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
PA01-20
TO: Participating Agency Health Benefits Administrators
FROM: Employee Benefits Division
SUBJECT: Empire Plan Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) Program
DATE: November 2, 2001
The CAM Program
Effective October 1, 2001, the Empire Plan offers the Complementary and Alternative Mecicine (CAM) Program to Empire Plan enrollees in New York State. Empire Plan enrollees receive a 25 percent discount from the normal fee for services from CAM network massage therapists, acupuncturists, dieticians and nutritionists. The enrollee pays the provider directly. There is no reimbursement due from the Empire Plan and the services are not covered expenses under the Empire Plan. The program is available only in New York State.
CAM Poster
We will soon send you a supply, equal to 5 percent of your Empire Plan enrollment, of 8.5" x 11" posters announcing the CAM Program. Please display the posters throughout your agency until January 11, 2002. The poster will not be available for order.
CAM Flyer
We will also send you a supply, equal to 5 percent of your Empire Plan enrollment, of a four-page CAM flyer for interested enrollees. The flyer explains the Complementary and Alternative Medicine Program and offers a form for nominating a provider for this new program. You may give the flyer to new hires or interested employees. You may also use the flyers as handouts for health fairs. The CAM flyer is also available on this Web site, and on NYS OnLine (www.cs.state.ny.us. Click on Employee Benefits).
Ordering Publications
You may order additional copies of the CAM flyer by using the Publications Supply Order Form enclosed with this memo. Look for CAM/Oct 01. Or, instead of faxing the form, you may order from PA-MARKET. Open Publications and Forms, then open NYSHIP Publication Order Forms. Select your group, then "Order Online" or "Print or View Form" and follow instructions. If you need help accessing PA-MARKET, please ask the Help Desk or your processor.
If you are unsure of how to order publications or have questions about this distribution, please call the Communications Unit at 518-457-7577.