November is National Veterans and Military Families Month

/in

USFHP Alliance members recognize the important roles that military families play in supporting the readiness of our Armed Forces. As we face the continued challenges of this on-going pandemic, the Designated Providers stand ready to ensure access to quality health care for our military families and retirees. This month we recognize our military families and retirees for the contributions they make to support our service members and our country.

US Family Health Plan Alliance Thanks Our Nation’s Veterans

/in

This Veteran’s Day, we extend our gratitude to the nation’s veterans who have bravely and honorably served our country. Thank you for your service and your many sacrifices.

The Designated Provider organizations of the US Family Health Plan Alliance are honored to provide high-quality health care to veterans and their families and the families of active duty service members. During this especially challenging year, and every year, we take very seriously the privilege of providing health care to our veterans and their families

 

USFHP Alliance Recognizes Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day

/in

On this year’s Gold Star Mother’s and Family’s Day, the Uniformed Service Family Health Plan Alliance recognizes the tremendous sacrifices these families made on behalf of our country. Today we honor these families.

The USFHP Alliance and its six designated providers are privileged to serve the family members of America’s finest.

Prescription Costs for TRICARE Beneficiaries to Increase January 1

/in

The cost of prescription drugs for TRICARE beneficiaries will increase on January 1, 2020.

Effective Jan. 1, 2020, a 90-day supply of generic drugs received through TRICARE’s Express Scripts mail-order pharmacy will increase from $7 to $10. Co-pays on brand-name drugs received through the mail will go from $24 to $29; the price rises from $53 to $60 for non-formulary drugs.

Generic drug prescriptions filled at retail pharmacies will see the cost rise from $11 to $13 for a 30-day supply, while the same supply of brand-name medications will increase from $28 to $33. Non-formulary drugs — those not on Tricare’s list of approved and covered medications — will go up from $53 to $60.

Prescriptions filled on base will continue to be free.

The price increases were mandated by Congress as part of the National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 in an effort to bring the amount TRICARE beneficiaries pay into line with the actual costs of prescription drugs. Because the US Family Health Plan is a TRICARE Prime program, the prescription drug price increases mandated by Congress will apply to US Family Health Plan beneficiaries.  Annual increases are planned through 2027.

DHA Announces TRICARE Open Season and Federal Benefits Open Season

/in

The Defense Health Agency announced the two open seasons for military beneficiaries:  TRICARE Open Season and Federal Benefits Open Season.

TRICARE Open Season applies to anyone enrolled in or eligible for TRICARE Prime (including the US Family Health Plan) or TRICARE Select.  Federal Benefits Open Season is for enrollment in the Federal Employees Dental and Vision Insurance Program (FEDVIP).  Both the TRICARE and FEDVIP open seasons begin on Nov. 11 and end on Dec. 9. Enrollment choices made during this period will take effect on Jan. 1, 2020.

If you are now enrolled in US Family Health Plan, you will be automatically re-enrolled in the Plan for the coming year.  This means you don’t need to do anything during Open Season.  However, if you want to change your TRICARE coverage for 2020, you must make this change during Open Season.

To get ready for open season, you can use tools on the TRICARE website, like the TRICARE Plan Finder and TRICARE Compare Cost Tool.  These resources help you see which plans you’re eligible for and help you to compare plans and costs.  On the FEDVIP enrollment website, you can enroll in or make changes to your FEDVIP plan.  The website also provides tools to help you find the right dental and/or vision plans for you and your family.

Read more

US Family Health Plans Again Rated Among Nation’s Top Private Health Insurance Plans

/in ,

The independent National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA) has again rated two member organizations in the US Family Health Plan Alliance among the top private health insurance plans in the country.

Johns Hopkins US Family Health (MD, DE, DC, and parts of PA, Northern VA and WV) and Martin’s Point US Family Health Plan (ME, NH, NY, PA, VT) were among 46 private health plans in the country that received 4.5 out of 5 ratings in the NCQA’s Private Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2018–2019. Read more

TRICARE Enrollment Changes for 2018

/in

On January 1, 2018, many changes were made to the TRICARE program.  Importantly, TRICARE continues to offer several different health plans, and plan availability still depends on who you are and where you live. Two of the key changes concern TRICARE plan options and new enrollment requirements.

Read more

US Family Health Plans Again Earn Top National Ratings for Private Health Insurance

/in ,

The US Family Health Plan once again has two of the highest-rated private health insurance plans in the country, according to the independent National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

In NCQA’s Private Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2017–2018, NCQA gave a 5 out of 5 rating to the Johns Hopkins US Family Health Plan and a 4.5 out of 5 rating to Martin’s Point US Family Health Plan (ME) – two of the US Family Health Plan’s six regional health plans – demonstrating a continued commitment to excellence in health care.

“The latest NCQA ratings affirm that the US Family Health Plan is keeping our members satisfied by providing them with high quality health care for improved care outcomes,” said Jim Schweiter, US Family Health Plan Alliance CEO.

The NCQA report rates private, Medicare, and Medicaid health insurance plans on a 5-point scale for customer satisfaction, prevention and treatment. The ratings are based on clinical quality, member satisfaction and NCQA Accreditation Survey results to emphasize care outcomes and what patients say about their care. Both Martin’s Point and Johns Hopkins are NCQA-accredited.

Johns Hopkins, the top-rated private health insurance plan in Maryland, is just one of five private plans in the country to earn a 5 out of 5 rating out of the more than 1,000 plans rated in the report. The plan also received an NCQA Health Plan Accreditation of Excellent, scoring 94.26 out of a possible 100.

“To be among the highest-rated plans in the country is an honor, as well as a motivator,” said Mary Cooke, vice president of Johns Hopkins US Family Health Plan. “Everything that we do is in pursuit of serving our military families and retirees with the highest quality of care possible. The NCQA rating will make us work even harder to maintain our standards and hopefully reach new levels of quality.”

The Martin’s Point US Family Health Plan – based in Portland, Maine – is the top-rated private plan in the state and one of only 42 plans nationwide to earn a 4.5 out of 5 rating.

“We are excited and honored to receive a 4.5 out of 5 rating from NCQA. Our aim is to provide the highest quality care and service, and this rating validates all of our efforts to keep our members satisfied and well cared for,” said David Howes, M.D., president and CEO of Martin’s Point Health Care.

The US Family Health Plan has been labeled as a model for exemplary patient satisfaction nationwide by the annual Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) survey, which gave the plan a 91.5 aggregate member satisfaction rating in 2017. CAHPS scores are incorporated into the NCQA rating system.

“Our top priority continues to be the health and satisfaction of our members, as it has been for more than 30 years. We are proud of the care we deliver as part of the Military Health System and remain a committed partner to them in their mission,” Schweiter said.

Hurricane Harvey: Important Information for USFHP Members in Louisiana and Texas

/in

The situation related to Hurricane Harvey in our US Family Health Plan Texas and Louisiana service areas continues to evolve, and we remain mindful of the needs of our members.

A brief update of the status of CHRISTUS facilities in Southeast Texas and Louisiana is below:

Southwestern Louisiana Update
The remediation trailer, which arrives with an array of tools and resources to clean up and address damage or leaks, has arrived in Lake Charles.

Southeast Texas Update

  • Our health care ministry in CHRISTUS Southeast Texas continues to work hard to serve the community during this difficult storm. However, due to further deterioration of weather conditions in the area, the following changes were announced today:
  • All patients whose elective procedures and cases for CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth and St. Mary Hospitals, including the St. Elizabeth outpatient pavilion, have been affected will be contacted and rescheduled as appropriate.
    Elective procedures and surgeries are planned to continue at Jasper Memorial Hospital.
  • The CHRISTUS St. Elizabeth outpatient pavilion is planned to reopen on Thurs., Aug. 31 for normal business hours.
  • CHRISTUS Southeast Texas Outpatient Center Mid County Emergency Services and supporting services to the Emergency Department will remain open. All other services are planned to reopen on Thurs., Aug. 31 for normal business hours.
  • CHRISTUS Orthopedic Specialty Center/Beaumont Bone & Joint has been restored to full city power, but due to the deterioration in the weather, they have canceled clinic, surgeries and rehab throughout the week. They will assess capabilities as conditions dictate.
  • At a time when several emergency centers throughout the region have closed, all four CHRISTUS facility Emergency departments and life-saving Trauma Services will remain open 24/7 and available for the community.
  • A discharge lounge is being set up at St. Elizabeth Hospital to accommodate patients who may be fully discharged but cannot get to a safe location. Essential staff will be required to be available for Emergency, Trauma and existing patients housed in our facilities, to ensure the safety and care they may need throughout the storm. Essential staff who believe they cannot get back to the facility will be housed in the facility. All non-essential CHRISTUS SETX staff were to be released at 1 p.m. today.

Our facilities and clinics will work feverishly to resume business as usual operations as soon as it is reasonably safe.

All CHRISTUS Health plan operations have been open without disruption from the storm.

US Family Health Plans Earn Top National Ratings among Private Health Insurance Plans

/in

Consistently rated one of the best care programs in customer satisfaction, the US Family Health Plan now boasts two of the highest-rated health insurance plans in the country, according to the independent National Committee for Quality Assurance (NCQA).

In NCQA’s Private Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2016–2017, NCQA gave 5 out of 5 ratings to both Martin’s Point US Family Health Plan (ME) and the Johns Hopkins US Family Health Plan – two of the US Family Health Plan’s six regional health plans.

“Our goal is to provide high quality health care to our members and to keep them extremely satisfied,” said Jim Schweiter, US Family Health Plan Alliance CEO. “The latest NCQA ratings prove that the US Family Health Plan program delivers the results our military family and retiree members deserve.”

The NCQA report rates private, Medicare, and Medicaid health insurance plans on a 5-point scale for customer satisfaction, prevention and treatment. It also considers NCQA Accreditation standards scores. Both Martin’s Point and Johns Hopkins are NCQA-accredited and were among just 13 private plans in the country that earned a 5 out of 5 rating, out of the more than 1,000 plans rated in the report. Both plans improved on their 4.5 out of 5 ratings from last year’s Private Health Insurance Plan Ratings.

The Martin’s Point US Family Health Plan, based in Portland, Maine, is the top-rated private plan in the state.

“The NCQA ratings demonstrate the effectiveness of the US Family Health Plan’s model in managing care, achieving better health outcomes and delivering top-rated care to our members. We are proud of this recognition and proud to serve the military community,” said Dr. David Howes, President and CEO of Martin’s Point HealthCare.

The Johns Hopkins US Family Health Plan is one of two private plans based in Maryland that received an overall rating of 5 out of 5.

“We are honored to earn the NCQA’s five of five rating in service to our members. We learn so much from the military families and retirees we serve, and we pledge to continue to deliver the exceptional care that led to the NCQA rating,” said Mary Cooke, vice president of the Johns Hopkins US Family Health Plan.

The US Family Health Plan has been labeled as a model for exemplary patient satisfaction nationwide by the annual Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS®) survey, which gave the plan a 91.5 aggregate member satisfaction rating in 2015 – more than 25 points higher on a 100-point scale than the national average for commercial health plans. CAHPS scores are incorporated into the NCQA rating system.

“The health and satisfaction of our members has been our top priority in delivering care to beneficiaries of the Military Health System for more than 30 years, and we look forward to continuing to provide high quality care in the years ahead,” Schweiter said.