video visit doctor medicaid

An official website of the United States government Here’s how you know

Official websites use .gov A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS A lock ( Lock A locked padlock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Related Resources

• State Medicaid & CHIP Telehealth Toolkit: February 2024
• Medicaid & CHIP Telehealth Toolkit: Tools for States  
• State Medicaid & CHIP Telehealth Toolkit: COVID-19 Version
• State Medicaid & CHIP Telehealth Toolkit: COVID-19 Version, Supplement #1  
• CMCS Informational Bulletin: Rural Health Care and Medicaid Telehealth Flexibilities, and Guidance Regarding Section 1009 of the Substance Use-Disorder Prevention that Promotes Opioid Recovery and Treatment for Patients and Communities Act
• Report to Congress: Reducing Barriers to Using Telehealth and Remote Patient Monitoring for Pediatric Populations under Medicaid
• Reimbursement for Medicaid for Services Delivered Via Telehealth

Telehealth is the use of telecommunications and information technology to provide access to health assessment, diagnosis, intervention, consultation, supervision and information across distance. At one time, telehealth in Medicaid had been referred to as telemedicine.

Telehealth seeks to improve a patient's health by permitting two-way, real-time interactive communication between the patient and the physician or practitioner at the distant site. This  communication often requires  the use of interactive telecommunications equipment that can include both audio and video components, but can also be conducted via audio-only, as states deem appropriate.

Telehealth includes such technologies as telephones, electronic mail systems, and remote patient monitoring devices, which are used to collect and transmit patient data for monitoring and interpretation.

State Telehealth Flexibilities

For most Medicaid benefits, federal Medicaid law and regulations do not specifically address telehealth delivery methods or the criteria for implementation of telehealth.  As a result, states have broad flexibility in designing the parameters of telehealth delivery methods to furnish services. However, underlying services must continue to meet the requirements of the overarching provisions in Title XIX of the Social Security Act (the Act), regulations, the federal policy framework of the covered Medicaid benefit, and the parameters of the state’s CMS-approved Medicaid state plan or a subsequent state plan amendment (SPA). Where Medicaid law or regulations set forth telehealth delivery requirements for specific benefits, those requirements must be observed. For example, the Community First Choice (CFC) Option at 1915(k) has general requirements for using telehealth for performing the assessment of need (§441.535), but does not have requirements for other CFC activities that could be performed using telehealth.

CMS Approach to Reviewing Telehealth SPAs

Unless required by regulation or policy, states are not required to submit a (separate) SPA for coverage or reimbursement of Medicaid coverable services delivered through telehealth if they decide to reimburse for services delivered through telehealth in the same way/amount that they pay for face-to-face services.

States must submit a (separate) reimbursement (attachment 4.19B) SPA if they want to provide reimbursement for services or components of services delivered through telehealth differently than is currently being reimbursed for face-to-face services.

States may submit a coverage SPA to better describe the services they choose to cover through telehealth, such as which providers/practitioners are identified by the state to use telehealth to deliver services; where it is provided; how it is provided, etc. In this case, and in order to avoid unnecessary SPA submissions, it is recommended that a brief description of the framework of telehealth may be placed in an introductory section of the state plan, e.g., Section 3 – Services: General Provisions 3.1 Amount, Duration and Scope of Services, and then a reference made to coverage through telehealth in the applicable benefit sections of the state plan. For example, in the physician section it might say that dermatology services can be delivered via telehealth provided all state requirements related to telehealth as described in the state plan are otherwise met.

Online doctors for Medicaid. Research, compare and schedule a virtual appointment with an online doctor for Medicaid on JOY MD. Search trusted online doctors on JOY MD. Cash paying and insurances accepted.

23andMe lets patients discover where in the world their DNA is from across 1500+ regions — in some cases down to the county level. Patients can learn how genetics can influence their chances of developing certain health conditions. Patients can discover what makes them unique. With reports like hair photobleaching and freckles, they learn how their DNA can influence their physical features.

AbleTo provides behavioral health care proven to help people overcome barriers to better health. Patients can feel better by working one-on-one with AbleTo's specially trained professionals from the comfort of their home. AbleTo’s personalized programs are delivered one-on-one, privately and confidentially, with a professional therapist and coach via phone or video chat. AbleTo’s care is proven to help people feel better through positive thinking, behavior change, and mindfulness.

Hello Alpha

Alpha is all about women taking control of their healthcare. Connect to a doctor online for everything from a single visit to long-term health management. Alpha Offers memberships and exclusive healthcare benefits.

Amwell is comprehensive teletherapy for all of your healthcare needs. Their telehealth services include primary care, women and men's health, therapy, pediatrics, cardiology, nutrition, and more. Available 24 hours a day, Amwell is covered by many insurance providers.

Apostrophe brings the dermatologist's office to patients' couch, so patients can get the treatments they need, all shipped to their door. With a few pictures, patients can receive a diagnosis from one of Apostrophe's board-certified dermatologists in just 24 hours. No more scheduling limbo, confusing referrals, and pharmacy runs. Apostrophe has patients covered with science-backed products, giving patients the confidence in knowing what they're putting on their skin works.

Ava is a digital health aid for women’s health including cycle tracking, fertility, and pregnancy. Ava is a sensor bracelet that tracks your vital signs such as skin temperature and pulse to track your health and send real-time data to the platform. Monitor your health and cycle to optimize your health and increase your chances of conception.

Bend specializes in providing the industry’s best health savings accounts for individuals, employers and partners. As HSA experts, Bend is here here to empower them to maximize HSA benefits while eliminating headaches. From Bend's innovative use of AI, to its always-available Bend Advisor, the Bend Difference can help them reach their HSA goals. Online HSA program can be setup in 30 minutes or less.

Better Help

BetterHelp provides patients with the world's largest network of licensed, accredited, and experienced counselors who can help them with a range of issues including depression, anxiety, relationships, trauma, grief, and more. With BetterHelp's counselors, patients get the same professionalism and quality they would expect from an in-office counselor, but with the ability to communicate when and how they want. Patients will get matched to the best counselor for them. Patients will be able to have therapy when they need it.

Blink Health

Blink Health is a digital health provider offering health solutions to patients. Learn more about them and how they can help you here.

Boulder Care

Boulder Care offers long-term support and treatment for opioid addiction. The program is backed by science, driven by data, and provided by caregivers who lead with the heart. Unlike most traditional treatment programs, Boulder’s program is delivered entirely online – with secure video visits and messaging through our smartphone app. The program is designed to fit into a patient's life—no more wait lists, long commutes, or taking time away from work or family to get treatment.

Brain Check

BrainCheck is tailored cognitive care that provides patients and providers with comprehensive brain health data. Track your memory and cognition with BrainCheck to monitor early signs of memory loss. Data from BrainCheck can be shared with your doctor and used to monitor you or your loved one’s cognitive health over time.

Buoy Health

Buoy is an online symptom checker that helps you make decisions about your healthcare. Users chat with Buoy and answer questions about their symptoms to form a treatment plan. Using A.I., Buoy helps you answer your health questions when you need it most.

Calm is the #1 app for sleep, meditation and relaxation, with over 50 million downloads and over 700,000 5-star reviews. The guided meditation app helps to reduce stress and enhance wellbeing. Calm helps users sleep better, learn to meditate, become more mindful, and boost confidence and decrease anxiety. Calm also has a timer and a huge catalog of calming music, sounds, bedtime stories, and ambient noises.

Care Predict

CarePredict @Home notices small changes in seniors that can indicate serious issues, before they happen. CarePredict @Home uses AI to learn and follow daily habits so you can rest assured your loved one is safe, wherever you are and whatever they’re doing. CarePredict @Home watches over the daily patterns and identifies changes that could signal a health concern such as falls, malnutrition, depression, and UTIs – enabling early attention days before something happens. The app delivers a convenient recap of activities and trends, charting them against past days and weeks so you can stay ahead of any changes or declines.

Carrot Fertility

Carrot helps employers give their employees the fertility benefits they want. Fertility benefits are a growing demand among workers and Carrot makes it simple to connect employees with fertility care like egg freezing, IVF, surrogacy, and adoption. The fertility solutions offered by Carrot are fit to your company’s needs.

Get Cerebral

Cerebral offers expert help for a patient's emotional heath. Patients are able to receive help for anxiety and depression. Cerebral offers online provider visits, care management, and prescriptions delivered to a patient's door. Cerebral's providers are licensed prescribers and well-trained to be empathetic and help clients select the best medication for their specific needs.

Connect with a doctor by phone or video to treat common conditions. Whether you need a prescription, lab order, or doctor's note—DrSays can help. Get started with the online clinic in a few minutes.

Cue Health helps you manage problems in the early stages. Starting with influenza, Cue allows for consumers and healthcare providers to screen early through self-tests that deliver results to mobile devices. Great for telemedicine, self health management, and prescription services—Cue gives you your lab data right to your device.

Curology has helped tens of thousands of people clear their skin. From occasional spots to full-on breakouts, Curology's simple once-a-day cream has patients covered. Curology uses patients' photos, patients' history, and patients' goals to pick powerful active ingredients just for them. Curology providers see more acne sufferers every year than any other team in the country. With their combined 107 years of experience, they’re also resources for questions on cleansers, sunscreens, and how dairy affects patients' skin.

Derm Consult

DermConsult is a Digital Dermatology Clinic offering medical dermatologic and skin care services via a HIPAA-secured, telemedicine platform. Patients can call, email, text or send an in-app message to their doctor instantly. DermConsult utilizes the most secure and advanced teledermatology platform to deliver care to their patients. All of DermConsult's dermatologists are currently practicing, board-certified, US-based dermatologists.

Discover the power of telemedicine with Heal. Using the app or your phone, talk with a doctor and get lab orders, prescriptions, referrals, and more from home. Heal offers primary, urgent, pediatric, and preventative care.

Discreet birth control delivered to your door. After completing an online consultation, Pill Club’s medical team will recommend a birth control for you, including oral contraceptives, emergency contraceptives, internal condoms, and vaginal rings. Their birth control deliveries come with surprise goodies like stickers, chocolates, and more.

Dispatch Health

DispatchHealth is healthcare delivered. Users request a visit from the app, online, or by phone, and a medical team is sent to their home to treat them. DispatchHealth treats injuries, illnesses, and common concerns you would go to the urgent care for from the convenience and safety of your home.

Doctor On Demand

Doctor on Demand connects patients with physicians and psychiatrists 24/7. This telemedicine platform is app-based and can help patients treat and manage health concerns from home. Doctor on Demand has been used by over 1 million patients and is supported by many insurance providers.

Dynamic Health

DynamiCare Health is a personalized telehealth recovery program that fits in your pocket. DynamiCare Health's approach of rewarding healthy activities is scientifically proven to increase a patient's chances of recovery. DynamiCare Health’s easy-to-use technology includes random breath and saliva tests submitted through the app, verified treatment attendance check-ins, a supportive Recovery Coach, rewards for healthy progress, and a dashboard for supporters. DynamiCare health makes healthy behavior change convenient through accountability and encouragement.

Direct Derm

For all skin, hair and nail problems, DirectDerm is as close as one's computer or mobile device. All DirectDerm consultants are board-certified dermatologists trained at the top medical institutions in the United States, such as Stanford and Harvard. Many remain involved in research and teaching at these universities. Accessible from anywhere at any time, DirectDerm's dermatologists will provide a full report with diagnosis and treatment plan within 48 hours max- usually within 24.

Free Womens Clinic

Free Women’s Clinic offers resources to those facing an unplanned pregnancy. The clinic provides services such as free ultrasounds and abortion and option consultations and support. All services are completely free and confidential.

Gryt Health

GRYT connects those suffering from cancer with community. The Gryt community is connected through an app and is made up of patients, survivors, providers, and advocates who can provide support. The purpose of GRYT is to empower those with cancer and help them make choices that are right for them.

Gali Health

Gali is a well-informed mobile friend and personal health guide who helps patients learn about, track and proactively manage their Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis. Gali is on a mission to make sure nobody ever feels isolated, lost or powerless in the face of existing or potential disease. Advanced AI algorithms allow Gali to create a highly personalized feed of vetted, timely and relevant health-related content. Gali enables a smart disease community by collecting the experiences of medical professionals and IBD patients from around the world.

Galileo Health

Galileo is comprehensive healthcare from the convenience of your phone. With their affordable memberships, you have 24/7 access to healthcare professionals to answer your questions and help manage your health. Galileo is self healthcare that combines expertise, technology, and you.

Genome Medical

Genome Medical delivers genetic expertise to support everyone — from health care providers who need a trusted partner for genomic medicine to individuals interested in exploring their DNA. Genome Medical is the first and only nationwide telegenomics practice serving health systems, providers, employers and individuals. Genome Medical delivers easy and seamless genetic expertise in the following areas of clinical care: Cancer, cardio, proactive, reproductive, pediatric, and pharmacy. Genome Medical's clinical team includes medical geneticists, genetic counselors, primary care doctors, pharmacists and other specialists who can provide medical services in all 50 states.

Get a beautiful smile without the office visits. Byte uses FDA-cleared technology and connects you with board-certified dental professionals to get you a straight smile, fast. Offering two different plans and financing, Byte has an option for everyone looking to improve their teeth.

Get an on-demand medical exam that is backed by data with Tyto. A device is connected to the TytoApp which is used by your doctor to diagnose treat and manage common illnesses.

Get the best prices and find savings on your prescriptions with GoodRx. Did you know that the cost of your prescription can vary between neighboring pharmacies? GoodRx compares prices for you and gives you coupons for your prescriptions. GoodRx is the #1 free medical app for iOS and Android.

Ginger is a telepsychiatry platform that offers an on-demand mental health system through the Ginger app. The platform allows members to conveniently connect with Ginger’s team of behavioral health coaches anywhere and at any time. For those in need of additional support, a therapist or psychiatrist can be added to their care team. Currently, over half a million people are using the digital platform.

Glooko syncs data from patients' diabetes devices and shares it with their care team for confident decisions about the patients' diabetes. Glooko syncs with 95% of all diabetes devices, delivering trusted data, in a simple and usable platform. Glooko is used by health systems around the world to help their patient populations achieve better outcomes. The Glooko Mobile App is free* for all people with diabetes.

Join Groups

Groups offers an opioid addiction treatment that works. Groups' counselors will help patients make a deep personal transformation, and their physicians will help patients safely taper off medication when they feel ready. Patients get the medication they need to stop feeling sick, and a community that fights for them to succeed from the comfort and safety of their home. Members attend weekly group therapy where they find a safe space to be honest with other people going through the same thing.

Happify Health is a digital therapeutics platform that diagnoses mental health conditions and offers support that is grounded in science. Happify Health makes managing mental health and well-being, not just possible, but fun. The platform is based on the sciences of positive psychology, cognitive behavioral therapy, mindfulness, and other proven behavior change disciplines. When new research is acquired it’s then validated through published peer-reviewed research.

Headspace is one's guide to everyday mindfulness in just a few minutes a day. Patients can choose from hundreds of guided meditations on everything from managing stress and anxiety to sleep, productivity, exercise, and physical health — including short SOS meditations for when they're on the go. Patients learn to manage feelings and thoughts with the lifelong skill of everyday mindfulness, any time of the day. Patients can train their body and their mind at the same time with exercises to strengthen their mental and physical well-being.

HealthTap is comprehensive telehealth. Get your questions answered, diagnosed, treatment, and follow-up care from a single app. All of HealthTap's doctors are board-certified and committed to quality care.

Hers personalizes women’s health in a single platform. Simply create a profile and connect with a physician to get tailored recommendations about sexual health, birth control, skin care, supplements, and other women’s health issues. Hers also offers telehealth visits for primary health concerns.

Hims is the ultimate men’s health platform. Take charge of your wellness with customized solutions for erectile dysfunction, hair loss, skin care, and performance anxiety. Hims also offers primary care health services through their telehealth platform.

Hubpsych provides tools & resources for clients searching for effective therapy in the greater Los Angeles area. With Hubpsych's personalized search tool and network of specialized mental health providers, Hubpsych is able to help patients find the mental health care they deserve. Hubpsych’s confidential 10-minute assessment process is designed to better understand a patient's unique mental health needs. Upon completion, Hubpsych’s smart match algorithm will make some therapeutic recommendations and empower a patient to find a therapist best fitting to their personal needs.

Human API is a digital self-health solution that allows you to streamline your health data into a single platform. Users can integrate all of their health accounts, medical records, lab results, prescriptions, and health apps into one place. Data can be shared with other people, providers, or health apps to help individuals monitor and reach their health goals.

If traditional conception isn’t working or isn’t an option in your relationship—try Mosie. Intrauterine Insemination(IUI) can be expensive and time-consuming. Mosie offers an at-home solution you can try first. The Mosie syringe is designed to maximixe your chances of conceiving, while remaining affordable.

Improve every aspect of your relationship with the help of a licensed therapist through Regain. Whether you need relationship support for yourself or both you and your partner, Regain is there to help with online therapy. Restore your relationship, intimacy, and communication.

Kaia Health

Kaia Health gives solutions to providers to help them manage patients with musculoskeletal pain and COPD. Using advanced technology, Kaia Health can make home therapy management possible for those with pain conditions. Physical assessments and training sessions are made possible anywhere with Kaia's mobile system.

Kindbody is a women’s health platform that offers in-person and virtual healthcare for fertility needs, gynecological care, and supportive services. The platform offers modern healthcare driven by data and personalization. Kindbody accepts most major insurance providers.

Kliit is on-demand women’s health. The app connects you in real-time to qualified medical experts to answer reproductive health questions. Chatting on Kliit is safe, convenient, and affordable.

Learn to Live

Learn to Live offers customized online programs based on the proven principles of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT). The programs are confidential, accessible anywhere, and based on years of research showing online CBT programs to be as effective as face-to-face therapy. Learn to Live with help patients identify the thoughts and behavior patterns that perpetuate their issues, so they can work through them. Learn to Live can help those with social anxiety, depression, insomnia, substance use, and stress, anxiety, and worry.

Lemonaid Health

Lemonaid offers ongoing personalized help at a fraction of the cost for anxiety and depression treatments. Lemonaid provides the best possible treatment for patients by offering full-cycle care - Lemonaid knows no one wants to take medicine forever, so Lemonaid helps patients work out how long they should continue treatment based on their unique situation. Lemonaid's service allows patients to have as many check-ins as they need, through messaging, or via phone call or video chat, whatever is most convenient for them. Lemonaid Pharmacy will deliver FDA-approved meds directly to a patient's door in only 2-3 business days.

Lensabl lets patients get the lenses they need, in their own frames, without leaving home. Patients can receive quality lenses they need, in the frames they already own, in about 2 weeks. Lensabl offers prescription, blue-light blockers, readers, sunglasses, and more. All of Lensabl's lenses are custom made, tested and fitted by certified opticians with generations of experience.

Life Access

Life Process Program is an online addiction treatment is built on simple human ingredients. Life Process Program's goal is to help patients recover from their addiction and learn to lead a joyful, meaningful life. Developed by Dr. Stanton Peele, the world leading authority on non-12 step addiction recovery, the program is a structured online program with 8 comprehensive modules and over 50 thought-provoking exercises. Life Process Program also provides regular feedback, advice and guidance from a patient's dedicated Life Process Coach throughout the program, private video coaching, and access to peer support.

Lion Rock Recovery

Lionrock is the most private way to get help for substance abuse. Lionrock's programs fit into a patient's way of life, not the other way around. Patients are able to keep their family and work commitments while they get help in Lionrock's online recovery program. In addition to professional treatment, Lionrock offers workshops and support group meetings that are completely free of charge— there’s no cost to participate.

Lively is the modern health saving account. Lively helps people prepare for tomorrow by making smart decisions about finances and healthcare today. Lively HSAs are free for individuals and families, so they never have to worry about hidden costs. Employers can build a better benefits package — without adding admin hours. With Lively, people can build a healthcare safety net and save more for the expected and unexpected.

Luna PBC is a digital health provider offering health solutions to patients. Learn more about them and how they can help you here.

MDLIVE allows you to access a qualified healthcare provider from wherever you are. Connect with a doctor from the app, your phone, or computer. MDLIVE offers primary care, therapy, psychiatry, dermatology, and more via telehealth.

Manage your health and get answers to your health questions and concerns with K. Using AI technology, K checks your symptoms and advises you on possible treatments. Need to chat with a doctor? K can connect you with one for a low cost who can treat you.

Maven Clinic

Maven offers comprehensive women’s health and family care through its telemedicine platform. Offering support for fertility, pregnancy, pediatrics, and more—Maven hosts an abundance of qualified healthcare providers to help you at every stage of your journey. Manage your reproductive health, mental health, nutrition, and more with Maven.

Maximize your chances of conceiving by tracking your ovulation with Proov. Proov is an FDA-approved test to confirm your ovulation with accurate at-home testing that measures PdG. Master your cycle and skip the wondering when it comes to ovulation.

Modern Health

Modern Health is a platform for innovative companies that value the emotional well-being of their workforce. Modern Health is the only comprehensive mental health platform that provides access to a full spectrum of resources, ranging from digital courses and meditations to a network of certified coaches and licensed therapists. Modern Health combines technology and human touch to guide individuals to the right level of care at the right time. Each employee has access to a full spectrum of support in a single platform to meet their unique needs.

Nebula Genomics

Nebula Genomics is the leading privacy-focused personal genomics service. Nebula Genomics' mission is to make direct-to-consumer genetic testing secure. With the Nebula Explore subscription, you can stay up to date with the most cutting-edge genomic research. Nebula Genomics' team curates the latest scientific discoveries to create personalized reports based on your Whole Genome Sequencing results.

Need an urgent care visit but don’t want to wait at the doctor’s office? Simplify the process with Remedy. Available 24 hours a day, Remedy connects you with qualified providers who can diagnose and treat common urgent care conditions such as colds, infections, prescription refills, and more. Get treated via telemedicine or with a house call.

NeuroTrack Technologies

Neurotrack Technologies is a digital platform that uses scientifically-validated cognitive assessments to strengthen and monitor brain health. The platform allows physicians to actively monitor their patients by using The Neurotrack Cognitive Health Program. The groundbreaking eye-tracking technology measures multiple cognitive domains to provide a report that tracks Alzheimer's.

No braces, no orthodontic visits—get straighter teeth at home. Candid offers remote orthodontic care to provide you with top-quality teeth straightening. Simply send Candid photos and impressions of your teeth, get your clear aligners to begin your straightening your teeth, and monitor your progress remotely with one of Candid’s orthodontists

One Medical Group

One Medical offers everything from same-day in-office appointments to telehealth visits with qualified doctors. Their memberships include preventative care, everyday wellness, chronic conditions, pediatric and family medicine, and mental health.

Ophelia offers medication and support for opioid withdrawal. Ophelia brings treatment to the privacy of one's home in their own terms with support from Ophelia for life. Ophelia is based on the gold standard of science, Medication-assisted treatment (MAT), proven to be 6x more effective than most rehabs out there. Patients connect with an Ophelia provider via telemedicine through their phone or computer and manage withdrawal, stop cravings, and prevent relapse with medications like Suboxone and Vivitrol.

Oscar Health

Oscar has been focused on one mission – to be a health insurance company centered around the patient, engaging members and guiding them to the right care. Oscar has the most engaged members in the industry, with the highest mobile engagement of any insurer. With Oscar, patients can get prescriptions refilled right over the phone and sent directly to their pharmacy. Patients will also get their own Concierge team of experts to help them find doctors, answer questions, and more.

Parsley Health

Personalize your wellness with Parsley Health. Offering patients on-demand telemedicine care, Parsley Health pairs you with highly-trained doctors, nurse practitioners, and health coaches. Skip the rushed in-person office visit, and start with a 60+-minute appointment to begin your customized healthcare plan. Memberships include physician visits, biomarker testing, personalized health plans, prescriptions, messaging, and more.

Pivot is transforming how people quit smoking for good with its fresh approach and breakthrough tech. Pivot’s exciting new technologies, human coaching, and behavioral science turn quitting into an opportunity, instead of an obligation. Pivot users don’t have to quit smoking—they get to. Pivot even helps people who say they aren’t ready to quit.

Plushcare can help you manage everything from urgent medical needs to chronic illness online. This telemedicine platform offers direct messaging with qualified physicians so you can have your healthcare questions answered on-demand. Plushcare offers care in all 50 U.S. states and is covered by many major insurance providers.

Quartet Health

Quartet is a healthcare technology and services company with a focus on mental health conditions. The company has teamed up with leading health plans and systems to offer a free, HIPAA-compliant solution. The digital platform connects physicians, mental health providers, and insurance companies within their dashboard. The collaborative technology and range of services effectively improve patients’ health and helps drive down healthcare costs.

Ready to quit smoking for good? Let Zero help. Zero will connect with a doctor to create a customized plan to help you quit smoking. Their plans include cessation medications and replacement therapies through Zero’s telehealth platform.

Recover Together

Recover Together aims at helping the 23 million Americans with an opioid addiction. Recover Together has compiled a short list of virtual resources so people in recovery from addiction have access to critical recovery support groups. Recover Together features other information and resources opioid addicts and their loved ones can use to help in their recovery. The 'Recover Together" micro-site provides Google Maps-based search and in-depth resources for support meetings, pharmacies and more.

Medisafe App

Remembering to take your medications can be difficult, but Medisafe makes medication management easy. Keep track of your prescriptions, set reminders, and connect with providers and family in this easy app. Medisafe takes the stress out of your medications so you can live your life and stay healthy.

Ria Health is an evidence based alcohol treatment. Ria Health helps patients to quickly change their relationship to alcohol with its at-home program. On average, Ria Health members reduce their BAC levels by 75% after 12 months in the program. Ria Health physicians and coaches get patients started, help with every step of the program, and are available for consultation through its mobile app, 24/7.

Roman is comprehensive men’s healthcare made simple. Starting with an online visit, a physician will evaluate your health and prescribe custom solutions for all of your needs including sexual health, hair loss, skin problems, and daily health maintenance.

Rory is a digital health provider offering health solutions to patients. Learn more about them and how they can help you here.

SAMI-Aid offers comprehensive telemedicine solutions for patients. Their services include pediatrics, mental health, dermatology, internal medicine, and primary care. Once you’ve connected with SAMI-Aid, you’ll be put in contact with a doctor in about 15 minutes.

Simple Contacts

Simple Contacts is a digital health provider offering health solutions to patients. Learn more about them and how they can help you here.

Simple Habit

Simple Habit is a meditation platform that was designed by top mediation experts to empower people to live better. The app was rated as the #1 app for your wellness & sleep recommended by top mental health experts. It features more than 2,000 guided meditations for any situation and mood —including before sleep, taking a work break, commuting, and more. Simple Habit completion of mindfulness programs changed grey matter concentration of the brain regions for emotion regulation. 

Conceive Easy

Simplify your fertility journey with ConceiveEasy. This service offers kits designed by doctors for those trying to conceive. The kits include pregnancy tests, ovulation tests, supplements, and customizable options. New customers can try the kit free for 30 days.

Skip the office visit and utilize great virtual care with Teladoc. Simply set up an account and get connected with the medical care you need from your device. Teladoc offers comprehensive telemedicine services in the US and Canada.

SkyMD allows patients to go to an online doctor at their convenience with no doctor's appointment. Patients can consult a dermatologist anytime, anywhere in minutes. SkyMD's board certified dermatologists are treating patients every day across the country, 24 x 7, with many different skin diseases. SkyMD's dermatologists can treat a wide variety of skin, hair and nail conditions.

Smile Direct Club

Smile Direct Club provides clear aligners for up to 60% less than braces. Patients can safely straighten teeth 100% from home in as little as 4-6 months, for as low as $85 per month. Smile Direct Club straightens a patient's teeth gently and gradually with multiple sets of clear, thin, snug-fitting aligners, custom-designed and individually 3D-printed in BPA-free plastic. Smile Direct Club's custom clear aligners are easy to wear, and they straighten patients' teeth much faster than braces.

Smilelove offers affordable and convenient teeth straightening and whitening straight to your home. Straighten your teeth in 6-8 months with Smilelove’s customized kits, backed by orthodontic experts. Smilelove offers video support for customers for every part of their teeth straightening journey to make the process simple.

Sober Grid is a free iOS/Android app that connects patients with other sober people. Patients are instantly connected to a global sober community in their neighborhood and around the globe. Patients can build strong sober support networks and inspire others. Sober Grid now offers affordable 24/7 Certified Peer Coaches to assist individuals in their recovery. Sober Grid's peer coaches are trained and certified to help patients get sober and stay sober.​

Solv Health

Solv helps patients simplify their health insurance. Patients snap a photo of their card and Solv will instantly explain their benefits, track their progress toward their deductible and unlock personalized hidden insurance perks. Patients can say goodbye to confusion and hello to every dollar understood with Solv. Solv has partnered with high-quality providers across the country who share their goal of making access to high-quality convenient care simple, friendly and transparent for patients.

Sondermind helps patients find a licensed therapist who accepts their insurance and is available to see them either in-person or online. Sondermind will match patients with the right licensed therapist for video telehealth or in-person sessions. SonderMind is on a mission to redesign behavioral healthcare to become more accessible, approachable, and utilized. SonderMind is a valued partner with many leading insurance companies.

SteadyMD is about pairing patients with providers that are a fit for them. Get connected with a doctor who can treat you long term and focus on specific medical conditions and lifestyles. SteadyMD is tailored telehealth.

Stop dieting and start living a healthy, fulfilling lifestyle with Noom. Whether you want to get fit or lose weight, Noom uses psychology to help you change your behavior to lead a healthier lifestyle and reach your health goals. Noom makes weight loss easy through mobile-based wellness and one-on-one coaching.

Stride Health

Stride makes it easy to tackle the big, scary things in life like health insurance and taxes. Stride helps patients save time and money so they can get back to working on the stuff that really matters. Stride will find and recommend the perfect plan based on a patient's specific needs, help them get the most out of their health insurance, and help them get their application and payment submitted so they're all ready to go. Stride is available year round and will work directly with a patient's insurance company to resolve any issues, like an unexpected bill or finding an in-network doctor. Stride also sends monthly updates to ensure that everything is in working order.

Take control of your healthcare data with Ciitizen. Ciitizen allows you to compile all of your healthcare documents and data into one platform so you can share them with multiple providers, family members, or for research purposes. What you do with your data is in your control. Ciitizen is currently available to those with a diagnosis or history of breast cancer in the United States.

Talkspace is a digital health provider offering health solutions to patients. Learn more about them and how they can help you here.

Talkspace is a telepsychiatry platform that offers instant, affordable therapy. The platform connects a network of professionally licensed therapists with patients. Patients can have virtual consultations or they opt-in to get long-term treatment. Therapy can be done via your smartphone or the web.

Tempest is a modern, accessible, and empowering path to recovery that’s built around the patient. Through Tempest's online sobriety school and aftercare program, patients will get the education, tools, and community they need to build a life free from alcohol. Tempest makes all of that information easy to digest and gives patients space to see what fits best for them. Tempest offers a membership-based spectrum of care—from community-based learning to intensive, personalized recovery support—so patients can find the solution that works for them.

Tia is a New York-based women’s health clinic that offers video visits, care coordination, mobile health records, prescription management, and same-day appointments. Designed by women for women, Tia is made to cover all of your needs from gynecology to primary care.

Truepill powers telehealth solutions for providers to give patients the best digital experience. Offering platforms, onboarding, pharmacy API, health plans, and more—Truepill is helping to connect providers to their patients through digital healthcare.

USC Med is a telepsychiatry platform that offers an on-demand mental health system. The telemedical approach to mental health makes UCS a leader in mental health. USC Med has prescribing psychiatrists, psychologists, teletherapy, and counsel. The therapy sessions are available online or through the phone.

Uplift helps patients beat depression for good. A study of 80 Uplift users showed that Uplift can cut depression scores in half and keep them there. Patients answer questions, practice mental exercises, and receive feedback and guidance from the program. Patients are able to do sessions on their phone, whenever, wherever, however is best for them.

Tools & Resources

• Patient Tools & Resources
• Preparing for Your Appointment
• MyChart - Access Your Health Information
• Create an Advance Directive
• Cost of Your Care
• Vaccination Resources
• Recommended Health Resources
• Preventive Care Guidelines
• Presbyterian Senior Connection
• Medicare Fee-For-Service Initiatives
• Standard Charges
• Member Tools & Resources
• myPRES Member Portal
• Presbyterian Health Plan Provider Directory
• Prior Authorization
• Health Plan Forms & Documents
• Getting Started as a New Member
• Member ID Card
• Pharmacy Resources
• Call PresRN
• Video Visits - Request A Video Visit
• Paperless e-Delivery
• Wellness & Health Information
• Health Plan Renewal Information
• Access Your 1095-B
• Your Care, Your Choice
• Presbyterian Health Plan Newsletters
• Balance Billing Protections
• Transparency In Coverage

Video Visits

The simple things treated faster..

When you're trying to treat minor ailments quickly, a Video Visit from your Presbyterian plan is the perfect solution. This Video Visit benefit gives you access to a nationwide network of providers, anytime, without an appointment, from the comfort of your own home, office, or other location with mobile data or Wi-Fi access. Video Visits can be accessed anywhere in the United States.

$0 for all members that are not on a qualified high-deductible plan

Use Video Visits from anywhere in the United States

Request a visit on your smartphone, tablet, or computer with a working webcam

Discuss symptoms and treatment plan in real-time with a board-certified medical provider

Receive prescriptions, including short-term medication refills, when clinically appropriate

Video Visits are secure, confidential, and compliant with all medical privacy regulations.

Your browser is out-of-date!

Internet Explorer 11 has been retired by Microsoft as of June 15, 2022. To get the best experience on this website, we recommend using a modern browser, such as Safari, Chrome or Edge.

Get the Most Out of Your Video Visit

12 tips to making your telemedicine appointment a success.

There is no question that telemedicine, also known as virtual care, has expanded and improved patient access to health care.

At Scripps, many health care needs — from wellness visits to follow-up care — can now be met through a video visit with a Scripps provider.

Video visits have been welcomed by many patients, leading doctors to believe that they are here to stay.  Virtual care offerings at Scripps also include E-visits and Symptom Checker .

“Video visits won’t replace every visit, but where it makes sense, especially for care that doesn’t require a physical exam in person, they will continue to be a secure and convenient option for patients,” says David Wetherhold, MD , a Scripps Clinic internal medicine physician and Scripps chief medical information officer for ambulatory care.

Video visits in real time, on your time

Many Scripps primary care providers and specialists offer video visits. They are available by appointment only, which can be done by contacting your physician’s office directly or scheduling online.

Scripps HealthExpress offers video visits for minor illnesses and injuries seven days a week. Video visits with HealthExpress providers can be scheduled online through the MyScripps patient portal or can be conducted “on demand.” 

Setting up is simple

Scripps video visits are conducted through the MyScripps patient portal. You can use any internet-connected device (smartphone, computer or tablet) with a working camera and microphone. You should also take a few minutes to make sure your device has the latest operating system update.

Health tools, such as a blood pressure cuff or thermometer, aren’t required, but they do come in handy, since some conditions can be managed or monitored remotely. 

Scripps is also part of the Apple Health app platform, meaning Apple Watches and other compatible devices can auto-upload data like your blood pressure, pulse and glucose levels to the MyScripps app , where your physician can easily access it.

12 tips for planning your video visit

Whether this is your first time having a medical appointment by video or you’re a veteran, there are steps you can take to make sure your visit goes smoothly. Watch our short video tutorials and read these tips from Dr. Wetherhold:

1. Check Wi-Fi

Call from a quiet place that has good phone and Wi-Fi service. Remember to turn off background noise from the television or radio.

2. Find a private place

Set up in a private area, so you can discuss personal medical information.

3. Prepare your questions

Write down questions you have in advance for your provider before the video visitation.

4. Get good light

Make sure there is plenty of light. Face a window or light if possible. You want to avoid sitting with your back in front of a window or other bright light as this will make it difficult for the provider to see you.

5. Hold your device horizontally

If using a mobile device, orient your phone or tablet horizontally and not vertically.

6. Provide good view of yourself

Your provider wants to see you! Make sure your face and upper body are in the video and not just the top of your head.

7. Consider getting camera help

You may be asked to move the camera to assist in evaluating a problem. Consider if you will want help in holding the camera if you are asked to perform physical exam maneuvers.

8. Test your device

 Log in to your online patient portal and test your device before the visit to troubleshoot any technical issues. Ensure that you are not on mute and that the microphone and camera on your device are enabled. At Scripps, the online patient portal is MyScripps .

9. Check in early

Start your visit check-in process at least 15 minutes prior to the scheduled time.

10. Silence your phone

If you are using your mobile phone, don’t be on a phone call when the visit begins.

11. Tap to hear better

If you can’t hear the audio, tap the screen and then press the microphone button twice.

12. Be ready to take notes

Have pen and paper to write down information.

Schedule a video visit

Call your doctor to see if a Video Visit is right for you. If you are experiencing a life-threatening condition , such as chest pain or a broken bone, always go to the emergency room or call 911.

Related tags:

• Health and Wellness
• Family Medicine
• Coronavirus
• Wellness & Prevention

How-To Guide: Video Visits

Designed to be as sim­ple and con­ve­nient as an in-clin­ic appoint­ment, video vis­its help you con­nect with your providers from the com­fort of your home, office, or car; any­where with a data or Wi-Fi con­nec­tion. Here is a guide to com­plet­ing suc­cess­ful video visits. 

If you have addi­tion­al ques­tions on access­ing your MyChart account or com­plet­ing a video vis­it, our MyChart Help Desk is avail­able Mon­day — Fri­day, 8am — 5pm at 1−855−269−2427.

What you need

MyChart Patient Accounts 

To com­plete a video vis­it, you must have an active MyChart account. If you are new to Duly Health and Care or have not pre­vi­ous­ly acti­vat­ed your MyChart account, request an acti­va­tion code online here or by call­ing the MyChart Help Desk at 1−855−269−2427.

How to sched­ule, pre­pare for and launch a video visit:

In this tuto­r­i­al, we demon­strate how to sched­ule all the way through launch­ing a video vis­it using the MyChart app on a mobile device. 

Get­ting the most from your video visit 

While you can address many com­mon ill­ness­es, pre­scrip­tion refills or even com­plete an annu­al phys­i­cal as you would dur­ing an in-clin­ic appoint­ment, video vis­its are slight­ly dif­fer­ent than in-clin­ic appoint­ments. You will not speak to a nurse or med­ical assis­tant before see­ing your doc­tor as you would in-clin­ic. To get the most out of your face-to-face time with your provider, we rec­om­mend writ­ing down a pri­or­i­tized list of ques­tions or con­cerns that you’d like to dis­cuss. Here are a few thoughts to jot down: 

Annu­al Phys­i­cals or Refills

• Any changes in your health over the last year
• Your diet and exer­cise habits
• Fam­i­ly history
• Med­ica­tions (pre­scrip­tion or over the counter)
• Surg­eries.

Ill­ness­es or New Problems

• Your tem­per­a­ture just before your visit
• Symp­toms you’re experiencing
• How long you’ve had each symptom 
• Med­ica­tions (pre­scrip­tion and over the counter) 

Trou­bleshoot­ing Tips

While a major­i­ty of the time video vis­its are com­plet­ed with­out a hitch, occa­sion­al­ly some issues do pop up. Here are some of the most com­mon issues and tips on troubleshooting. 

Access­ing MyChart

• To com­plete a video vis­it you must have a MyChart account. With­out an account you will not be able to com­plete your video vis­it. Allow for plen­ty of time before your sched­uled vis­it to set up your account and request an acti­va­tion code online here or by call­ing the MyChart Help Desk at 1−855−269−2427.
• If you can­not remem­ber your MyChart account user­name or pass­word, click For­got User­name or For­got Pass­word on the MyChart home­page to receive an email with your user­name or reset your password.
• You can access your MyChart account on your desk­top com­put­er or a mobile brows­er at https://​mychart​.dupagemd​.com or through the MyChart iOS or Android app. We high­ly rec­om­mend log­ging in and con­firm­ing your account details pri­or to sched­ul­ing any video visit. 

MyChart Mobile App

• Apple App Store (iOS)
• Google Play Store (Android)
• To min­i­mize issues, be sure your MyChart app is up to date. Vis­it the App Store or Google Play Store to down­load the lat­est ver­sion of the app.

Pri­or to Your Visit

• Log in to your MyChart account, click on Appoint­ments on the mobile app or select Appoint­ments and Vis­its under Vis­its in the main nav­i­ga­tion to see your upcom­ing appointments. 
• You must com­plete the full eCheck-in process, answer­ing screen­ing ques­tions and con­firm­ing the details of your account before you will be able to begin the video vis­it. You will have access to com­plete eCheck-in sev­er­al days pri­or to your appointment. 
• Be sure to test your cam­era and micro­phone through your MyChart account pri­or to the vis­it to ensure mak­ing the most of your time. 

Start­ing the Visit

• Log in to your MyChart account, click on Appoint­ments on the mobile app or select Appoint­ments and Vis­its under Vis­its in the main nav­i­ga­tion to see your upcom­ing appoint­ments. Select Begin Vis­it on the appoint­ment. Your appoint­ment will open in a new web brows­er on your device.
• If you have com­plet­ed the eCheck-in process and the Begin Vis­it but­ton on the appoint­ment is still not avail­able, please close the app and log in again. 
• You can con­nect to the vis­it 10 min­utes pri­or to the sched­uled appoint­ment time. If you begin the vis­it soon­er, you will receive an error and can con­nect again with­in 10 min­utes of the vis­it time. 
• E‑Visits are a sep­a­rate ser­vice offer­ing from video vis­its. Do not click on Begin E‑Visit at the time of your appointment. 

Audio & Video Quality

• Make sure the vol­ume is turned up on your device and not set to vibrate on a mobile device. 
• Using head­phones with a micro­phone can help improve the sound quality. 
• Make sure all oth­er appli­ca­tions on your device are closed and not using your net­work’s band­width. Avoid stream­ing media (Net­flix, YouTube, etc.) on your Wi-Fi or data net­work at the same time as your video visit. 

This website uses cookies that measure website usage and helps us enhance your browsing experience. By using this website, you consent to the website’s use of these cookies and you accept and agree to our Privacy Policy and Terms of Use . If you do not wish to accept cookies, you can change your browser settings to refuse cookies.

Follow The Good Doctor:

latest in US News

Teens miss prom over lack of tickets after venue changed to...

Boston cops surprise man turning 25 with muffin, sing 'Happy...

23-year-old woman critically injured after she's struck by MTA...

Embattled ABC News President steps down: sources

Ex-Trump prosecutor Nathan Wade doesn't regret Fani Willis...

Proposed law would limit massive rent hike at Billionaire's Row...

Left-leaning outlet mocked for being surprised on who is funding...

Furious riders rip MTA threat to make Five Boro Bike Tour pay for...

Aspiring doctor brain dead after friends pushed him into lake knowing he can’t swim: report.

• View Author Archive
• Email the Author
• Get author RSS feed

Contact The Author

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

Thanks for contacting us. We've received your submission.

An aspiring medical student was left brain dead last month when his friends pushed him into a Louisiana lake knowing he couldn’t swim — and then looked on while doing nothing to save the drowning man, according to a report.

Shocking video shows the group casually peering into the water moments after they shoved Christopher Gilbert off the dock at Lake D’Arbonne in Farmerville on April 14.

At least one woman can be seen slowly entering the water before abandoning the rescue mission.

It was another 10 minutes before a patron at a nearby restaurant intervened and yanked Gilbert back to land — just in the nick of time.

The 26-year-old was brain dead and the rest of his organs were starting to fail by the time he arrived at a local hospital, his mother Yolanda George told KSLA.

He spent 72 hours on a ventilator and an ECMO machine, which George described as “dialysis for the lungs.”

“I was devastated. I felt like my life had ended in that moment. My son is aspiring to be a medical doctor, my son is going to be a medical doctor. He got his masters last year in biological science. He’s preparing for medical school so for this to have happened to him … I was just devastated,” George said.

According to police, his so-called friends initially tried to pass off the near-death as “horse-play.”

They even told the lie to George in the moments after he was rescued: “A friend of his called and she was hysterical crying. She told me that Chris has fell into the lake and he had been underwater for 10 minutes or so,” the mother said.

Eventually, a white female around the same age as Gilbert admitted to pushing him into the lake.

None of the friends, however, admitted to knowing he couldn’t swim — a claim Gilbert’s family finds hard to believe.

Keep up with today's most important news

Stay up on the very latest with Evening Update.

Thanks for signing up!

Please provide a valid email address.

By clicking above you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy .

Never miss a story.

“To add insult to injury, after pushing him, no one from the ‘friend group’ attempted to go in after him. Instead, two brave bystanders, who have no relationship to Chris, heard commotion and retrieved his body from the lake,” personal injury attorney Claudia Payne, representing George, wrote in a report obtained by the Lincoln Parish Journal.

Fortunately, Gilbert has made strides since the ruthless attack.

He is responding cognitively, but cannot speak, according to George. He still relies on life support and his lungs are said to be at 20% capacity.

The family is also demanding that an arrest be made in the tragic incident, with Payne saying the friends displayed criminal intent by pushing him into the lake.

“Why would you push my son in the lake knowing he couldn’t swim?” asked George.

Share this article:

Advertisement

AARP Medicare Advantage from UHC OR-0002 (PPO)

• Monthly premium
• Primary care provider (PCP)
• Out-of-pocket maximum
• Estimated Annual Drug Cost

Discover the Benefits

Dental benefits.

• $500 dental allowance for covered preventive and comprehensive services like cleanings, fillings and crowns

Routine vision benefits

• $0 copay for a routine eye exam and standard prescription lenses, plus $250 allowance for frames or contacts

Renew Active® Fitness Program

• Stay active with a free gym membership through Renew Active®

General Plan Costs

See how much you'll pay for this plan including your premium, deductible and maximum out-of-pocket costs.

Doctor Visits

Find out about this plan’s copays for primary care providers and specialists.

Prescription Drug Benefits

Learn about this plan's prescription drug coverage and costs. Enter your prescriptions to see what they'd cost with this plan.

Dental Coverage

Learn about this plan’s dental coverage options and costs.

Optional Services (Riders)

Platinum dental rider: add $50 to your monthly premium..

• $1,500 per year for covered dental services through the Platinum Dental Rider.
• $0 copay for covered network preventive services such as oral exams, routine cleanings, X-rays and fluoride
• 50% coinsurance for bridges and dentures, $0 copay for all other covered network comprehensive services such as fillings, crowns, root canals and extractions
• You will have access to Medicare Advantage's largest dental network, or you can choose any dentist. Seeing a network dentist may save you money.

Medical Benefit Information

See this plan's benefits, costs and copays. For full plan details, see the Evidence of Coverage or  Summary of Benefits under the Plan Documents section.

Extra Benefits and Programs

See more of the benefits and programs offered by this plan that are not provided under Original Medicare. For full plan details, see the Evidence of Coverage or Summary of Benefits under the Plan Documents section.

Plan Documents

Important documents that provide the details you need about this plan's coverage and benefits, prescription drugs, enrollment, providers and more.

Footnotes & Disclaimers

1 The amount shown does not include the Part B premium you already pay to the government. Your plan costs, including premiums and drug costs, may be different if you get Extra Help from the government or if you have Medicaid. For more information, see " Can I Get Help with my Medicare Prescription Drug Costs?."

2 Amounts may vary depending on the level of care provided or the type of health care services you receive. 

3 Benefits, features and/or devices may vary by plan/area. Limitations and exclusions apply. See the Summary of Benefits (PDF) in the Plan Documents section for details. 

4 Benefits, features and/or devices may vary by plan/area. Limitations and exclusions apply. See the Evidence of Coverage (PDF) in the Plan Documents section for details. 

5 This document is the Annual Notice of Changes for this plan. If you are a current plan member and have been switched to a different plan, this document may not apply to you. If you have any questions, please call Customer Service at the number on your member ID card. 

6 Coverage Gap Stage: 

NOTE: Only applies to plans with prescription drug coverage. 

Amounts displayed do not include taxes or injection fees. 

During the Coverage Gap, amounts displayed for brand name drugs include a 70% manufacturer discount. However, this discount is based on pharmaceutical manufacturers' participation and may not apply to all brand drugs. You pay 25% of the total cost for brand name drugs, for any drug tier during the Coverage Gap. 

The 25% drug coinsurance within the Coverage Gap is based on an assessment that the drug is defined as a generic drug according to Part D rules. 

If your drug is not eligible for coverage under Medicare Part D, you will pay the full cost of the drug. 

7 Optum Home Delivery: 

2024 Savings Benefit

Savings apply during the Initial Coverage period, which begins after the payment of your required deductible (if any) and ends when the total cost of your drugs (paid by UnitedHealthcare, you and others) reaches $5,030. 

Optum Rx is an affiliate of UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company. Optum Home Delivery is a service of Optum Rx pharmacy. You are not required to use Optum Home Delivery to obtain at least a 3-month supply of your maintenance medication. If you have not used Optum Home Delivery, you must approve the first prescription order sent directly from your doctor to Optum Rx before it can be filled. New prescriptions from the pharmacy should arrive within ten business days from the date the completed order is received, and refill orders should arrive in about seven business days. Contact Optum Rx anytime at 1-877-266-4832 (TTY 711). 

$0 copays may be restricted to preferred home delivery prescriptions during the initial coverage phase and may not apply during the coverage or catastrophic stage. Benefits vary by plan/area. Limitations and exclusions apply.  

Disclaimers 

Annual plan statement:  

Benefits, premium and/or copayments/coinsurance may change on January 1 of each year.

PPO plans: 

Out-of-network/non-contracted providers are under no obligation to treat UnitedHealthcare members, except in emergency situations. Please call our customer service number or see your Evidence of Coverage for more information, including the cost-sharing that applies to out-of-network services. 

Coverage determinations and appeals process:

Find important information about Medicare Advantage coverage determinations and appeals, quality assurance policies, grievances, drug conditions and limitations. View Medicare Advantage (Part C) coverage determinations and appeals process. 

Learn about prescription drug coverage determinations and appeals, prior authorization criteria, step therapy criteria and the 60-day formulary change notice. View prescription drug (Part D) coverage determinations and appeals process .  

View the UnitedHealthcare Prescription Drug Transition Process . 

Information for plans with prescription drug coverage:

The list of covered drugs is updated monthly. 

NOTE: Prescription drugs that are not covered by the plan or that cannot be provided as part of standard Medicare prescription drug coverage are shown as "not covered". 

Copay or coinsurance amounts may change if you have a limited income. 

The drug costs displayed are estimates and may vary based on the specific quantity, strength and/or dosage of the medication and the pharmacy you use. It may be important to look beyond your current needs at the value of having Medicare prescription drug insurance. Enrolling when you become eligible will help give you peace of mind, should your drug needs become more significant in the future. It may also help you avoid the Medicare late enrollment penalty. 

Drugs and prices may vary between pharmacies and are subject to change during the plan year. Prices are based on quantity filled at the pharmacy. Quantities may be limited by pharmacy based on their dispensing policy or by the plan based on Quantity Limit requirements; if prescription is in excess of a limit, copay amounts may be higher. 

The formulary, pharmacy network, and/or provider network may change at any time. You will receive notice when necessary. 

All network pharmacies may not be listed in this directory. Inclusion of a pharmacy does not guarantee that the pharmacy is open, is at the same location as listed in this online directory or is included in the network. The pharmacy network may change at any time. You will receive notice when necessary. Pharmacies on this list are called “network pharmacies” because UnitedHealthcare has made arrangements with them to provide prescription drugs to Plan members. In most cases, your prescriptions are covered under your plan only if they are filled at a network pharmacy or through our mail order pharmacy service. You are not required to continue using the same pharmacy to fill your prescriptions and may switch to any other network pharmacy. Prescriptions can be filled at non-network pharmacies under certain circumstances as described in your Evidence of Coverage. To get a complete description of your prescription coverage, including how to fill your prescriptions, please review the Evidence of Coverage and your plan’s formulary. Please contact UnitedHealthcare for details. 

UnitedHealthcare has contracts with pharmacies that equal or exceed CMS requirements for pharmacy access in your area. 

The pharmacy directory is current as of the first Sunday of each month. 

NOTE: If you are receiving Extra Help from Medicare, your copays may be lower or you may have no copays. 

Enrollment disclaimer information:

Plans are insured through UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or one of its affiliated companies, a Medicare Advantage organization with a Medicare contract.  Enrollment in these plans depends on the plan’s contract renewal with Medicare. UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company pays royalty fees to AARP for the use of its intellectual property. These fees are used for the general purposes of AARP. AARP and its affiliates are not insurers. You do not need to be an AARP member to enroll. AARP encourages you to consider your needs when selecting products and does not make specific product recommendations for individuals. UnitedHealthcare contracts directly with Walgreens for this plan; AARP and its affiliates are not parties to that contractual relationship. 

Dental (routine/comprehensive):

Benefits, features and/or devices vary by plan/area. Limitations, exclusions and/or network restrictions may apply. If your plan offers out-of-network dental coverage and you see an out-of-network dentist, you might be billed more. Network size varies by local market. Provider network may vary in local market. Dental network size based on Zelis Network360, May 2023. 

Benefits, features, and/or devices vary by plan/area. Limitations, exclusions and/or network restrictions may apply. Other hearing exam providers are available in the UnitedHealthcare network. The plan only covers hearing aids from a UnitedHealthcare Hearing network provider. Provider network size may vary by local market. 

Provider network may vary in local market. Provider network size based on Zelis Network360, May 2023.

Over-the-Counter (OTC): 

Benefits, features and/or devices vary by plan/area. Limitations, exclusions and/or network restrictions may apply. Food/OTC/Utilities benefits have expiration timeframes. Call your plan or review your Evidence of Coverage (EOC) for more information.

Benefits, features and/or devices vary by plan/area. Limitations, exclusions and/or network restrictions may apply. You must have a working landline and/or cellular phone coverage to use PERS.

Renew Active:

The Renew Active® Program varies by plan/area and may not be available on all plans. Participation in the Renew Active® program is voluntary. Consult your doctor prior to beginning an exercise program or making changes to your lifestyle or health care routine. Renew Active includes standard fitness membership and other offerings. 

Fitness membership equipment, classes, personalized fitness plans, caregiver access and events may vary by location. Certain services, discounts, classes, events and online fitness offerings are provided by affiliates of UnitedHealthcare Insurance Company or other third parties not affiliated with UnitedHealthcare. Participation in these third-party services are subject to your acceptance of their respective terms and policies. UnitedHealthcare is not responsible for the services or information provided by third parties. The information provided through these services is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for the advice of a doctor. 

Gym network may vary in local market and plan. Gym network size is based on comparison of competitor’s website data as of May 2023.

Transportation:

Benefits, features and/or devices vary by plan/area. Limitations, exclusions and/or network restrictions may apply. Routine transportation not for use in emergencies.

Benefits, features and/or devices vary by plan/area. Limitations, exclusions and/or network restrictions may apply. Additional charges may apply for out-of-network items and services. Provider and retail network may vary in local market. Vision retail locations include retailer websites. Annual routine eye exam and $100-$400 allowance for contacts or designer frames, with standard (single, bi-focal, tri-focal or standard progressive) lenses covered in full either annually or every two years. Savings based on comparison to retail. Other vision providers are available in our network. 

This information is not a complete description of benefits. Call us  for more information.

This information is available for free in other languages. Please contact  Customer Service for additional information. 

Esta información está disponible sin costo en otros idiomas. Para obtener más información comuníquese con nuestro Servicio al Cliente. 

本資訊可以其他語言免費提供。如需更多資訊，請 聯絡 客戶服務部。 

We're here to help

Get one-on-one help from UnitedHealthcare.

Session Timeout

Your session is about to expire. You will automatically go back to the home page in

Learn about the Medicare Advantage plans, Medicare Supplement Insurance plans.

To continue your current session, click "Stay on this page" below.

News | Senior living: Medicare’s push to improve…

Share this:.

• Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
• Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)
• Click to print (Opens in new window)
• Investigative Reporting
• Environment

News | Senior living: Medicare’s push to improve chronic care attracts businesses, but not many doctors

Carrie Lester looks forward to the phone call every Thursday from her doctors’ medical assistant, who asks how she’s doing and if she needs prescription refills. The assistant counsels her on dealing with anxiety and her other health issues.

Lester credits the chats for keeping her out of the hospital and reducing the need for clinic visits to manage chronic conditions, including depression, fibromyalgia and hypertension.

“Just knowing someone is going to check on me is comforting,” said Lester, 73, who lives with her dogs, Sophie and Dolly, in Independence, Kansas.

At least two-thirds of Medicare enrollees have two or more chronic health conditions, federal data shows. That makes them eligible for a federal program that, since 2015, has rewarded doctors for doing more to manage their health outside of office visits.

But while early research found the service, called Chronic Care Management, reduced emergency room and in-patient hospital visits and lowered total health spending, uptake has been sluggish.

Federal data from 2019 shows just 4% of potentially eligible enrollees participated in the program, a figure that appears to have held steady through 2023, according to a Mathematica analysis. About 12,000 physicians billed Medicare under the CCM mantle in 2021, according to the latest Medicare data analyzed by KFF Health News. (The Medicare data includes doctors who have annually billed CCM at least a dozen times.)

By comparison, federal data shows about 1 million providers participate in Medicare.

Even as the strategy has largely failed to live up to its potential, thousands of physicians have boosted their annual pay by participating, and auxiliary for-profit businesses have sprung up to help doctors take advantage of the program. The federal data showed about 4,500 physicians received at least $100,000 each in CCM pay in 2021.

Through the CCM program, Medicare pays to develop a patient care plan, coordinate treatment with specialists and regularly check in with beneficiaries. Medicare pays doctors a monthly average of $62 per patient, for 20 minutes of work with each, according to companies in the business.

Without the program, providers often have little incentive to spend time coordinating care because they can’t bill Medicare for such services.

Health policy experts say a host of factors limit participation in the program. Chief among them is that it requires both doctors and patients to opt in. Doctors may not have the capacity to regularly monitor patients outside office visits. Some also worry about meeting the strict Medicare documentation requirements for reimbursement and are reluctant to ask patients to join a program that may require a monthly copayment if they don’t have a supplemental policy.

“This program had potential to have a big impact,” said Kenneth Thorpe, an Emory University health policy expert on chronic diseases. “But I knew it was never going to work from the start because it was put together wrong.”

He said most doctors’ offices are not set up for monitoring patients at home. “This is very time-intensive and not something physicians are used to doing or have time to do,” Thorpe said.

For patients, the CCM program is intended to expand the type of care offered in traditional, fee-for-service Medicare to match benefits that — at least in theory — they may get through Medicare Advantage, which is administered by private insurers.

But the CCM program is open to both Medicare and Medicare Advantage beneficiaries.

The program was also intended to boost pay to primary care doctors and other physicians who are paid significantly less by Medicare than specialists, said Mark Miller, a former executive director of the Medicare Payment Advisory Commission, which advises Congress. He’s currently an executive vice president of Arnold Ventures, a philanthropic organization focused on health policy. (The organization has also provided funding for KFF Health News.)

Despite the allure of extra money, some physicians have been put off by the program’s upfront costs.

“It may seem like easy money for a physician practice, but it is not,” said Namirah Jamshed, a physician at UT Southwestern Medical Center in Dallas.

The CCM program was cumbersome to implement, Jamshed said, because her practice was not used to documenting time spent with patients outside the office, a challenge that included finding a way to integrate the data into electronic health records. Another challenge was hiring staff to handle patient calls before her practice started getting reimbursed by the program.

Only about 10% of the practice’s Medicare patients are enrolled in CCM, she said.

Jamshed said her practice has been approached by private companies looking to do the work, but the practice demurred out of concerns about sharing patients’ health information and the cost of retaining the companies. Those companies can take more than half of what Medicare pays doctors for their CCM work.

Physician Jennifer Bacani McKenney, who runs a family medicine practice with her father in Fredonia, Kansas — where Carrie Lester is a patient — said the CCM program has worked well.

She said having a system to keep in touch with patients at least once a month has reduced their use of emergency rooms — including for some who were prone to visits for nonemergency reasons, such as running out of medication or even feeling lonely. The CCM funding enables the practice’s medical assistant to call patients regularly to check in, something it could not afford before.

For a small practice, McKenney said, having a staffer who can generate extra revenue makes a big difference.

While she estimates about 90% of their patients would qualify for the program, only about 20% are enrolled. One reason is that not everyone needs or wants the calls, she said.

While the program has captured interest among internists and family medicine doctors, it has also paid out hundreds of thousands of dollars to specialists, such as those in cardiology, urology and gastroenterology, the KFF Health News analysis found. Primary care doctors are often seen as the ones who coordinate patient care, making the payments to specialists notable.

A federally funded study by Mathematica in 2017 found the CCM program saves Medicare $74 per patient per month, or $888 per patient per year — due mostly to a decreased need for hospital care.

The study quoted providers who were unhappy with attempts to outsource CCM work.

“Third-party companies out there turn this into a racket,” the study cited one physician as saying, noting companies employ nurses who don’t know patients.

Nancy McCall, a Mathematica researcher who co-authored the 2017 study, said doctors are not the only resistance point.

“Patients may not want to be bothered or asked if they are exercising or losing weight or watching their salt intake,” she said.

Still, some physician groups say it’s convenient to outsource the program.

UnityPoint Health, a large integrated health system based in Iowa, tried doing chronic care management on its own, but found it administratively burdensome, said Dawn Welling, the UnityPoint Clinic’s chief nursing officer.

For the past year, it has contracted with a Miami company, HealthSnap, to enroll patients, have its nurses make check-in calls each month, and help with billing. HealthSnap helps manage care for more than 16,000 of UnityHealth’s Medicare patients — a small fraction of its Medicare patients, which includes those enrolled in Medicare Advantage.

Some doctors were anxious about sharing patient records and viewed the program as a sign they weren’t doing enough for patients, Welling said. But, she said, the program has been helpful, particularly to many enrollees who are isolated and need help changing their diet and other behaviors to improve health.

“These are patients who call the clinic regularly and have needs, but not always clinical needs,” Welling said.

Samson Magid, CEO of HealthSnap, said more doctors have started participating in the CCM program since Medicare increased pay in 2022 for 20 minutes of work, to $62 from $41, and added billing codes for additional time.

To help ensure patients pick up the phone, caller ID shows HealthSnap calls as coming from their doctor’s office, not from wherever the company’s nurse might be located. The company also hires nurses from different regions so they may speak with dialects similar to those of the patients they work with, Magid said.

He said some enrollees have been in the program for three years and many could stay enrolled for life — which means they can bill patients and Medicare long-term.

KFF Health News is a national newsroom that produces in-depth journalism about health issues and is one of the core operating programs at KFF—an independent source of health policy research, polling, and journalism. 

• Newsroom Guidelines
• Report an Error

More in News

News | BeachLife music festival cut short amid high winds

News | BeachLife fans discover new, local music

Crime and Public Safety | Stolen French bulldog ‘Diego’ reunited with Altadena family

Crime and Public Safety | 2 bodies found in human-dug ‘cave’ in Northridge