The Empire Plan is a unique health insurance plan designed especially for public employees in New York State. Empire Plan benefits include inpatient and outpatient hospital coverage, medical/surgical coverage, Centers of Excellence for transplants, infertility and cancer, home care services, equipment and supplies, mental health and substance abuse coverage and prescription drug coverage.
GOVERNOR
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL SERVICE
ALBANY, NEW YORK 12239
www.cs.ny.gov
COMMISSIONER
DANIEL E. WALL
EXECUTIVE
DEPUTY COMISSIONER
PA98-14
TO: Participating Agency Health Benefits Administrators
FROM: Employee Benefits Division
SUBJECT: Empire Plan Participating Provider Network Expansion For Enrollees in Connecticut, Florida and New Jersey, Program Information and New Directories
DATE: December 7, 1998
Beginning January 1, 1999 the network of participating providers serving the Empire Plan in Connecticut, Florida and New Jersey is expanding from approximately 3,000 participating providers to over 22,000. The network will include the UnitedHealthcare Options Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) network.
You will soon receive one new Empire Plan Participating Provider Directory for Connecticut, one for New Jersey and two for Florida We are also sending every enrollee on EMS, residing in Connecticut, Florida and New Jersey, one directory for their state in December. It should be noted that the expanded network is available to all Empire Plan enrollees seeking provider services in Connecticut, Florida or New Jersey and is not limited to enrollees living In these states.
As always, it is the enrollee's responsibility to confirm that a provider participates before the enrollee receives services. The expanded network in Connecticut, Florida and New Jersey is new, and some providers may not use the name "Empire Plan." Also, there is a possibility that an Empire Plan provider may not choose to participate in the new network. When an enrollee uses a provider in Connecticut, Florida or New Jersey the enrollee should ask if the provider is in UnitedHealthcare's Options PPO network and tell the provider they are covered by the Empire Plan. The Empire Plan Participating Provider Directory can be found on the New York State Department of Civil Service Web site at http://www.cs.state.ny.us. Questions about providers are to be directed to UnitedHealthcare at 1-800-942-4640.
Empire Plan benefits have not changed. To receive network benefits for home care, the enrollee must still call HCAP at 1-800-638-9918. For mental health or substance abuse they still must call Value Options at 1-800-446-3995. Chiropractic treatment and physical therapy, they call MPMP at 1-800-942-4640 and to find a participating laboratory they call the lab or UHC at 1-800-942-4640. The expanded network helps ensure Empire Plan enrollees and their families easy access to participating providers in Connecticut, Florida and New Jersey.
If you need additional directories, please use the Order Form on the back of this memo and FAX to EBD Communications. We will send the additional directories within 7-10 days.