Corphealth Changes Brand Name to LifeSynch

Corphealth, a wholly owned subsidiary of Humana, has changed its brand name to LifeSynch.

LifeSynch provides health and productivity solutions to Humana clients and other stand-alone clients. These solutions include integrated medical-behavioral health care, managed behavioral health care, telephone-based health coaching and Employee Assistance Program (EAP)/Work-Life.

The new brand reflects the company’s market focus and aligns the name and new look with its mission of “changing behaviors, improving lives.”

New brand, new look, same service
Providers may see and hear the name LifeSynch as part of the rebranding efforts. No action is required; LifeSynch will serve both providers and members just as before. When making referrals for behavioral health services, providers should continue to refer members to the number on the back of their Humana member cards.

For difficult, complex cases involving comorbid medical and behavioral conditions, keep in mind LifeSynch’s Integrated Medical-Behavioral Healthcare (IMBH) program. IMBH is a telephone-based outreach program that provides the member extra support that can help spell success in treatment and care. Providers who identify a member who may benefit from the IMBH program should call
1-866-900-5021 to make a referral.

Behavioral health providers can contract directly with LifeSynch. If providers already contract with Corphealth, no other action is required. Claim submission processes, authorization for services and verification of member benefits remain the same. During the transition of the brand to LifeSynch, members may present under any one of the following: Humana, Corphealth or LifeSynch.

For more information regarding the change of the brand to LifeSynch, call LifeSynch Provider Services at 1-800-890-8288.

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Provide After-Hours Standards to Patients for Better Access to Care

Humana encourages physician practices to share their office hours, as well as policies regarding urgent, emergency and weekend coverage, with their patients. According to the National Hospital Ambulatory Medical Care Survey (NHAMCS), there were 115.3 million ER visits in 2005, and about 35 percent were for nonurgent or only semiurgent causes.

“In some cases, members are confused about when to seek care with their personal physician or go to an urgent care or emergency facility, which is why clearly explaining office hours and access standards is so important,” said Michael Sherman, M.D., M.B.A., M.S. , corporate medical director, physician strategies, for Humana. “We want people to get the right care at the right time at the right point of service. If they need to go to the ER, they absolutely should. But for nonemergencies, receiving care through a personal physician provides improved continuity of care and also helps reduce duplicative testing.”

Humana's communication initiatives
To support appropriate access, Humana has launched initiatives aimed at helping commercial members choose the appropriate point of service for care. Humana’s ER Strategy team is coordinating mailings about care options for members who live in areas with high ER utilization for nonurgent care. Early in 2009, another mailing will emphasize when to choose urgent care over emergency care and provide a list of nearby urgent care centers for each member.

HumanaFirst triages care
As a second recourse, the HumanaFirst nurse triage line, available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, can help members make appropriate care decisions — and avoid a trip to an emergency room in some cases.

HumanaFirst is available to most Humana members (including commercial, Medicare and self-insured groups that purchase the option) at 1-800-622-9529. Registered nurses provide advice, based on nationally vetted pediatric and adult guidelines created by Barton Schmitt, M.D. and David Thompson, M.D.

“Members can call about any need, whether a general health issue or an immediate medical concern,” said Heidi Harris, operations manager, disease management. “During business hours, we would encourage them to call their physician’s office and schedule an appointment. If it’s after hours or on the weekend, we recommend seeking the next level of availability — perhaps an urgent care center in their area or an emergency room.”