2005

ALERT!  CULINARY PATIENTS AT RAINBOW MEDICAL CENTERS

Effective November 16, 2005, the Rainbow Medical Centers have chosen to leave the Culinary PPO network.

The Culinary Health Fund can help you find a new doctor.  If you or your family members were a patient at a Rainbow Medical Center, you should have received a letter in the mail.

If you have questions, or would like a list of doctors accepting new patients, please call our Customer Service office at 733-9938.

You can also click here to "Find a Provider".

If you have a specific medical issue, or need help making an appointment with a new doctor right away, contact our Customer Service office at 733-9938, and ask for help from the Fund Rainbow Transition Team.

Getting your Medical Records: 

• Rainbow will give you a copy of your medical records, at no charge, if you request one.  They require that the patient request records in person, with ID.  You will need to complete a medical record release form listing your new doctor.

• You can take your records to your new appointment to save you time getting established with your new doctor.

• The request for your medical record cannot come from your new doctor.

• There will be no charge to get a copy of your medical record.

November is Dental Open Enrollment!

This is your once a year chance to change dental plans.  You should have received in the mail your dental open enrollment packet.

 If you are changing dental plans, make sure that you return to us your dental enrollment form before the end of November.  If you miss this deadline, you will have another chance to change dental plan in 2006 in addition to this open enrollment.

Important Announcement!  NovaCare Outpatient Rehab closing its doors.

Effective June 30, 2005, NovaCare Outpatient Rehab is closing its physical therapy practice.  Click here for an updated list of our PPO Therapy Providers.  If you are a current patient of any NovaCare Outpatient Rehab location, you should have received a separate letter to assist you with the transition. 

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.  If you have any questions, please contact our Customer Service office at 733-9938 for assistance.

New Self-Pay Rate, effective June 1, 2005
The new contribution rate for Health benefits is increasing 10 cents per hour this year. The rate increases from $3.18 to $3.28 per hour for hours starting in June, 2005. The self-pay notices mailed to you in August are for May/June work months, and will include the old rate of $3.18 for May hours, and the new rate of $3.28 for June hours you are short. The self-pay rate is reviewed each year, and matches the rate paid by your employer.

ALERT!  CULINARY PATIENTS AT HARMON MEDICAL CENTER

 Effective May 1, 2005, Harmon Medical is closing its Primary Care practice, and will only be providing Urgent Care and Workers’ Compensation services to the community.  Effective June 15, 2005 Harmon Medical Center will no longer be a PPO provider for the Culinary Health Fund.

Between May 1 and June 15, Harmon Medical Center will only provide urgent care services to their Culinary patients.  We do not want Harmon to leave, but unfortunately, they have chosen not to stay in the Culinary network.  After June 15, any care you receive from any doctor at Harmon Medical Center will be paid at non-PPO benefit.  This could cost you a lot more money.

After June 15, there are no other 24-hour PPO facilities in the network.  If you are able to choose where you go for non-emergency care, use an urgent care or after hours facilities instead of the emergency room.  You will have less out-of –pocket costs.  Click here for a list of after hour clinics and urgent care facilities.  If you are losing your doctor, we would like to help you find a new Culinary PPO doctor.  Click here for a list of General/Family Practice doctors. 

If you have specific medical issues, have difficulty finding a new doctor, or other health care needs, please contact our Patient Transition team at (702) 691-5640. 

 Getting your Medical Records: 

·          You will need to complete a medical records release form from your new doctor.

·          Your new doctor will need to submit this release form to Harmon Medical Center.

·          Harmon Medical Center will then forward your medical records to your new doctor.

·          Note:  There is no charge for the transfer of your medical records if your new doctor request the records from Harmon Medical Center. 

We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.  If you have any questions, please contact our Customer Service office Monday – Friday 8am-6pm at (702) 733-9938.

Free Glucometers to patients with Diabetes

If you are a diabetic participant, we would like you to take advantage of our improved glucometer benefit.  The Fund is providing new, reliable and easy-to-use monitors free of charge to you.  We are sending letters to our diabetic participants to explain the program.  Once you get our mailing, you can call and order over the phone and a new glucometer will be delivered directly to your home.

If you need additional help or have any questions, please call Sav-Rx at 1-800-228-3108.

We also want to hear from our diabetic patients and families about what diabetic support you need most.  Please complete and return the short survey in the letter you get, or click here to download it. 

REMINDER!  LabCorp is the ONLY contracted Culinary Provider for laboratory services.

Click here to see the list of LabCorp locations and hours.  Keep checking here for new locations and hours.  A list of all LabCorp locations will be available in our Customer Service office and the Union.

If you go to Quest and have any issues or questions, please contact our Customer Service office as soon as possible at 733-9938.

ALERT!  If you need lab work read this

Starting in January, LabCorp will be the ONLY contracted Culinary Provider for laboratory services.

Culinary patients using other labs such as Quest for labwork will have to pay for services. 

LabCorp is the only lab provider you should use for your lab tests.  LabCorp now has six lab service centers in Las Vegas, and is adding several more in the next few months.  LabCorp and the Culinary Health Fund are working together with your doctors to get your lab work orders moved to a LabCorp service location.

Click here to see the list of LabCorp locations and hours.  Keep checking here for new locations and hours in the next few months.  A list of all LabCorp locations will be available in our Customer Service office and the Union.

If you go to Quest and have any issues or questions, please contact our Customer Service office as soon as possible at 733-9938.

Oxycontin Benefit Changes

Oxycontin now needs authorization and starting January 1, oxycontin will only be covered by the Culinary Health Fund if it is prescribed by a PPO doctor. 

Prescriptions for oxycontin after January 1 from a Non-PPO doctor will not be covered by the Fund for patients that are not cancer patients.

If you are receiving Oxycontin from a Non-PPO doctor, and need help finding a PPO doctor, contact us at 733-9938.  You may also get a call from our nurse offering to help you with your pain management needs. 

Hospital Contracts Update!

Difficult hospital contract negotiations are making progress…

NEW contract agreements have been reached with ALL Las Vegas hospitals except St. Rose

Your Culinary Benefits remain the same, and you will only be responsible for your usual copays at these hospitals.

• If you need care, use a hospital other than St. Rose.

• If you had care cancelled or postponed by your doctor, have it rescheduled somewhere other than St. Rose.

• Negotiations continue with St. Rose, and we have a contract extension until next week.

• If you have questions or problems with your care, contact the Fund Customer Service Office at 733-9938.

Alert!  Very high price increase demands by hospitals

Hospitals are demanding huge increases in their rates.  These increases would impact your health benefits.  The Culinary Health Fund and the Health Services Coalition continue to negotiate new hospital contracts.  However, several hospitals and surgery centers may leave the Culinary hospital network on February 8^th.

If you are now a patient in a hospital:

• If you are already hospitalized when the contract terminates at midnight Monday night (2/7/05) you will be covered as before.

For emergency room visits:

• Try to avoid going to the emergency room, only use it for true emergencies. 

• For non-emergency care, use an urgent care or after hours clinic.  You will have less out-of-pocket costs.

• If you are transported to the emergency room by ambulance, you may not have a choice of where to go.  If you do, ask to be transported to North Vista or UMC hospital.

Hospital contracts in negotiations

The Culinary Health Fund hospital contracts are due to expire soon, and are now being negotiated by the Health Services Coalition (HSC).  We support their effort to stop huge increases in costs, while offering our participants a choice of many quality hospitals.  We are committed to stop huge increases in hospital costs from happening.  The Fund is working hard to protect you and your family.  We will keep you updated on the status of the negotiations.