Molinalogo

07/14/2016

Molina to offer 24/7 health care via telephone or video at no cost to its Apple Health members statewide.

Molina Healthcare today announced that it has opened a new virtual clinic for Molina Apple Health (Medicaid) members. Molina will cover 100 percent of the cost of virtual care services for 100 percent of its Medicaid members across the state.

Whether at home or on-the-go, Molina’s Apple Health members will have access to high-quality health care 24/7 from an experienced team of Washington-based licensed physicians and nurse practitioners via phone, webcam, smartphone, tablet or PC. This statewide expansion of virtual services for Molina Medicaid members is built upon a successful virtual urgent care pilot in Pierce County, Washington, in which Molina members enjoyed virtual urgent care visits with wait times of less than eight minutes and reported universally high levels of member satisfaction.

Molina’s new statewide virtual urgent care program will be powered by its Seattle-based clinical partner, Carena, which will provide virtual visits using evidence-based practice guidelines. Molina’s virtual clinic will supplement, not replace, its existing network of high-quality providers throughout the state.

“Often, our members need care when their primary care physician office is not open or is unable to provide appointments in the moment. Virtual urgent care solves that challenge by offering members access to a Washington licensed health provider 24/7,” commented Frances Gough, MD, Molina’s chief medical officer. “Virtual urgent care is an important step forward in helping our members stay healthy and improving their health outcomes. It’s a win-win-win for our members, their primary care providers and Molina,” said Dr. Gough.

Members using the virtual clinic have access to Washington-based doctors and nurse practitioners, any time of day or night, who can offer diagnoses, prescriptions and even set up in-person follow-up appointments and referrals to Molina care management services. All information from the virtual clinic visits will be communicated and coordinated with the members’ primary care physicians, and meet all patient confidentiality requirements, integrating virtual care into their providers’ broader care continuum.

“We are pleased to be a part of Molina’s effort to extend access to primary care for Medicaid patients here in Washington,” said Ralph C. Derrickson, CEO of Carena. “Molina’s members can expect a virtual care experience that is tightly coordinated with their primary care physician. Extending the availability of the care network patients know and trust will minimize fragmentation while improving access to high-quality care.”

To access this service, Molina members can call (844) 870-6821 or visit wavirtualcare.molinahealthcare.com and enter their member information. Molina Healthcare is the largest Medicaid health plan in Washington, with a reputation for providing its members with access to high-quality care. As of March 31st, 2016, Molina Healthcare serves 672,000 members across the state of Washington.