DispatchHealth pilot in central Arkansas
At the end of January, Arkansas Blue Cross Blue Shield launched a pilot program with DispatchHealth for ACA, ARHOME and Medicare Advantage members living within a 45-mile radius of Little Rock. Postcards, emails and text messages promoting the program have been sent to eligible members.
What is DispatchHealth and how much does it cost?
DispatchHealth provides same-day, high acuity healthcare to members in the comfort of their home. DispatchHealth is an in-network benefit with Arkansas Blue Cross, and often costs the same as a visit to an in-network urgent care center.
What can DispatchHealth treat?
DispatchHealth can treat a wide range of serious injuries and illnesses, from the flu, migraines and stitches to urinary tract infections, pneumonia and COPD exacerbations. DispatchHealth can also administer IV medications and IV fluids, run labs, place catheters, draw blood and splint injured extremities (for life-threatening and time-sensitive injuries and illnesses, members should call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room — DispatchHealth should not be used in a life-threatening emergency and does not replace a member’s primary care provider).
Who are DispatchHealth providers?
DispatchHealth teams are composed of a physician assistant or nurse practitioner and a medical technician. An ER physician is also available for consults by phone.
How does DispatchHealth work?
Eligible Arkansas Blue Cross members can schedule a DispatchHealth visit if their doctor is unavailable, if they are unable to get to a medical appointment or if they need additional care before their next doctor appointment. The Arkansas Blue Cross case management team will also help determine when DispatchHealth visits are appropriate for our members and will call DispatchHealth to request in-home visits. After treatment in the home is complete, DispatchHealth will call in any prescriptions, print out discharge paperwork and send results to the member’s healthcare team so they can follow up with the member’s DispatchHealth care.
How do members schedule a DispatchHealth appointment?
Eligible Arkansas Blue Cross members can call DispatchHealth at 501-302-9044 from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., seven days a week (including holidays), to schedule an appointment. Members can also visit the DispatchHealth website at dispatchhealth.com/locations to see if appointments are available in their area. Members will be asked to provide name, phone number, address, date of birth and insurance information (including member ID number). Members will be asked to describe their symptoms to determine if a DispatchHealth appointment is appropriate.
What does a “45-mile radius of Little Rock” coverage area mean exactly?
To qualify for in-home care from DispatchHealth, Arkansas Blue Cross ACA, ARHOME and Medicare Advantage members must live in one of the following zip codes:
72002, 72007, 72011, 72015, 72018, 72019, 72022, 72023, 72032, 72033, 72034, 72035, 72037, 72046, 72053, 72065, 72076, 72078, 72083, 72086, 72089, 72099, 72103, 72106, 72113, 72114, 72115, 72116, 72117, 72118, 72119, 72120, 72124, 72135, 72142, 72150, 72158, 72164, 72176, 72180, 72181, 72183, 72190, 72199, 72201, 72202, 72203, 72204, 72205, 72206, 72207, 72209, 72210, 72211, 72212, 72214, 72215, 72216, 72217, 72219, 72221, 72222, 72223, 72225, 72227, 72231, 72255, 72260, 72295, 72132, 72079, 71602, 72129, 72024 and 72012.