- FOR YOU AND YOUR
DEPENDENTS
- In General: This Coverage
provides benefits for many of the services
and supplies needed for care and treatment
of Your or Your Qualified Dependents'
Illnesses and Injuries, or to maintain
Your or Your Qualified Dependents' good
health, as determined by Your Qualified
Dependents’ respective Primary Care
Physician. Not all services and supplies
are eligible; some are eligible only to
a limited extent.
- Primary Care Physician
(PCP) Selection: Once You have
chosen Community First, Your next choice
is to select who will provide the majority
of Your and Your Qualified Dependents’
health care services. Your Primary Care
Physician will be the one You call when
You need medical advice, when You are
ill and when You need preventive care
such as immunizations. Each Covered Person
may select his or her own Primary Care
Physician from the Community First Participating
Provider directory. Primary medical care
includes the following medical specialties:
internal medicine, general, pediatrics
and family practice. If Your PCP is also
part of a Limited Provider Network, or
association of health professionals who
work together to provide a full range
of health care services, You may also
be choosing a specific group of specialists,
hospitals and/or ancillary providers who
are part of Your PCP’s network.
In such a case, You may not be allowed
to receive services from any physician
or health care professional that is not
also part of Your PCP’s network.
All of Your care will be provided within
the network to which Your PCP belongs,
so make sure that Your PCP’s network
includes the specialists and hospitals
that You prefer.
Should You have a chronic, disabling,
or Life-Threatening Illness, You may apply
to Community First's Medical Director
to utilize a Participating Specialty Physician
as a Primary Care Physician, provided
that (1) the request includes information
specified by Community First, including
certification of medical need, and is
signed by You and Participating Specialty
Physician interested in serving as the
Primary Care Physician; (2) the Participating
Specialty Physician meets, and agrees
to abide by the Community First requirements
for Primary Care Physicians; and (3) the
Participating Specialty Physician is willing
to accept the coordination of all of Your
health care needs.
If such request is denied, You may Appeal
the decision through Community First's
established Complaint and Appeals process.
Should such request be approved, the new
designation shall not be retroactive and
shall in no way reduce the amount of compensation
owed to the original Primary Care Physician
prior to the date of the new designation.
- OB/GYN Selection.
A woman entitled to coverage shall be
permitted direct access to the health
care services of a participating obstetrician
or gynecologist without a referral by
the woman's Primary Care Physician or
pre-authorization or precertification
by Community First to include, but not
be limited to, the following:
- one well-woman examination per year;
- care related to pregnancy;
- care for all active gynecological
conditions; and
- diagnosis, treatment, and referral
to a Participating Specialty Care
Physician for any disease or condition
within the scope of the professional
practice of a properly credentialed
obstetrician or gynecologist, including
treatment of medical conditions concerning
the breasts.
If Your PCP is part of a Limited Provider
Network, please read the special section:
“Your Obstetrician/Gynecologist”,
located in the Community First Provider
Directory and in the section where Your
PCP is listed. This notice contains important
information regarding whether there are
any limitations to Your selection of an
OB/GYN.
- Changing Your Primary
Care Physician: Community First
believes that a strong Primary Care Physician/Member
relationship is critical. However, we
also realize that there may be a need
for a Member to change his/her Primary
Care Physician. If You must change Your
Primary Care Physician, You may do so
by calling Community First’s Member
Services Department. Requests for changes
received on or before the 15th of the
month will take effect on the first day
of the following month. Requests for changes
received after the 15th will take effect
the first day of the second month following
the change request.
For example, if You request a change on
or before August 15th, the change will
become effective September 1st. If You
request a change on or after August 16th,
the change will become effective October
1st.
Many of the terms used below are defined
in the “Definitions” section
shown on a separate page.
- COVERED SERVICES
AND SUPPLIES
- In General:
Community First will arrange or provide
for benefits for the Covered Services
and Supplies set forth in Section 3 of
this Part B. A written referral and/or
Pre-authorization by the Primary Care
Physician and/or Community First is required
for payment of most Covered Services and/or
Supplies rendered by other Participating
Providers and all Non-Participating Providers,
except in the case of a Medical Emergency,
or when accessing the services of a properly
credentialed, participating obstetrician
or gynecologist or behavioral health Provider.
Pre-authorization is granted on the condition
that the Member is eligible for Covered
Services at the time the Covered Services
are received. Pre-authorization will be
denied if the requested supply or service
is not a Covered Service or Supply. If
You have any questions about whether a
Covered Service or Supply requires Pre-authorization,
contact Your Primary Care Physician or
Community First’s Member Services
Department.
- Covered Services: All
Covered Services must be furnished
to a Member:
- by a Primary Care Physician;
- by another Participating
Provider and authorized
by a Primary Care Physician
or Community First;
- by a Non-Participating
Provider if referred by
a PCP and pre-authorized
by Community First;
- by a Participating Specialty
Care Physician approved
by Community First's Medical
Director to perform the
services of a Primary
Care Physician pursuant
to a request of a Member
with a chronic, disabling
or Life-Threatening illness;
or
- by a participating obstetrician
or gynecologist as described
in II.A.3. above or a
participating behavioral
health provider as described
in II.B.1. above.
It is Your responsibility to
secure a referral from Your
Primary Care Physician to
see specialists and to undergo
Hospitalizations, outpatient
surgery, and diagnostic procedures.
Written referral is required
for payment of services and
supplies rendered by other
Participating Providers.
If Medically Necessary Covered
Services are not available
through a Participating Provider,
Community First will, at the
request of a Participating
Provider, and within a reasonable
time period allow referral
to a Non-Participating Provider
and shall fully reimburse
the Non-Participating Provider
at the usual and customary
rate or at a negotiated rate.
Before such a requested referral
can be denied, Community First
must have the request reviewed
by a specialist of the same
or similar specialty as the
Physician or provider to whom
the referral is requested.
-
After Hours Care: Illnesses
and Injuries often do not
happen during normal office
hours. You may call Your Primary
Care Physician’s office
24 hours a day and You should
contact him or her if You
need after hours care. If
the call is not placed during
office hours, You will be
assisted by an answering service
that will notify the physician
on call and advise You on
how to proceed. If You are
not able to reach Your Primary
Care Physician or an answering
service, please contact Community
First’s nurse advice/triage
service described in the following
paragraph. Please inform the
nurse who answers that You
were unable to reach Your
Primary Care Physician.
-
Urgent Care Services:
In the event of an urgent
situation (Illness or Injury)
that is severe or painful
enough to require assessment
and/or treatment within 24
hours, You should contact
Your Primary Care Physician
who will direct You based
on the symptoms. Additionally,
Members may call Community
First’s 24-hour nurse/triage
service. You may reach this
service by calling 210-358-6262
or 1-877-698-7032.
Exceptions to these requirements
for Covered Services furnished
in connection with Emergency
Care for medical conditions
occurring inside or outside
the Service Area are set forth
below. All Covered Services
must be furnished while a
person is a Member.
-
Medical Emergency: Services
for a Medical Emergency are
covered anywhere in the world
24 hours a day. If a Medical
Emergency occurs, Members
should go to the nearest participating
or non-participating medical
facility.
Necessary Emergency Care services
will be provided to Members,
including the treatment and
stabilization of a Medical
Emergency, and any medical
screening examination or other
evaluation required by state
or federal law which is necessary
to determine if a Medical
Emergency exists.
If it is determined that a
Medical Emergency does not
exist (i.e., Emergency Care
is not rendered), the Covered
Person will be required to
contact his/her Primary Care
Physician in order to arrange
any non-Emergency Care needed.
If a Member chooses to use
the emergency room for non-emergency
treatment, he or she will
be responsible for all billed
charges. You can use Community
First’s Complaint and
Appeals Process to resolve
a dispute regarding Emergency
Care.
If You have any questions regarding
whether a situation constitutes
a Medical Emergency, please
contact Your Primary Care
Physician who will direct
You based on symptoms. Additionally,
Members may call Community
First’s 24-hour nurse
advice/triage service. You
may reach this service by
calling 210-358-6262 or 1-877-698-7032.
If it is determined that a
Medical Emergency does exist,
Community First will pay for
Emergency Care services performed
by non-Participating Providers
at negotiated or usual and
customary rates for the services
performed. Community First
will approve or deny coverage
of post-stabilization care,
as requested by a treating
provider, within the timeframe
appropriate to the circumstances,
but in no case to exceed one
hour.
Community First will have Pre-authorization
staff on duty at phones during
regular business hours. If
You have received Emergency
Care and the Provider who
treated You indicates that
you will need follow-up care
to complete the treatment,
the follow-up care must be
rendered by the Member's Primary
Care Physician, not by the
Provider who treated You for
the Medical Emergency. The
Member, or someone acting
on the Member’s behalf,
should contact the Member’s
Primary Care Physician within
24 hours, or as soon as reasonably
possible, so that he or she
may arrange for follow-up
care.
- Member Financial Responsibility.
As explained below, when accessing authorized
Covered Services from a Participating
Provider, You will only owe a Co-payment
to that Provider. If you receive a bill
from any provider, please notify Community
First’s Member Services Department
immediately.
- Premiums:
Members may pay a premium for Plan
coverage. The premium amount and payment
arrangements are made through Your
Employer. Your Employer will agree
with Community First on a fixed price
per each Member of Your group and
will determine how much of that cost
to pass along to You.
- Co-payments:
In addition to any payroll deduction
Your Employer may impose, You will
be responsible for appropriate Co-payments,
up to out-of-pocket maximums. The
Co-payments that apply to certain
Covered Services, as well as out-of-pocket
maximums, are described in the Schedule
of Co-payments attached to and made
a part of this Certificate.
Community First’s Participating
Providers will look only to Community
First and not to You for payment of
Covered Services, except for payment
of applicable Co-payments.
In no event will any Co-payment for
a Covered Service or Supply exceed
fifty percent (50%) of the cost of
providing that service or supply,
nor more than twenty percent (20%)
of the total cost of providing all
basic health care services. In any
Contract Year, the aggregate amount
of a person's Co-payments will not
exceed an amount equal to two times
the total annual premium cost which
the Contract Holder (and/or Member)
would be required to pay if the Member
were enrolled under an option with
no Co-payments. This limitation applies
only if the Contract Holder or Member
demonstrates that Co-payments in that
amount have been paid in that year.
- Services or Supplies
that are not Covered under this Certificate
of Group Health Care Coverage.
If You receive health care services
or supplies that are not Covered Services
and Supplies, You will be financially
responsible for the entire cost of
service.
- Unauthorized Services.
You will be financially responsible
for the entire cost of service if
you:
- Obtain health care services, in
circumstances other than a Medical
Emergency, from a Non-Participating
Provider without preauthorization
from Community First; or
- Obtain services from a Participating
Provider that require pre-authorization
and no pre-authorization is obtained
prior to the delivery of care;
or
- Obtain services from a Participating
Provider who is not Your Primary
Care Physician, except for the
following services, which do not
require pre-authorization:
- Emergency Care;
- Accessing care from a
Participating Provider
who is an obstetrician
or gynecologist;
- Accessing no more than
25 visits in a Contract
Year from a Participating
Provider who is a behavioral
health specialist.
- Covered Services:
The Covered Services are those that are
in the list below. Section 4 of this Part
B (“Limitations”) describes
any modification of these Covered Services
for certain Illnesses. A service or supply
is not a Covered Service or Supply if
excluded. It is excluded to the extent
it falls outside any limits described
in Section 4 of this Part B (“Limitations”)
or is described in Section 5 of this Part
B (“Exclusions”). Some Covered
Services and/or Supplies below may require
medical review for Medical Necessity and/or
appropriateness prior to Pre-authorization.
- Acquired Brain
Injury. Cognitive, rehabilitation
therapy and other Medically Necessary
services related to acquired brain
injury.
- Allergy testing.
Allergy sera and biological sera,
and allergy shot administration without
an office visit.
- Ambulance services.,
When Medically Necessary. Professional,
local ground or air ambulance services
to the nearest hospital appropriately
equipped and staffed for the treatment
of the members condition.
- Anesthetics and
their administration.
- Biofeedback therapy.
Biofeedback therapy is covered when
used for the treatment of tension
or muscle contraction headaches and
provided by a Participating Provider
and pre-authorized by Community First.
- Blood and blood
derivatives. Including administration,
when prescribed by a Participating
Provider and determined to be Medically
Necessary by Community First.
- Breast cancer treatment.
Diagnosis and treatment including
coverage for inpatient care for a
Member for a minimum of:
- 48 hours following a mastectomy;
and
- 24 hours following a lymph node
dissection for the treatment of
breast cancer; unless the Member
and the attending physician determine
that a shorter period of inpatient
care is appropriate.
- Chemical dependency.
Medically Necessary care and treatment
of Chemical Dependency will be covered
the same as any other physical illness.
Treatment could also include treatment
under the direction and continued
medical supervision of a doctor of
medicine or doctor of osteopathy in
a Residential Treatment and/or Psychiatric
Day Treatment Facility.
- Counseling services.
Furnished to a Family Unit after the
death of a Terminally-Ill Person.
But these services are included in
this list of Covered Services only
if all of these conditions are met:
- The Counseling Services are authorized
by the Medical Director and received
under a Hospice Care Program within
three (3) months after the death
of the Terminally Ill Person;
and
- On the day before the date of
death, the Terminally Ill Person
was:
- in the Hospice Care Program;
and
- a member of the Family
Unit; and
- a Member for the benefits
of this Coverage.
These Counseling Services are
limited to six (6) visits per
Member per occurrence.
- Dental treatment.
Restoration and correction of damage
caused by external violent accidental
Injury to healthy, natural teeth,
occurring while covered under the
plan for services provided within
24 months of the date of the accident.
Certain oral surgeries are covered
and are defined as maxillofacial surgical
procedures limited to:
- Excism of neoplasm, including
benign, malignant and premalignant
lesions, tumors and nonodontogenic
cysts;
- Incision and drainage of
cellulitis; and
- Surgical procedures involving
accessory sinuses, salivary
glands and ducts.
Community First will cover
certain services provided
to a Member who is unable
to undergo dental treatment
in an office setting or under
local anesthesia due to a
documented physical, mental,
or medical reason as determined
by the Member’s Primary
Care Physician and the dentist.
These services include the
hospital or facility, and/or
anesthesia charges only.
- Diabetes care.
Covered Services and Supplies include
diabetes treatment, equipment, supplies,
medications and self-management training
prescribed or provided by a Participating
Provider. Diabetes equipment includes,
but is not limited to, blood glucose
monitors, including monitors designed
to be used by blind individuals; insulin
pumps and associated equipment; insulin
infusion devices; and podiatric appliances
for the prevention of complications
associated with diabetes.
Diabetes supplies include, but are
not limited to, test strips for blood
glucose monitors; visual reading and
urine test strips; lancets and lancet
devices; injection aids; syringes;
glucagon emergency kits and alcohol
wipes. The supply of necessary disposable
syringes for the insulin supply will
be provided for one Co-payment. Diabetic
supplies will include up to a thirty
(30) day supply for one Co-payment
at a retail store or up to a ninety
(90) day supply through mail order.
Diabetes medications include, but
are not limited to, insulin and insulin
analogs; prescriptive and non-prescriptive
oral agents for controlling blood
sugar levels. Up to a thirty (30)
day supply of insulin will be provided
for one Co-payment at a retail store
or up to a ninety (90) day supply
through mail order
- Diagnostic laboratory
and radiological services including
professional fees. Such diagnostic
services include mammography services.
- Dietary formulas.
Necessary for the treatment of Phenylketonuria
or other Heritable Diseases.
- Durable Medical
Equipment. Rental or purchase
that is Medically Necessary and approved
by Community First’s Medical
Director. Benefits for rental are
limited to, and will not exceed, the
purchase price of the equipment. For
equipment purchased at the Medical
Director's option, this item includes
repair and necessary maintenance of
purchased equipment not provided under
a manufacturer's warranty or a purchase
agreement.
- Eye exam.
One annual eye exam per plan year,
including dilation of the eye, by
a Doctor of Ophthalmology or a Doctor
of Optometry which, when within the
scope of their license, includes such
services as:
- external examination of the
eye and its structure;
- determination of refractive
status; and
- Glaucoma screening test.
The Member is responsible for any additional
charges for services associated with contact
lenses, including but not limited to,
contact lens eye exams, contact lens fittings
and follow up care, the cost of contact
lenses or eyeglasses.
- Foot care.
Services for the care and treatment
of the feet when Medically Necessary
as determined by the Primary Care
Physician, excluding orthotics, insoles
or shoe inserts of any type, unless
prescribed for the treatment of diabetes.
- Health education.
Services including, but not limited
to the following:
- Information about Community
First's Covered Services,
including recommendations
on generally accepted medical
standards for the use and
frequency of such services;
- Diabetes self-management training
provided by a Participating
Provider who is licensed in
Texas to provide such services.
Self-management training includes,
but is not limited to:
- training provided
to a Member after
the initial diagnosis
of diabetes in the
care and management
of that condition,
including nutritional
counseling and proper
use of diabetes equipment
and supplies;
- additional training
required as a result
of a significant change
in the Member’s
symptoms or condition;
- periodic or episodic
continuing education
training when prescribed
by a Participating
Physician as warranted
by the development
of new techniques
and treatments for
diabetes, approved
by the Food and Drug
Administration for
the treatment of diabetes.
- All diabetes self-management
training is subject
to Medical Director
review.
- Prenatal education;
- HIV/STD education
- Home Health Care
services. Nursing care given
or supervised by a registered nurse
(R.N.), but only if the services are
furnished as part of a treatment plan
approved by the Medical Director and
while the person is under a Participating
Provider's care. Services include
those of rehabilitation therapists
or home health aides when the Member
requires skilled services.
- Hospice care services
and supplies. Covered if authorized
by a Participating Physician as part
of a Hospice Care Program for a member
of the Family Unit who is a Terminally-Ill
Person:
- Hospice room and board, while
the Terminally-Ill Person
is an inpatient in a Hospice.
- Other Hospice Services furnished
by a Hospice or a Hospice
Team.
- Counseling Services provided
by members of a Hospice Team.
But these services and supplies
are included in this list
of Eligible Services and Supplies
only if each service or supply
is furnished within seven
(7) months from the date the
Terminally-Ill Person is admitted
into the Hospice Care Program
or re-admitted into such program.
All care in Hospice Care Programs
is considered one period of
care, except as follows: Care
will be treated as starting
a separate period of care
if furnished after there has
been no care in Hospice Care
Programs for at least three
(3) consecutive months.
- Hospital inpatient
services and supplies. Semi-private
room and board. This includes normal
daily services and supplies furnished
by the Hospital including, but not
limited to, Medically-Necessary surgical
procedures, including orthonathic
surgery, and intensive care units.
For any day on which a Primary Care
Physician authorizes the person's
stay in a private room in a Hospital
that has no semi-private rooms, Hospital
private room and board, including
normal daily services and supplies
will be included as Eligible Services
and Supplies. Hospital private room
and board, including normal daily
services and supplies, will also be
included as Eligible Services and
Supplies for any day on which:
- the person is being isolated
in a private room because
of the person's communicable
disease; or
- use of a private room is Medically
Necessary, as determined by
a Participating Provider,
for treatment of the person's
Illness or Injury.
- Hospital outpatient
services and supplies. Covered
Services in connection with surgical
treatment, including pre-admission
testing and/or treatment room, operating
room and treatment, medical supplies
such as splints and casts, and non-experimental
drugs and medications furnished by
and administered at the Hospital or
facility.
- Immunizations and
vaccinations. Immunizations
acquired solely for travel, employment
or school are not covered.
- Infertility services.
Services rendered for the diagnosis
and treatment of the medical causes
of infertility in male and female
Members, except as stated under “Exclusions”
below. These services include medical
services for artificial insemination,
including donor-related services,
without limitation as to who may be
the donor, and pharmaceuticals are
covered at a fifty percent (50%) Co-payment.
- Inhalation therapy.
- Injectables.
Administered or prescribed by a Participating
Provider, in accordance with Community
First’s established medical
criteria.
- Maternity inpatient
care. The maternity benefit
offered herein includes coverage for
hospital and physician services, including
diagnosis of pregnancy, pre and post-natal
care, and delivery including inpatient
care for a mother and her newborn
child in a health care facility for
a minimum of:
- 48 hours following an uncomplicated
vaginal delivery; and
- 96 hours following an uncomplicated
delivery by caesarean section;
unless the Member and her
attending physician determine
that a shorter period of inpatient
care is appropriate.
- Medical supplies.
Determined to be Medically Necessary
and appropriate by the Member’s
Primary Care Physician and are Pre-Authorized
by Community First. Medical supplies
are non-reusable, disposable, and
are not useful in the absence of Illness
or Injury. Common household items
are not considered medical supplies.
To be considered “Medically
Necessary or appropriate”, a
medical supply must be determined
by Community First to meet all of
these conditions. The supply(ies):
- must be part of a Participating
Provider’s treatment
plan;
- must be based on current treatment
protocols;
- must be obtained from a Participating
Provider;
- must be required such that
its omission would adversely
affect the Member's health;
- must be recognized as safe
and effective for its intended
use.
- must be used in a manner that
is consistent with generally
accepted United States medical
standards or guidelines.
Examples of medical supplies
may include, but not be limited
to, diabetic supplies, ostomy
supplies, Jobst stockings,
sterile dressing and urinary
catheters.
- Newborn baby care.
- Outpatient Mental
Health. Up to 25 fifty-minute
outpatient Participating Physicians’
visits (or the equivalent) in a Contract
Year, as may be necessary and appropriate
for short-term evaluative or crisis
intervention mental health services
or both. For inpatient mental health
coverage, see the Mental or Emotional
Illness or Disorder and Alternative
Mental Health Treatment Rider.
- Over-the-counter
supplies. That are deemed to
be the most appropriate treatment
protocol available. A Participating
Provider’s prescription or authorization
is required.
- Organ Transplant
services. Recipient medical
expenses for Medically Necessary and
appropriate organ transplant services
are covered as any other illness for
kidney, cornea, liver, heart, heart-lung,
lung, pancreatic-kidney, and bone
marrow. Also covered are other organ
transplants that Community First determines
to be non-experimental and/or investigational
according to current medical policy
guidelines. Artificial organs not
covered. Donor or prospective donor
costs are covered only if the recipient
is a Member at the time the covered
transplant is provided.
Additionally, Community First must
determine that the Member satisfies
current medical criteria developed
by Community First for receiving the
services. Community First will provide
a written referral for care to a transplant
facility selected by Community First
from a list of facilities it has approved.
Community First will not require that
a Member travel out-of-state to receive
transplant services unless the informed
consent of the Member has been obtained,
which explains the benefits and detriments
of in-state and out-of-state options.
If, after referral, either Community
First or the medical staff of the
referral facility determines that
the Member does not satisfy its respective
criteria for the services involved,
Community First’s obligation
is limited to paying for Covered Services
provided prior to such determination
according to the Schedule of Co-payments.
- Oxygen and rental
of equipment for use of oxygen.
- Penile implants.
Covered when the lack of normal function
is due to an identifiable organic
physical cause.
- Physicians' services
for surgical procedures and for other
medical care.
- Preventive health
services. The following preventive
health services are covered.
- Voluntary family planning
services, devices and procedures
including, but not limited
to:
- family planning education;
- outpatient contraceptive
services and education
regarding contraceptive
methods;
- contraceptive devices;
and
- vasectomy and tubal
ligation.
- Annual screening to determine
the need for speech or hearing
correction.
- Well-child care from birth.
- Pediatric and adult immunizations
in accordance with accepted
medical practice, including,
but not limited to, immunizations
for each covered child from
birth through the date the
child is six (6) years of
age for: immunization against
diptheria, haemophilus influenzae
type b, hepatitis B, measles,
mumps, pertussis, polio, rubella,
tetanus, varicella and any
other immunization that is
required by law for the child.
Children, zero to six (0-6)
years of age, will be provided
these immunizations without
a Co-payment requirement.
Immunization required solely
for travel, employment or
school are not covered. See
section II.B. 5. Exclusions.
- Community First will not limit
benefits to Members for immunizations
or vaccinations to circumstances
in which an immunization or
vaccination is administered
by a pharmacist under a physician’s
written protocol.
- One well-woman exam per plan
year including, but not limited
to, periodic screening for
breast and cervical cancer.
- Annual diagnostic testing
for the detection of prostate
cancer.
- For qualified individuals,
medically accepted bone mass
measurement for the detection
of low bone mass and to determine
the risk of osteoporosis and
fractures associated with
osteoporosis. Qualified individual
means:
- postmenopausal woman
who is not receiving
estrogen replacement
therapy;
- an individual with:
- vertebral
abnormalities;
- primary hyperparathyroidism;
or
- a history
of bone fractures;
or
- an individual who
is:
- receiving long-term
glucocorticoid
therapy; or
- being monitored
to assess the
response to or
efficacy of an
approved osteoporosis
drug therapy
- Medically Necessary screenings
for colorectal cancer.
- Prostheses.
Artificial devices, surgical or non-surgical,
determined by Community First to be
Medically Necessary to correct a significant
functional disorder (e.g. heart pacemakers
and hip joints), or replaces body
parts including arms, legs, eyes and
cochlear implants. Replacement and
repairs limited to $10,000 per occurrence.
- Reconstructive
surgery. Surgery determined
by Community First to be Medically
Necessary to repair a significant
functional disorder as a result of
disease or Injury, or incident to
a Medically Necessary mastectomy.
Reconstructive surgery for craniofacial
abnormalities for a child who is younger
than 18 years of age is also covered,
regardless of whether such abnormalities
are due to congenital defects, developmental
deformities, trauma, tumors, infections,
or disease.
- Rehabilitative
services. Including physical,
occupational, hearing and speech therapy,
when ordered by a Participating Physician
for a condition that is judged by
the Participating Physician to be
Medically Necessary. Rehabilitative
services and therapies that are Medically
Necessary in the opinion of the physician
may not be denied, limited, or terminated
if they meet or exceed treatment goals
for the person needing such services.
For a physically-disabled person,
treatment goals should include improvement
or maintenance of functioning or prevention
of or slowing of further deterioration.
Covered Services for speech or hearing
therapy are limited to therapy that
is provided by a qualified speech
therapist or audiologist for loss
or impairment of speech or hearing.
- Renal dialysis.
Services and supplies furnished in
connection with dialysis for chronic
renal disease.
- Routine physical.
One routine physical examination per
plan year for adults. Periodic physical
examinations for children or as directed
by primary care physician.
- Serious Mental
Illness. Acute inpatient and
outpatient covered services/supplies
for the treatment of serious mental
illness. Covered as any other illness.
- Sexually-transmitted
diseases (STD). Education,
diagnosis and treatment for STDs,
including HIV, AIDS, and AIDS-related
illnesses.
- Skilled Nursing
Facility services. Covered
Services and Supplies for up to 60
days per plan year including:
- Semi-private room and board.
This includes normal daily
services and supplies furnished
by the Skilled Nursing Facility,
such as lab and x-ray
- Other supplies and non-professional
services furnished by the
Skilled Nursing Facility for
medical care Provided.
- Speech and Hearing.
Services Medically Necessary to treat
loss or impairment of speech and hearing
are covered the same as any other
physical Illness. Hearing aids and
batteries are a covered benefit. See
Schedule of Co-payments for limitations.
- Telemedicine.
Services provided through Telehealth
Services and Telemedicine Medical
Services, to the extent that coverage
is required by Article 21.53F of the
Texas Insurance Code.
- Temporomandibular
joint (TMJ). Services which
are Medically Necessary for the diagnosis
and/or medical/surgical treatment
of conditions affecting the temporomandibular
joint. Community First will provide
coverage for diagnosis and/or treatment
that is Medically Necessary as a result
of:
- an accident;
- a trauma;
- a congenital defect;
- a developmental defect;
- a pathology.
- Treatment by X-ray,
radium or any other radioactive substance,
or by chemotherapy.
- Limitations:
This Section 4 describes limits for the
Covered Services under Section 3 above.
It also describes any modifications of
those Covered Services for certain Illnesses.
- Major Disaster
or Epidemic. Community
First will consistently make a
good faith effort to provide or
arrange for Covered Services,
taking into account existing conditions
and events. If there is a major
disaster or an epidemic, Community
First will provide or arrange
for Covered Services to the extent
possible or practical according
to its best judgment. In doing
this, Community First will take
into account the facilities and
personnel that are then available
to provide Covered Services. Neither
Community First nor any Participating
Provider will have any liability
or obligation on account of delay
or failure to provide or arrange
for Covered Services if:
- such delay or failure
is due to lack of available
facilities or personnel;
and
- such lack is the result
of such major disaster
or such epidemic.
- Circumstances
Beyond the Control of Community
First or Participating Providers.
Due to circumstances not within
the control of Community First
or Participating Providers, there
may be a delay in providing or
arranging for Covered Services,
or it may not be practical or
possible to do so. In that event,
neither Community First nor any
Participating Provider will have
any liability or obligation on
account of delay or failure to
provide or arrange for Covered
Services if a good faith effort
has been made to do so. Some examples
of such circumstances are: complete
or partial destruction of facilities
because of war, riot, or civil
insurrection; the disability of
a significant number of Participating
Providers; and other similar causes.
- Continuity
of Treatment in the Event of the
Termination of a Primary Care
Physician. Community First
will notify You no less than thirty
(30) days in advance if a Participating
Physician or other provider treating
You is going to be leaving the
Community First network. If the
Physician or other provider is
treating You under a "special
circumstance” and the treating
Physician or provider makes the
request, then Community First
will continue to compensate the
Physician or other provider, on
Your behalf, for up to ninety
(90) days. "Special circumstance"
means a condition such that Your
Physician or provider reasonably
believes discontinuation of care
could cause harm to You. Examples
include:
- A person who has a disability;
- A person with an acute
condition;
- A person with a
Life-Threatening Illness.
- A person who is
past the twenty-fourth
|