenails, and similar routine treatment
of conditions of the foot, except
as stated above
Treatment of weak, strained or flat feet or bunions or spurs; and of any
instability, imbalance or subluxation of the foot (unless the treatment is
by open cutting surgery)
2002 CDPHP 19 Section 5( a) 19
19
Page 20 21
Orthopedic and prosthetic devices You pay
Artificial limbs and
eyes 20 percent of charges
Externally worn breast prostheses and surgical
bras, including necessary
replacements, following a mastectomy
Internal prosthetic devices, such as artificial joints, pacemakers,
cochlear Nothing
implants, and surgically implanted breast implant following
mastectomy.
Note: We pay internal prosthetic devices as hospital benefits;
see
Section 5 (c) for payment information. See 5( b) for coverage of the
surgery to insert the device.
Corrective orthopedic appliances for non-dental treatment of 20 percent of
charges
temporomandibular joint (TMJ) pain dysfunction syndrome.
Approved lumbosacral supports
Hair prosthesis once per lifetime when
hair loss is related to a medical
condition
Not covered: All charges
Orthopedic and corrective shoes
Arch
supports
Foot orthotics
Heel pads and heel cups
Corsets,
trusses, elastic stockings, support hose, and other supportive
devices
Prosthetic replacements provided less than 3 years after the last one we
covered unless medically indicated
Stump hose
Durable medical equipment (DME)
Rental or purchase, at our option,
including repair and adjustment, of 20 percent of charges
durable medical
equipment prescribed by your Plan physician, such as
oxygen and dialysis
equipment. Under this benefit, we also cover:
Hospital beds
Wheelchairs
Crutches
Walkers
Blood glucose monitors 20% of charges or $10 per item,
Insulin pumps
whichever is less
Note: Your provider will call our office for
authorization. We will arrange
with a health care provider to rent or sell
you durable medical equipment.
Not covered: All charges
Motorized wheel chairs
2002 CDPHP 20 Section 5( a) 20
20
Page 21 22
Home
health services You pay
Home health care ordered by a Plan physician
and provided by a Nothing
registered nurse (R. N.), licensed practical nurse
(L. P. N.), licensed
vocational nurse (L. V. N.), or home health aide
Services include oxygen therapy, intravenous therapy, and medically 20
percent of charges
necessary medications
Not covered: All charges
Nursing care requested by, or for
the convenience of, the patient or the
patient's family
Home care primarily for personal assistance that does not include a
medical component and is not diagnostic, therapeutic or rehabilitative
Rest cures
Chiropractic
Medically necessary care for spinal manipulation $10
per office visit
Alternative treatments
No benefit All charges
Educational classes and programs
Coverage is limited to: Nothing
Smoking Cessation Up 12 weeks, including all related expenses such
as
drugs, per member per lifetime. You must attend a smoking cessation
program
that CDPHP provides at no cost to you.
Peak Asthma Performance Members receive invitation to free class and a
quarterly newsletter about asthma. Members who attend the class receive a
peak flow meter, a video on asthma, a daily diary, and medication spacer.
PressureWise An interactive program for members identified as
hypertensive. Members attending program receive a blood pressure
monitor
and information on taking their blood pressure at home.
2002 CDPHP 21 Section 5( a) 21
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Section 5 (b). Surgical and anesthesia services provided by physicians and
other health care professionals
Here are some important things to keep in
mind about these benefits: Please remember that all benefits are subject
to the definitions, limitations, and
exclusions in this brochure and are
payable only when we determine they are
medically necessary.
Plan
physicians must provide or arrange your care.
Be sure to read Section 4,
Your costs for covered services, for valuable information
about how
cost sharing works. Also read Section 9 about coordinating benefits with
other coverage, including with Medicare.
The amounts listed below are
for the charges billed by a physician or other health
care professional for
your surgical care. Any costs associated with the facility charge
(i. e.
hospital, surgical center, etc.) are covered in Section 5 (c).
YOUR
PHYSICIAN MUST GET PRECERTIFICATION OF SOME SURGICAL
PROCEDURES. Please
refer to the precertification information shown in Section 3
to be sure
which services require precertification and identify which surgeries
require
precertification.
Benefit Description You pay
Surgical procedures
A
comprehensive range of services, such as: $10 per office visit; nothing for
Operative procedures hospital visit
Treatment of fractures, including
casting
Normal pre-and post-operative care by the surgeon
Correction
of amblyopia and strabismus
Endoscopy procedures
Biopsy procedures
Removal of tumors and cysts
Correction of congenital anomalies (see
reconstructive surgery)
Surgical treatment of morbid obesity, a condition
in which an individual's
body mass index is greater than 40 and there is
documented failure of a
non-surgical attempt.
Insertion of internal prosthetic devices. See 5( a) orthopedic and
prosthetic devices for device coverage information.
Voluntary sterilization $10 per office visit
Norplant (a surgically
implanted contraceptive) and intrauterine devices
(IUDs). Note: Devices are
covered under 5( a) Prescription drug coverage.
Treatment of burns
Note: Generally, we pay for internal prostheses (devices) according to where
the procedure is done.
Not covered: All charges
Reversal of voluntary sterilization
Routine treatment of conditions of the foot; see Foot care.
2002 CDPHP 22 Section 5( b) 22
22
Page 23 24
Reconstructive surgery You pay
Surgery to correct a functional
defect $10 per office visit; nothing for
Surgery to correct a condition
caused by injury or illness if: hospital visits
the condition produced a
major effect on the member's appearance and
the condition can reasonably
be expected to be corrected by such surgery
Surgery to correct a condition
that existed at or from birth and is a
significant deviation from the common
form or norm. Examples of
congenital anomalies are: protruding ear
deformities; cleft lip; cleft
palate; birth marks; webbed fingers; and
webbed toes.
All stages of breast reconstruction surgery following a mastectomy, such
as: $10 per office visit; nothing for
surgery to produce a symmetrical
appearance on the other breast; hospital visit
treatment of any physical
complications, such as lymphedemas;
breast prostheses and surgical bras
and replacements (see prosthetic
devices)
Note: If you need a mastectomy, you may choose to have the procedure
performed on an inpatient basis and remain in the hospital up to 48 hours
after the procedure.
Not covered: All charges
Cosmetic surgery any surgical procedure (or
any portion of a procedure)
performed primarily to improve physical
appearance through change in
bodily form, except repair of accidental injury
Surgeries related to sex transformation
Oral and maxillofacial surgery
Oral surgical procedures, limited
to: $10 per office visit; nothing for
Reduction of fractures of the jaws
or facial bones; hospital visit
Surgical correction of cleft lip, cleft
palate, or severe functional
malocclusion;
Removal of stones from salivary ducts;
Excision of leukoplakia or
malignancies;
Excision of cysts and incision of abscesses when done as
independent
procedures; and
Other surgical procedures that do not involve the teeth or their supporting
structures.
Not covered: All charges
Oral implants and transplants
Procedures that involve the teeth or their supporting structures
(such as
the periodontal membrane, gingiva, and alveolar bone)
Dental work related to TMJ
2002 CDPHP 23 Section 5( b) 23
23
Page 24 25
Organ/ tissue transplants You pay
Limited to: $10 per office
visit; nothing at
Cornea hospital visit
Heart
Heart/ lung
Kidney
Kidney/ Pancreas
Liver
Lung: Single Double
Pancreas
Allogeneic (donor) bone marrow transplants
Autologous
bone marrow transplants (autologous stem cell and peripheral
stem cell
support) for the following conditions: acute lymphocytic or
non-lymphocytic
leukemia; advanced Hodgkin's lymphoma; advanced
non-Hodgkin's lymphoma;
advanced neuroblastoma; breast cancer;
multiple myeloma; epithelial ovarian
cancer; and testicular, mediastinal,
retroperitoneal, and ovarian germ cell
tumors
Intestinal transplants (small intestine) and the small intestine with the
liver or small intestine with multiple organs such as the liver, stomach,
and pancreas when medically appropriate
National Transplant Program (NTP) CDPHP facilitates organ
transplants
at a CDPHP approved transplant center
Limited Benefits Treatment for breast cancer, multiple myeloma, and
epithelial ovarian cancer may be provided in an NCI-or NIH-approved
clinical trial at a Plan-designated center of excellence and if approved by
the Plan's Medical Director in accordance with the Plan's protocols.
Note: We cover related medical and hospital expenses of the donor when
we
cover the recipient.
Not covered:
Donor screening tests and donor search expenses,
except those
performed for the actual donor
Implants of artificial organs
Transplants not listed as
covered All charges
Anesthesia
Professional services provided in Nothing
Hospital (inpatient)
Skilled nursing facility
Ambulatory surgical
center
Off ice $10 per office visit
2002 CDPHP 24 Section 5( b) 24
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Section 5 (c). Services provided by a hospital or other facility, and
ambulance services
Here are some important things to remember about these
benefits: Please remember that all benefits are subject to the
definitions, limitations, and
exclusions in this brochure and are payable
only when we determine they are
medically necessary.
Plan physicians
must provide or arrange your care and you must be hospitalized in
a Plan
facility.
Be sure to read Section 4, Your costs for covered services,
for valuable
information about how cost sharing works. Also read Section
9 about coordinating
benefits with other coverage, including with Medicare.
The amounts listed below are for the charges billed by the facility (i.
e., hospital or
surgical center) or ambulance service for your surgery or
care. Any costs
associated with the professional charge (i. e., physicians,
etc.) are covered in
Sections 5( a) or (b).
Benefit Description You pay
Inpatient hospital
Room and board,
such as Nothing
Ward, semiprivate, or intensive care accommodations;
General nursing care; and
Meals and special diets.
NOTE: If you want a
private room when it is not medically necessary, you
pay the additional
charge above the semiprivate room rate.
Other hospital services and supplies, such as: Nothing
Operating,
recovery, maternity, and other treatment rooms
Prescribed drugs and
medicines
Diagnostic laboratory tests and X-rays
Administration of
blood and blood products
Blood or blood plasma, if not donated or replaced
Dressings, splints, casts, and sterile tray services
Medical
supplies and equipment, including oxygen
Anesthetics, including nurse
anesthetist services
Take-home items
Medical supplies, appliances,
medical equipment, and any covered items
billed by a hospital for use at
home.
Not covered: All charges
Custodial care
Non-covered facilities, such as nursing homes, schools
Personal
comfort items, such as telephone, television, barber services,
guest meals
and beds
Private nursing care
2002 CDPHP 25 Section 5( c) 25
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Outpatient hospital or ambulatory surgical center You pay
Operating, recovery, and other treatment rooms $10 per day
Prescribed
drugs and medicines
Diagnostic laboratory tests, X-rays, and pathology
services
Administration of blood, blood plasma, and other biologicals
Blood and blood plasma, if not donated or replaced
Pre-surgical
testing
Dressings, casts, and sterile tray services
Medical supplies, including oxygen 20% of charges
Nothing if received
in a hospital
Anesthetics and anesthesia service $10 per day
Note: We cover hospital
services and supplies related to dental procedures
when necessitated by a
non-dental physical impairment. We do not cover
the dental procedures.
Not covered: Blood and blood derivatives not replaced by the member All
charges
Extended care benefits/ skilled nursing care facility
benefits
Skilled nursing facility up to 90 days in lieu of
hospitalization. Nothing
Not covered: Custodial and rest care All charges
Hospice care
Up to 210 days combined inpatient and outpatient
Nothing
Not covered: Independent nursing, homemaker services All charges
Ambulance
Local professional ambulance service when
medically appropriate Nothing
Not covered: Transportation for convenience
All charges
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Section 5 (d). Emergency services/ accidents
Here are some
important things to keep in mind about these benefits:
Please remember
that all benefits are subject to the definitions, limitations, and
exclusions in this brochure.
Be sure to read Section 4, Your costs
for covered services, for valuable information
about how cost sharing
works. Also read Section 9 about coordinating benefits with
other coverage,
including with Medicare.
What is a medical emergency? A medical emergency is the sudden and
unexpected onset of a condition or an injury that you believe endangers your
life
or could result in serious injury or disability, and requires immediate
medical or surgical care. Some problems are
emergencies because, if not
treated promptly, they might become more serious; examples include deep cuts and
broken
bones. Others are emergencies because they are potentially
life-threatening, such as heart attacks, strokes, poisonings,
gunshot
wounds, or sudden inability to breathe. There are many other acute conditions
that we may determine are
medical emergencies what they all have in common
is the need for quick action.
What to do in case of emergency: You should go directly to the
emergency room, call 911 or the appropriate emergency response number, or call
an
ambulance if the situation is a medical emergency as defined above.
Emergencies within our service area: If you are unsure whether your
condition is an emergency, contact your primary care physician for assistance
and guidance. However, if you believe you need immediate medical attention,
follow the emergency procedures.
Emergencies outside our service
area: If you have an emergency outside of CDPHP's service area, simply go to
the nearest hospital emergency room. If you are required to pay for services at
the time of treatment, please request an
itemized bill. Send the bill along
with your name and member ID number to CDPHP's Member Services Department,
Patroon Creek Corporate Center, 1223 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY
12206-1057.
If you are not admitted to the hospital for further services or
care, you will be responsible for a $50 copayment. If you
are admitted
immediately, the emergency room copayment is waived and the hospital services
will cost you nothing.
After receiving emergency medical care, be sure your
primary care physician is notified within forty-eight (48) hours,
unless it
is not reasonably possible to do so. He or she will need to know what services
were provided before scheduling
any of your follow-up care. All follow-up
care must be provided or directed by your primary care physician. Examples of
follow-up care are removal of stitches, cast removal, and X-rays.
Benefit Description You pay
Emergency within our service area
Emergency care at a doctor's office $10 per visit
Emergency care at
an urgent care center $25 per visit
Emergency care as an outpatient or
inpatient at a hospital, including $50 per visit. Nothing if admitted.
doctors' services
Not covered: Elective care or non-emergency care All charges
2002 CDPHP 27 Section 5( d) 27
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Emergency outside our service area You pay
Emergency
care at a doctor's office $10 per visit
Emergency care at an urgent care
center $25 per visit
Emergency care as an outpatient or inpatient at a hospital, including $50
per visit. Nothing if admitted.
doctors' services
Not covered: All charges
Elective care or non-emergency care
Emergency care provided outside the service area if the need for care
could have been foreseen before leaving the service area
Medical and hospital costs resulting from a normal full-term delivery
of a baby outside the service area
Ambulance
Professional ambulance service when medically
appropriate Nothing
Air ambulance if medically appropriate
See 5( c)
for non-emergency service.
Not covered: Non-emergency or routine transport. All charges
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Section 5 (e). Mental health and substance abuse benefits
When you
get our approval for services and follow a treatment plan we approve,
cost-sharing
and limitations for Plan mental health and substance abuse
benefits will be no
greater than for similar benefits for other illnesses
and conditions.
Here are some important things to keep in mind about these benefits:
All benefits are subject to the definitions, limitations, and exclusions in this
brochure.
Be sure to read Section 4, Your costs for covered services, for
valuable information
about how cost sharing works. Also read Section 9 about
coordinating benefits with
other coverage, including with Medicare.
YOU MUST GET PREAUTHORIZATION OF THESE SERVICES. See the
instructions
after the benefits description below.
Benefit Description You pay
Mental health and substance abuse benefits
Diagnostic and treatment services recommended by a Plan provider and
Your cost sharing responsibilities are
contained in a treatment plan that we
approve. The treatment plan may no greater than for other illness
include
services, drugs, and supplies described elsewhere in this brochure. or
conditions.
Note: Plan benefits are payable only when we determine the care is clinically
appropriate to treat your condition and only when you receive the care as
part of a treatment plan that we approve.
Professional services, including individual or group therapy by providers
$10 per visit
such as psychiatrists, psychologists, or clinical social
workers
Medication management
Mental health and substance abuse benefits Continued on next page
2002 CDPHP 29 Section 5( e) 29
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Mental Health and substance abuse benefits (Continued) You Pay
Diagnostic tests $10 per visit
Services provided by a hospital or other
facility Nothing for inpatient; $10 per visit
Services in approved
alternative care settings such as: partial for outpatient services
hospitalization, full-day hospitalization, facility based intensive
outpatient treatment
Not covered in the network: Services we have not approved All charges
Note: OPM will base its review of disputes about treatment plans on the
treatment plan's clinical appropriateness. OPM will generally not order us
to
pay or provide one clinically appropriate treatment plan in favor of
another.
Preauthorization To be eligible to receive these enhanced mental
health and substance abuse benefits, you must obtain a treatment plan and follow
all of the following
authorization processes. These include:
Mental
Health Care You have direct access to mental health care without the need for a
referral
from your primary care physician, except in the case of psychiatric
(M. D.)
care where a referral still will be needed from your primary care
physician.
A direct access toll-free telephone number, 1-800-700-4824, to the Capital
District Behavioral Alliance will connect you to a qualified mental health
clinician who will assist and arrange for treatment. For your convenience,
the telephone number for mental health services is also included on your
CDPHP ID card.
Alcohol/ Substance Abuse Benefits You have access to alcohol and substance
abuse care with a referral from
your primary care physician. These benefits
are coordinated by St. Peter's
Addiction Recovery Center (SPARC). CDPHP
members can also contact
SPARC directly at 1-800-427-9025.
Limitation We may limit your benefits if you do not obtain a treatment
plan.
2002 CDPHP 30 Section 5( e) 30
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Section 5 (f). Prescription drug benefits
Here are some important
things to keep in mind about these benefits: We cover prescribed drugs and
medications, as described in the chart beginning on
the next page.
All
benefits are subject to the definitions, limitations and exclusions in this
brochure
and are payable only when we determine they are medically
necessary.
Be sure to read Section 4, Your costs for covered services,
for valuable information
about how cost sharing works. Also read Section
9 about coordinating benefits
with other coverage, including with Medicare.
There are important features you should be aware of. These include:
Who can write your prescription. A Plan physician must write the
prescription
Where you can obtain them.
You must fill the
prescription at a Plan pharmacy, or by mail for a maintenance medication.
Approved maintenance prescriptions can be filled through the mail
at two copayments for a 90-day supply.
We use a formulary. A
formulary is a list of prescription drugs covered by CDPHP based on their
efficacy and cost in providing effective patient care. We cover non-formulary
drugs prescribed by a Plan doctor. Coverage is available
for all formulary drugs.
You may have a medical necessity for an excluded
drug. You will receive a non-covered prescription under the
following
conditions:
1. Documented allergic/ adverse reaction to a formulary drug;
2. Documented failure on a formulary drug; or
3. Documented patient
stability/ control issues for a patient where a formulary drug is
contraindicated or a change in
therapy is not advisable.
Your provider who is prescribing the medication must supply appropriate
information and complete a medical exception
request. A determination
regarding the medical exception request will be forwarded to you and your
physician.
These are the dispensing limitations. Prescriptions filled at a
participating pharmacy are limited to a 30-day supply. Maintenance prescriptions
are filled up to a 90-day supply by mail order. Only certain maintenance
prescriptions are
available via mail order to insure quality, proper dosage, and medical
appropriateness. Prescription refills received
prior to the next scheduled
refill date will not be filled.
There are different copayments for generic and brand name prescriptions. If
there is no generic equivalent available,
you will still be responsible for
the brand name copayment.
Why use generic drugs? Generic drugs contain the same active
ingredients and are equivalent in strength and dosage to the original brand name
product. Generic drugs cost you and your plan less money than name-brand drugs.
When you have to file a claim. You do not have to submit claims.
Prescription drug benefits begin on the next page.
2002 CDPHP 31 Section 5( f) 31
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Benefit Description You pay
Covered medications and supplies
We cover the following medications and supplies prescribed by a Plan $5
per generic
physician and obtained from a Plan pharmacy or through our mail
order
program: $20 per brand name
Self-administered injectable drugs 90-day mail order supply
available for
Implanted time-release medications. There will be no
refund of any $10 per generic, $40 per brand name
portion of the copay if
the medication is removed before the end of its Note: If there is no generic
equivalent
expected life. available, you will still have to pay
the
brand name copay.
Durable medical equipment for insulin-dependent persons with pre-$10 per
item or 20%, whichever is less
authorization
Nutritional supplements for the therapeutic treatment of phenylketonuria $5
per generic
(PKU) $20 per brand name
Infertility drugs limited to six cycles per lifetime 90-day mail
order supply available for
Intravenous fluids and medication for
home use $10 per generic, $40 per brand name
Prescription drugs for
certain inherited disease of amino acid and organic Note: If there is no generic
equivalent
acid metabolism shall include modified sold food products that
are low available, you will still have to pay
protein or which contain
modified protein which are medically necessary the brand name copay.
for up
to 12 months. Benefit limit of $2,500.
Drugs and medicines that by Federal law of the United States require
a
physician's prescription for their purchase, except as those listed as
Not covered
Disposable needles and syringes for the administration of covered 20%
medications (non-diabetic)
Insulin, oral agents to control blood sugar, needles, test strips, lancets,
$10 or 20 percent, whichever is less
and visual reading and urine test
strips
Drugs for sexual dysfunction with applicable limits $5 per generic
Contraceptive drugs and devices $20 per brand name
Smoking
Cessation prescriptions up to a 12-week supply 90-day mail order supply
available for
$10 per generic, $40 per brand name Note: Members must
complete a smoking cessation class. Classes are
provided free to members. Note: If there is no generic equivalent
available, you will still have to pay
the brand name copay.
Not covered: All charges
Drugs and supplies for cosmetic purposes
Vitamins, nutrients, and food supplements that can be purchased
without
a prescription
Nonprescription medicines
Weight loss prescriptions
2002 CDPHP 32 Section 5( f) 32
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Section 5 (g). Special Features
Feature Description
Flexible
benefits option Under the flexible benefits option, we determine the most
effective way to provide services.
We may identify medically appropriate alternatives to traditional care and
coordinate other benefits as a less costly alternative benefit
Alternative benefits are subject to our ongoing review
By approving
an alternative benefit, we cannot guarantee you will get it
in the future
The decision to offer an alternative benefit is solely ours, and we may
withdraw it at any time and resume regular contract benefits
Our decision to offer or withdraw alternative benefits is not subject to
OPM review under the disputed claims process
Non-emergency routine If you are away at school and need medical care
(non-preventive) for an illness care for full-time students or injury,
coverage is available. When a medical situation develops, call
out-of-the area 1-800-274-2332 prior to seeking care and CDPHP will
arrange for medical services and payment with a practitioner in the area.
Childbirth Education CDPHP will reimburse expectant mothers 50 percent
of the cost, up to $30 Reimbursement Program per year, for participating
in and completing childbirth education classes.
Once you complete the class,
send the receipt and certificate of completion
to CDPHP, Patroon Creek
Corporate Center, 1223 Washington Avenue,
Albany, NY 12206-1057, for
reimbursement.
Services for deaf and The telephone system also includes a TDD system.
Members may call hearing impaired 1-877-261-1164 for services.
Centers of excellence for CDPHP facilitates care at approved
transplant centers for medically necessary, transplants/ heart surgery/ etc.
non-experimental treatment
2002 CDPHP 33 Section 5( g) 33
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Section 5 (h). Dental benefits
Here are some important things to keep
in mind about these benefits: Please remember that all benefits are
subject to the definitions, limitations, and
exclusions in this brochure and
are payable only when we determine they are
medically necessary.
Plan
dentists must provide or arrange your care.
Be sure to read Section 4,
Your costs for covered services for valuable information
about how
cost sharing works. Also read Section 9 about coordinating benefits
with
other coverage, including with Medicare.
Accidental injury benefit You pay
We cover restorative services
and supplies necessary to promptly repair $10 per visit
(but not replace)
sound natural teeth. The need for these services must
result from an
accidental injury
Dental benefits
We have no other dental benefits.
2002 CDPHP 34 Section 5( h) 34
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Section 5 (i). Non-FEHB benefits available to Plan members
The
benefits on this page are not part of the FEHB contract or premium, and you
cannot file an FEHB disputed claim
about them. Fees you pay for these
services do not count toward FEHB deductibles or out-of-pocket maximums.
2002 CDPHP 35 Section 5( i)
"The Road to Good Health"
Wellness Workshops Through a series of wellness workshops, you will learn
how the combined power of good nutrition, regular
exercise and stress
management can help you move toward
optimal health and well-being. A
schedule of wellness
programs appears on our web site, www. cdphp. com and
in SmartMoves, CDPHP's quarterly member newsletter.
All wellness
programs are free to members.
Wellness Discount Program The Wellness Discount Program allows you to receive
discounts at a variety of health and wellness facilities.
Disease Management Programs Smoking Cessation Up 12 weeks, including all
related
expenses such as drugs, per member per lifetime. You
must attend
a smoking cessation program that CDPHP
provides at no cost to you.
Peak Asthma Performance Members receive invitation
to free class and a
quarterly newsletter about asthma.
Members who attend the class receive a
peak flow meter,
a video on asthma, a daily diary, and medication spacer.
PressureWise An interactive program for members
identified as
hypertensive. Members attending program
receive a blood pressure monitor and
information on
taking their blood pressure at home. 35
35 Page 36 37
Section 6. General exclusions things we don't
cover
The exclusions in this section apply to all benefits. Although
we may list a specific service as a benefit, we will not cover
it unless
your Plan doctor determines it is medically necessary to prevent, diagnose, or
treat your illness, disease, injury, or condition and we agree, as discussed
under What Services Require Our Prior Approval on page 10.
We do not cover the following:
Care by non-Plan providers except for
authorized referrals or emergencies (see Emergency Benefits);
Services,
drugs, or supplies you receive while you are not enrolled in this Plan;
Services, drugs, or supplies that are not medically necessary;
Services,
drugs, or supplies not required according to accepted standards of medical,
dental, or psychiatric practice;
Experimental or investigational
procedures, treatments, drugs or devices;
Services, drugs, or supplies
related to abortions, except when the life of the mother would be endangered if
the fetus
were carried to term or when the pregnancy is the result of an act
of rape or incest;
Services, drugs, or supplies related to sex transformations; or
Services, drugs, or supplies you receive from a provider or facility barred from
the FEHB Program.
Services, drugs, or supplies required for obtaining or
continuing employment or insurance, attending schools or camp,
or travel.
2002 CDPHP 36 Section 6 36
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Section 7. Filing a claim for covered services
When you see Plan
physicians, receive services at Plan hospitals and facilities, or obtain your
prescription drugs at Plan
pharmacies, you will not have to file claims.
Just present your identification card and pay your copayment, coinsurance,
or deductible.
You will only need to file a claim when you receive emergency services from
non-plan providers. Sometimes these
providers bill us directly. Check with
the provider. If you need to file the claim, here is the process:
Medical, hospital and drug In most cases, providers and facilities
file claims for you. Benefits Physicians must file on the form HCFA-1500,
Health Insurance Claim
Form. Facilities will file on the UB-92 form. For
claims questions and
assistance, call us at 1-800-777-2273 or 518/ 641-3700.
When you must file a claim such as for out-of-area care submit it on the
HCFA-1500 or a claim form that includes the information shown below.
Bills and receipts should be itemized and show:
Covered member's name and ID number;
Name and address of the physician
or facility that provided the service or
supply;
Dates you received the services or supplies;
Diagnosis;
Type of
each service or supply;
The charge for each service or supply;
A copy
of the explanation of benefits, payments, or denial from any
primary payer
such as the Medicare Summary Notice (MSN); and
Receipts, if you paid for your services.
Submit your claims to:
Capital District Physicians' Health Plan, Inc., Member Services Department
Patroon Creek Corporate Center,
1223 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY
12206-1057
When we need more information Please reply promptly when we ask for
additional information. We may delay processing or deny your claim if you do not
respond.
2002 CDPHP 37 Section 7 37
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Section 8. The disputed claims process
Follow this Federal
Employees Health Benefits Program disputed claims process if you disagree with
our decision on
your claim or request for services, drugs, or supplies
including a request for preauthorization:
Step Description
1 Ask us in writing to reconsider our initial
decision. You must: (a) Write to us within 6 months from the date of our
decision; and
Send your request to us at: Capital District Physicians' Health Plan, Inc.,
Patroon Creek Corporate Center,
1223 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY
12206-1057 and
(b) Include a statement about why you believe our initial decision was wrong,
based on specific benefit
provisions in this brochure; and
(c) Include copies of documents that support your claim, such as physicians'
letters, operative reports, bills,
medical records, and explanation of
benefits (EOB) forms.
2 We have 30 days from the date we receive your request to: (a) Pay
the claim (or, if applicable, arrange for the health care provider to give you
the care); or
(b) Write to you and maintain our denial go to step 4; or
(c) Ask you or
your provider for more information. If we ask your provider, we will send you a
copy of our
request go to step 3.
3 You or your provider must send the information so that we receive it
within 60 days of our request. We will then decide within 30 more days.
If we do not receive the information within 60 days, we will decide within 30
days of the date the
information was due. We will base our decision on the
information we already have.
We will write to you with our decision.
4 If you do not agree with
our decision, you may ask OPM to review it. You must write to OPM within:
90 days after the date of our letter upholding our initial decision; or
120 days after you first wrote to us if we did not answer that request in
some way within 30 days; or
120 days after we asked for additional
information.
Write to OPM at: Office of Personnel Management, Office of
Insurance Programs, Contracts Division 3,
1900 E Street, NW, Washington, D.
C. 20415-3630
2002 CDPHP 38 Section 8 38
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Section 8. The disputed claims process continued
Send OPM
the following information:
A statement about why you believe our decision
was wrong, based on specific benefit provisions in this
brochure;
Copies of documents that support your claim, such as physicians' letters,
operative reports, bills, medical
records, and explanation of benefits (EOB)
forms;
Copies of all letters you sent to us about the claim;
Copies of all
letters we sent to you about the claim; and
Your daytime phone number and
the best time to call.
Note: If you want OPM to review different claims, you
must clearly identify which documents apply to
which claim.
Note: You are the only person who has a right to file a disputed claim with
OPM. Parties acting as your
representative, such as medical providers, must
include a copy of your specific written consent with the
review request.
Note: The above deadlines may be extended if you show that you were unable to
meet the deadline because
of reasons beyond your control.
5 OPM will review your disputed claim request and will use the
information it collects from you and us to decide whether our decision is
correct. OPM will send you a final decision within 60 days. There are no
other administrative appeals.
6 If you do not agree with OPM's
decision, your only recourse is to sue. If you decide to sue, you must file the
suit against OPM in Federal court by December 31 of the third year after the
year in which you received the
disputed services, drugs, or supplies or from the year in which you were
denied precertification or prior
approval. This is the only deadline that
may not be extended.
OPM may disclose the information it collects during the review process to
support their disputed claim decision.
This information will become part of
the court record.
You may not sue until you have completed the disputed claims process.
Further, Federal law governs your
lawsuit, benefits, and payment of
benefits. The Federal court will base its review on the record that was
before OPM when OPM decided to uphold or overturn our decision. You may
recover only the amount of
benefits in dispute.
NOTE: If you have a serious or life threatening condition (one that
may cause permanent loss of bodily functions or death if not treated as soon as
possible), and
(a) We haven't responded yet to your initial request for care or
preauthorization/ prior approval, then call us
at 1-800-777-2273 or 518/
641-3700 and we will expedite our review; or
(b) We denied your initial request for care or preauthorization/ prior
approval, then:
If we expedite our review and maintain our denial, we will
inform OPM so that they can give your
claim expedited treatment too, or
You can call OPM's Health Benefits Contracts Division 3 at 202/ 606-0755
between 8 a. m. and 5 p. m.
eastern time.
2002 CDPHP 39 Section 8 39
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Section 9. Coordinating benefits with other coverage
When you have
other health You must tell us if you are covered or a family member is
covered under coverage another group health plan or have automobile
insurance that pays health care
expenses without regard to fault. This is
called "double coverage."
When you have double coverage, one plan normally
pays its benefits in full as
the primary payer and the other plan pays a
reduced benefit as the secondary
payer. We, like other insurers, determine
which coverage is primary according
to the National Association of Insurance
Commissioners' guidelines.
When we are the primary payer, we will pay the benefits described in this
brochure.
When we are the secondary payer, we will determine our allowance. After
the primary plan pays, we will pay what is left of our allowance, up to our
regular benefit. We will not pay more than our allowance.
What is Medicare? Medicare is a Health Insurance Program for:
People 65 years of age and older.
Some people with disabilities,
under 65 years of age.
People with End-Stage Renal Disease (permanent
kidney failure
requiring dialysis or a transplant).
Medicare has two parts:
Part A (Hospital Insurance). Most people do not
have to pay for Part A. If
you or your spouse worked for at least 10 years
in Medicare-covered
employment, you should be able to qualify for
premium-free Part A
insurance. (Someone who was a Federal employee on
January 1, 1983, or
since automatically qualifies.) Otherwise, if you are
age 65 or older, you
may be able to buy it. Contact 1-800-MEDICARE for more
information
Part B (Medical Insurance). Most people pay monthly for Part B.
Generally, Part B premiums are withheld from your monthly Social
Security check or your retirement check.
If you are eligible for Medicare, you may have choices in how you get your
health care. Medicare + Choice is the term used to describe the various
health plan choices available to Medicare beneficiaries. The information in
the next few pages shows how we coordinate benefits with Medicare,
depending on the type of Medicare managed care plan you have.
The Original Medicare Plan The Original Medicare Plan (Original
Medicare) is available everywhere in the United States. It is the way everyone
used to get Medicare benefits and
is the way most people get their Medicare
Part A and Part B benefits now.
You may go to any doctor, specialist, or
hospital that accepts Medicare. The
Original Medicare Plan pays its share
and you pay your share. Some things
are not covered under Original Medicare,
like prescription drugs.
When you are enrolled in Original Medicare along with this Plan, you still
need to follow the rules in this brochure for us to cover your care. Your
care
must continue to be authorized by your Plan PCP or precertified as
required.
We will not waive any of our copayments, coinsurance, and deductibles.
(Primary payer chart begins on next page.)
2002 CDPHP 40 Section 9 40
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Section 9. Coordinating benefits with other coverage continued
The following chart illustrates whether the Original Medicare or
this Plan should be the primary payer for you according
to your employment
status and other factors determined by Medicare. It is critical that you tell us
if you or a covered
family member has Medicare coverage so we can administer
these requirements correctly.
Typically, your participating Plan provider will submit claims on your
behalf. If your physician does not participate in
Medicare, you will have to
file a claim with Medicare.
2002 CDPHP 41 Section 9
Primary Payer Chart
A. When either you or your covered spouse are
age 65 or over and Then the primary payer is
Original Medicare This Plan
1) Are an active employee with the Federal government (including when
you
or a family member are eligible for Medicare solely because of a
disability),
2) Are an annuitant,
3) Are a reemployed annuitant with the Federal
government when
a) The position is excluded from FEHB, or
b) The position is not excluded from FEHB
(Ask your employing office
which of these applies to you.)
4) Are a Federal judge who retired under title 28, U. S. C., or a Tax Court
judge
who retired under Section 7447 of title 26, U. S. C. (or if your
covered
spouse is this type of judge),
5) Are enrolled in Part B only, regardless of your employment status,
(for Part B (for other
services) services)
6) Are a former Federal employee receiving Workers' Compensation and the
Office of Workers' Compensation Programs has determined that you are (except
for claims
unable to return to duty, related to Workers'
Compensation.)
B. When you or a covered family member have Medicare based on end stage
renal disease (ESRD) and
1) Are within the first 30 months of eligibility to receive Part A benefits
solely because of ESRD,
2) Have completed the 30-month ESRD coordination period and are still
eligible for Medicare due to ESRD,
3) Become eligible for Medicare due to ESRD after Medicare became
primary
for you under another provision,
C. When you or a covered family member have FEHB and
1) Are
eligible for Medicare based on disability, and
a) Are an annuitant; or
b) Are an active employee
c) Are a former spouse of an annuitant, or
d) Are a former spouse of an active employee 41
41
Page 42 43
Section 9. Coordinating benefits with other coverage continued
Medicare managed care plan If you are eligible for Medicare,
you may choose to enroll in and get your Medicare benefits from another type of
Medicare+ Choice plan a Medicare
managed care plan. These are health care
choices (like HMOs) in some areas
of the country. In most Medicare managed
care plans, you can only go to
doctors, specialists, or hospitals that are
part of the plan. Medicare managed
care plans cover provide all the benefits
that Original Medicare covers. Some
cover extras, like prescription drugs.
To learn more about enrolling in a
Medicare managed care plan, contact
Medicare at 1-800-MEDICARE
(1-800-633-4227) or at www. medicare. gov.
If you enroll in a Medicare managed care plan, the following options are
available to you:
This Plan and our Medicare managed care plan: You may enroll in our
Medicare managed care plan and also remain enrolled in our FEHB plan. In
this case, we do not waive any of our copayments, coinsurance, or
deductibles for your FEHB coverage.
This Plan and another plan's Medicare managed care plan: You may
enroll in another plan's Medicare+ Choice plan and also remain enrolled in our
FEHB
plan. We will still provide benefits when your Medicare+ Choice plan is
primary,
but we will not waive any of our copayments, coinsurance, or
deductibles. If
you enroll in a Medicare managed care plan, tell us. We will
need to know
whether you are in the Original Medicare Plan or in a Medicare
managed care
plan so we can correctly coordinate benefits with Medicare.
Suspended FEHB coverage to enroll in a Medicare managed care plan: If
you are an annuitant or former spouse, you can suspend your FEHB
coverage
and enroll in a Medicare managed care plan. For information on
suspending
your FEHB enrollment, contact your retirement office. If you
later want to
re-enroll in the FEHB Program, generally you may do so only
at the next open
season unless you involuntarily lose coverage or move out
of the Medicare
managed care plan's service area.
If you do not enroll in If you do not have one or both Parts of
Medicare, you can still be covered Medicare Part A or Part B under the
FEHB Program. We will not require you to enroll in Medicare Part B
and, if
you can't get premium-free Part A, we will not ask you to enroll in it.
TRICARE TRICARE is the health care program for eligible dependents of
military persons and retirees of the military. TRICARE includes the CHAMPUS
program. If
both TRICARE and this Plan cover you, we pay first. See your
TRICARE
Health Benefits Advisor if you have questions about TRICARE
coverage.
Workers' Compensation We do not cover services that:
you need
because of a workplace-related illness or injury that the Office
of Workers'
Compensation Programs (OWCP) or a similar Federal or State
agency determines
they must provide; or
OWCP or a similar agency pays for through a third party injury settlement
or other similar proceeding that is based on a claim you filed under OWCP
or similar laws.
Once OWCP or similar agency pays its maximum benefits for your
treatment,
we will cover your care. You must use our providers.
2002 CDPHP 42 Section 9 42
42
Page 43 44
Section 9. Coordinating benefits with other coverage continued
Medicaid When you have this Plan and Medicaid, we pay first.
When other Government agencies We do not cover services and supplies
when a local, State, or Federal are responsible for your care Government
agency directly or indirectly pays for them.
When others are responsible
When you receive money to compensate you for medical or hospital care for
injuries for injuries or illness caused by another person, you must
reimburse us for
any expenses we paid. However, we will cover the cost of
treatment that
exceeds the amount you received in the settlement.
If you do not seek damages you must agree to let us try. This is called
subrogation. If you need more information, contact us for our subrogation
procedures.
2002 CDPHP 43 Section 9 43
43
Page 44 45
Section 10. Definitions of terms we use in this brochure
Calendar
year January 1 through December 31 of the same year. For new enrollees, the
calendar year begins on the effective date of their enrollment and ends on
December 31 of the same year.
Copayment A copayment is a fixed
amount of money you pay when you receive covered services. See page 11.
Coinsurance Coinsurance is the percentage of our allowance that you
must pay for your care. See page 11.
Covered services Care we provide
benefits for, as described in this brochure.
Custodial care Custodial
care is care that does not have a direct medical benefit such as house cleaning,
preparing meals, personal hygiene.
Deductible A deductible is a fixed amount of covered expenses you must
incur for certain covered services and supplies before we start paying benefits
for
those services. We do not have deductibles. See page 12.
Experimental or A procedure that is not approved by the Federal Food
and Drug Administration investigational services and/ or the National
Institute of Health Technology Assessment.
Group health coverage Medical benefits such as hospital, surgical, and
preventive that are purchased on an employer sponsored basis.
Medical
necessity A service or treatment which is appropriate and consistent with
the diagnosis and accepted standards in the medical community.
Plan
allowance Plan allowance is the amount we use to determine our payment and
your coinsurance for covered services. Plans determine their allowances in
different
ways. We determine our allowance by the average community charges.
Our
providers accept the allowances as payment in full.
Us/ We Us and we refer to Capital District Physicians' Health Plan,
Inc.
Yo u You refers to the enrollee and each covered family member.
2002 CDPHP 44 Section 10 44
44
Page 45 46
Section 11. FEHB facts
No pre-existing condition We will not
refuse to cover the treatment of a condition that you had limitation
before you enrolled in this Plan solely because you had the condition before
you enrolled.
Where you can get information See www. opm. gov/
insure. Also, your employing or retirement office can about enrolling in the
answer your questions, and give you a Guide to Federal Employees Health
FEHB Program Benefits Plans, brochures for other plans, and
other materials you need to make an informed decision about:
When you may change your enrollment;
How you can cover your family
members;
What happens when you transfer to another Federal agency, go on
leave
without pay, enter military service, or retire;
When your enrollment ends; and
When the next open season for
enrollment begins.
We don't determine who is eligible for coverage and, in
most cases, cannot
change your enrollment status without information from
your employing or
retirement office.
Types of coverage available Self Only coverage is for you alone. Self
and Family coverage is for you, for you and your family your spouse, and
your unmarried dependent children under age 22, including
any foster
children or stepchildren your employing or retirement office authorizes
coverage for. Under certain circumstances, you may also continue coverage
for
a disabled child 22 years of age or older who is incapable of
self-support.
If you have a Self Only enrollment, you may change to a Self and Family
enrollment if you marry, give birth, or add a child to your family. You may
change your enrollment 31 days before to 60 days after that event. The Self
and Family enrollment begins on the first day of the pay period in which the
child is born or becomes an eligible family member. When you change to Self
and Family because you marry, the change is effective on the first day of
the
pay period that begins after your employing office receives your
enrollment
form; benefits will not be available to your spouse until you
marry.
Your employing or retirement office will not notify you when a family
member
is no longer eligible to receive health benefits, nor will we. Please
tell us
immediately when you add or remove family members from your coverage
for any reason, including divorce, or when your child under age 22 marries
or turns 22.
If you or one of your family members is enrolled in one FEHB plan, that
person may not be enrolled in or covered as a family member by another
FEHB plan.
2002 CDPHP 45 Section 11 45
45
Page 46 47
Section 11. FEHB facts continued
When benefits and
The benefits in this brochure are effective on January 1. If you joined this
Plan Premiums start during Open Season, your coverage begins on the first
day of your first pay
period that starts on or after January 1. Annuitants'
coverage and premiums
begin on January 1. If you joined at any other time
during the year, your
employing office will tell you the effective date of
coverage.
Your medical and claims We will keep your medical and claims
information confidential. Only the records are confidential following
will have access to it:
OPM, this Plan, and subcontractors when they administer this contract;
This Plan and appropriate third parties, such as other insurance plans and
the Office of Workers' Compensation Programs (OWCP), when coordinating
benefit payments and subrogating claims;
Law enforcement officials when investigating and/ or prosecuting alleged
civil or criminal actions;
OPM and the General Accounting Office when conducting audits;
Individuals involved in bona fide medical research or education that does
not disclose your identity; or
OPM, when reviewing a disputed claim or defending litigation about a claim.
When you retire When you retire, you can usually stay in the FEHB
Program. Generally, you must have been enrolled in the FEHB Program for the last
five years of your
Federal service. If you do not meet this requirement, you
may be eligible for
other forms of coverage, such as temporary continuation
of coverage (TCC).
When you lose benefits
When FEHB coverage ends You will receive
an additional 31 days of coverage, for no additional premium, when:
Your enrollment ends, unless you cancel your enrollment, or
You are a
family member no longer eligible for coverage.
You may be eligible for
spouse equity coverage or Temporary Continuation
of Coverage.
Spouse equity If you are divorced from a Federal employee or
annuitant, you may not coverage continue to get benefits under your
former spouse's enrollment. But, you may
be eligible for your own FEHB coverage under the spouse equity law. If you
are recently divorced or are anticipating a divorce, contact your
ex-spouse's
employing or retirement office to get RI 70-5, the Guide to
Federal Employees
Health Benefits Plans for Temporary Continuation of
Coverage and Former
Spouse Enrollees, or other information about your
coverage choices.
Temporary Continuation of If you leave Federal service, or if you
lose coverage because you no longer Coverage qualify as a family member,
you may be eligible for Temporary Continuation
of Coverage (TCC). For example, you can receive TCC if you are not able to
continue your FEHB enrollment after you retire, if you lose your job, if you
are a covered dependent child and you turn 22 or marry, etc.
You may not elect TCC if you are fired from your Federal job due to gross
misconduct.
Enrolling in TCC. Get the RI 79-27, which describes TCC, and the RI
70-5, the Guide to Federal Employees Health Benefits Plans for Temporary
Continuation of Coverage and Former Spouse Enrollees, from your
employing
office or from www. opm. gov/ insure. It explains what you have to
do to enroll.
2002 CDPHP 46 Section 11 46
46
Page 47 48
Section 11. FEHB facts continued
Converting to
You may convert to a non-FEHB individual policy if: individual coverage
Your coverage under TCC or the spouse equity law ends. (If you canceled
your coverage or did not pay your premium, you cannot convert);
You decided not to receive coverage under TCC or the spouse equity law; or
You are not eligible for coverage under TCC or the spouse equity law.
If you leave Federal service, your employing office will notify you of your
right
to convert. You must apply in writing to us within 31 days after you
receive
this notice. However, if you are a family member who is losing
coverage, the
employing or retirement office will not notify you. You
must apply in writing
to us within 31 days after you are no longer eligible
for coverage.
Your benefits and rates will differ from those under the FEHB Program;
however,
you will not have to answer questions about your health, and we
will not impose
a waiting period or limit your coverage due to pre-existing
conditions.
Getting a Certificate of The Health Insurance Portability and
Accountability Act of 1996 (HIPAA) is a Group Health Plan Coverage
Federal law that offers limited Federal protections for health coverage
availability
and continuity to people who lose employer group coverage. If
you leave the
FEHB Program, we will give you a Certificate of Group Health
Plan Coverage
that indicates how long you have been enrolled with us. You
can use this
certificate when getting health insurance or other health care
coverage. Your
new plan must reduce or eliminate waiting periods,
limitations, or exclusions
for health related conditions based on the
information in the certificate, as long
as you enroll within 63 days of
losing coverage under this Plan. If you have
been enrolled with us for less
than 12 months, but were previously enrolled
in other FEHB plans, you may
also request a certificate from those plans.
For more information, get OPM pamphlet RI 79-27, Temporary Continuation
of Coverage (TCC) under the FEHB Program, See also the FEHB web site
(www. opm. gov/ insure/ health); refer to the "TCC and HIPAA" frequently
asked
questions. These highlight HIPAA rules, such a s the requirement that
Federal
employees must exhaust any TC eligibility as one condition for
guaranteed
access to individual health coverage under HIPAA, and have
information
about Federal and State agencies you can contact for more
information.
2002 CDPHP 47 Section 11 47
47
Page 48 49
Long
Term Care Insurance Is Coming Later in 2002!
The Office of Personnel
Management (OPM) will sponsor a high-quality long term care insurance program
effective in
October 2002. As part of its educational effort, OPM asks you
to consider these questions:
What is long term care It's insurance to help pay for long term care
services you may need if you can't (LTC) insurance? take care of yourself
because of an extended illness or injury, or an age-related
disease such as
Alzheimer's.
LTC insurance can provide broad, flexible benefits for nursing
home care, care in
an assisted living facility, care in your home, adult day
care, hospice care, and
more. LTC insurance can supplement care provided by
family members, reducing
the burden you place on them.
I'm healthy. I won't need Welcome to the club! long term care. Or,
will I? 76% of Americans believe they will never need long term care, but
the facts are
that about half of them will. And it's not just the old folks.
About 40% of people
needing long term care are under age 65. They may need
chronic care due to a
serious accident, a stroke, or developing multiple
sclerosis, etc.
We hope you will never need long term care, but everyone
should have a plan just
in case. Many people now consider long term care
insurance to be vital to their
financial and retirement planning.
Is long term care expensive? Yes, it can be very expensive. A year in
a nursing home can exceed $50,000. Home care for only three 8-hour shifts a week
can exceed $20,000 a year. And
that's before inflation!
Long term care
can easily exhaust your savings. Long term care insurance can
protect
your savings.
But won't my FEHB plan, Not FEHB. Look at the "Not covered"
blocks in sections 5( a) and 5( c) of your Medicare or Medicaid cover
FEHB brochure. Health plans don't cover custodial care or a stay in an
assisted
my long term care? living facility or a continuing need for
a home health aide to help you get in and out of bed and with other activities
of daily living. Limited stays in skilled nursing
facilities can be covered
in some circumstances.
Medicare only covers skilled nursing home care (the
highest level of nursing care)
after a hospitalization for those who are
blind, age 65 or older or fully disabled. It
also has a 100 day limit.
Medicaid covers long term care for those who meet their state's poverty
guidelines, but has restrictions on covered services and where they can be
received. Long term care insurance can provide choices of care and
preserve your
independence. {RV: 7-26}
When will I get more Employees will get more information from their
agencies during the LTC open information on how to apply for enrollment
period in the late summer/ early fall of 2002.
this new insurance
coverage? Retirees will receive information at home.
How can I find
out more Our toll-free teleservice center will begin in mid-2002. In the
meantime, you can about the program NOW? learn more about the program on
our web site at www. opm. gov/ insure/ ltc.
2002 CDPHP 48
Many FEHB enrollees think that their health plan and/ or Medicare will
cover their long-term care needs.
Unfortunately, they are WRONG!
How are YOU planning to pay for the future custodial or chronic care you may
need?
You should consider buying long-term care insurance. 48
48 Page 49 50
Index
Do not rely on this page; it is for
your convenience and may not show all pages where the terms appear.
2002 CDPHP 49 Index
Allergy tests 17
Alternative
treatment 21
Ambulance 26
Anesthesia 24
Autologous bone marrow
transplant 24
Biopsies 22
Birthing centers 16
Blood and blood
plasma 25
Breast cancer screening 15
Casts 22
Cat Scans 15
Changes for 2002 8
Chemotherapy 18
Childbirth 16
Childbirth
Education 33
Chiropractic Care 21
Cholesterol tests 15
Claims 37
Coinsurance 12
Colorectal cancer screening 15
Congenital anomalies
22
Contraceptive devices and drugs 32
Coordination of benefits 41
Copayment 12
Covered providers 9
Crutches 20
Deductible
12
Definitions 44
Dental care 34
Diagnostic services 15
Dialysis 18
Disputed claims review 38
Donor expenses (transplants)
24
Dressings 25
Durable medical equipment (DME) 20
Educational
classes and programs 21
Effective date of enrollment 46
Emergency 27
Experimental or investigational 44
Extended care 26
Eye exam 19
Eyeglasses 19
Family planning 17
Fecal occult blood test 15
Foot care 19
Formulary 31
Fraud and abuse 5
General
Exclusions 36
Hearing services 19
Home health services 21
Hospice care 26
Home nursing care 21
Hospital 25
Immunizations, adult 15
Immunizations, child 16
Infertility
17
In hospital physician care 25
Inpatient Hospital Benefits 25
Insulin 32
Laboratory and pathological services 15
Machine
diagnostic tests 15
Magnetic Resonance Imagings
(MRIs) 15
Mail Order Prescription Drugs 32
Mammograms 15
Maternity Benefits 16
Medicaid 43
Medically necessary 44
Medicare 40
Medicare+ Choice
42
Mental Conditions/ Substance Abuse
Benefits 29
Newborn care 16
Non-FEHB Benefits 35
Nurse
Licensed Practical
Nurse 21
Registered Nurse 21
Nursery charges 16
Obstetrical
care 16
Occupational therapy 18
Ocular injury 19
Office visits
14
Oral and maxillofacial surgery 23
Orthopedic devices 20
Out-of-pocket expenses 12
Outpatient facility care 26
Oxygen 19
Pap test 15
Physical examination 14
Physical therapy 18
Physician 14
Pre-existing Conditions 45
Pre-certification 11
Prenatal 16
Preventive care, adult 15
Preventive care, children 16
Prescription
drugs 31
Preventive services 14
Primary Payor Chart 41
Prior
approval 11
Prostate cancer screening 15
Prosthetic devices 20
Psychologist 29
Psychotherapy 29
Radiation therapy 18
Renal dialysis 18
Room and board 25
Second surgical opinion
14
Service Area 7
Skilled nursing facility care 26
Smoking cessation
21
Speech therapy 18
Splints 22
Sterilization procedures 17
Students out-of-area 33
Subrogation 43
Substance abuse 29
Surgery 22
Anesthesia 24
Oral 23
Outpatient 22
Reconstructive 23
Syringes 32
Temporary continuation of
coverage 46
Transplants 24
Treatment therapies 18
Ultrasounds 15
Vision services 19
Well child care 16
Wheelchairs 20
Workers' compensation 42
X-rays 15 49
49 Page 50 51
NOTES:
2002 CDPHP 50 Notes 50
50 Page 51 52
Summary of benefits for the Capital District
Physicians' Health Plan, Inc. 2002
Do not rely on this chart alone.
All benefits are provided in full unless indicated and are subject to the
definitions,
limitations, and exclusions in this brochure. On this page we
summarize specific expenses we cover; for more detail,
look inside.
If you want to enroll or change your enrollment in this Plan, be sure to
put the correct enrollment code from the cover
on your enrollment form.
Note: We only cover services that are provided or arranged by Plan
physicians, except in emergencies.
2002 CDPHP 51 Summary
Benefits You Pay Page
Medical
services provided by physicians:
Diagnostic and treatment services
provided in the office $10 office visit copay 14
Services provided by a hospital:
Inpatient Nothing 25
Outpatient $10 per day for ambulatory surgical 26
center or outpatient
department
Emergency benefits
In-area $50 per visit to hospital for
emergency 27
room visit; $25 per visit per urgent
care center
Out-of-area $50 per visit for emergency services 28
Mental health and substance abuse treatment Regular cost sharing 29
Prescription drugs 32
Up to a 30-day supply from a Plan Retail
Pharmacy $5 copay per prescription for generic drugs; $20 copay per
prescription for
name brand drugs, injectable drugs and
implanted time-release
medications.
Up to a 90-day supply from Plan Mail Order Pharmacy $10 copay per
prescription for generic drugs; $40 copay per prescription for
name brand drugs.
Dental care $10 per visit for accidental injury
benefit 34
Vision Care $10 per visit for one refraction every 19
twenty-four (24) months
Special features 33
Non-emergency medical care (non-preventive for
full-time students attending school out-of CDPHP's
service area
Childbirth Education Reimbursement Program
Services for deaf and hearing
impaired
Centers of excellence for transplants/ heart surgery
Protection against catastrophic costs We do not have an out-of-pocket
12 (your out-of-pocket maximum) maximum. 51
51
Page 52
2002 Rate Information for
Capital District Physicians' Health Plan
Non-Postal rates apply to most
non-Postal enrollees. If you are in a special enrollment category, refer to the
FEHB Guide for that category or contact the agency that maintains your health
benefits enrollment.
Postal rates apply to career Postal Service
employees. Most employees should refer to the FEHB Guide for United States
Postal Service Employees, RI-70-2B. Different postal rates apply and special
FEHB guides are published for Postal Service Nurses, RI-70-2B; and for
Postal Service Inspectors and Office of Inspector General (OIG) employees (see
RI 70-2IN).
Postal rates do not apply to non-career postal employees, postal retirees, or
associate members of any postal employee organization who are not career postal
employees. Refer to the applicable FEHB Guide.
2002 CDPHP 52 Summary
Non-Postal Premium Postal Premium
Biweekly Monthly Biweekly
Type of Enrollment Gov't Share Code Your Share
Gov't Share Your Share USPS Share Your Share
Self Only
Self and Family
SG1
SG2
$ 88.36 $ 29.45 $191.45 $
63.81 $104.56 $ 13.25
$223.41 $ 78.36 $484.06 $169.78 $263.75 $ 38.02
Self Only
Self and Family
QB1
QB2
$ 92.76 $ 30.92 $200.98 $
66.99 $109.77 $ 13.91
$223.41 $ 94.14 $484.06 $203.97 $263.75 $ 53.80
Self Only
Self and Family
PW1
PW2
$ 89.18 $ 29.73 $193.23 $
64.41 $105.53 $ 13.38
$223.41 $ 80.99 $484.06 $175.47 $263.75 $ 40.65 52