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Urgent care centers and retail health clinics are alternatives to the ER when physicians are unavailable

May 30, 2014

We would like to remind you of the urgent care benefit available for most AmeriHealth Pennsylvania members. This benefit allows AmeriHealth Pennsylvania members to receive services for urgent medical issues that do not require the advanced medical services of the emergency room/department (ER) when their physician is unavailable. Generally, urgent care is categorized as medically necessary treatment for a sudden illness or accidental injury that requires prompt medical attention, but is not life-threatening and is not an emergency medical condition, when a member?s primary physician is unavailable.

Eligible AmeriHealth Pennsylvania members can receive urgent care in the following places:

  • Urgent care centers. Urgent care centers are staffed by board-certified physicians who can provide medically necessary treatment for a sudden illness or injury that is not life-threatening.
  • Retail health clinics. Retail health clinics are staffed by certified registered nurse practitioners trained to diagnose, treat, and write prescriptions (when clinically appropriate) for common illnesses and medical conditions. Local supervising physicians are on call during clinic hours of operation to provide guidance and direction when necessary.

Approved urgent care centers and retail health clinics can be found on our Retail Heal Clinics page. These approved providers may treat members without a referral or authorization.

You may want to print out a list of the approved urgent care centers and retail health clinics in your area to keep on hand and share with the staff who handle after-hours calls. This list may be instrumental in cases when a member requires urgent medical attention, but your office is closed and ER care is not necessary.

Note: Not all members are eligible for the urgent care benefit. As always, continue to check the NaviNet® web portal for member eligibility and cost-sharing amounts.

If you have any questions about the urgent care or retail health clinic network, please call Customer Service at 1-800-275-2583.

NaviNet® is a registered trademark of NaviNet, Inc.


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