SILVERDALE – Molina Healthcare Medicaid customers now have free “Virtual Urgent Care” access to primary care providers around the clock thanks to a new partnership between Molina, CHI Franciscan and Harrison Medical Center.
The goal is to make preventable care both more convenient and more affordable.
CHI Franciscan estimated that more than 16,000 Molina Medicaid customers are eligible to make use of the service. Normally the online care costs $35 per visit, but Molina Medicaid customers will pay nothing to use the service.
Patients using Virtual Urgent Care have access to board-certified doctors and nurse practitioners any time day or night, who can offer diagnosis, prescriptions and set up in-person follow-up appointments.
The online care isn’t meant to replace clinics or hospitals or necessary emergency room visits but it can deal with other issues such as allergies, bladder infections, bites and stings, coughs, cuts, burns, fever, flu symptoms, headaches, pink eye, rashes, sinus issues, sore throat and sprains.
Virtual Urgent Care is also available to those who are not Molina Medicaid customers, although the $35 fee would not be waived.
The Seattle-based Carena telemedicine company provides the web portal and the whole virtual care system and uses Franciscan’s branding to provide the service.
Since launching Virtual Urgent Care, CHI Franciscan estimates that the service has saved patients more than $600,000 compared to the cost of seeking care at an emergency department, urgent care or primary care provider or clinic.
Scott Thompson, communications manager for Franciscan, said Franciscan began using the virtual care option about two years ago as a benefit for Franciscan employees. The service allowed Franciscan to save money and provided another point of access into Franciscan’s health care system.
In September, 2013, Franciscan began offering the service to the public, and in January 2015 the service was expanded to include Harrison Medical Center.
The virtual care option could be more convenient for customers, Thompson said, since they wouldn’t have to worry about transportation.
About 300 people use the service per month at present, Thompson said.
“I think you’ll see this service as a growing healthcare trend to give people another access point and provide people care when they need it at an affordable price,” Thompson said.
By law, Medicaid patients cannot use the virtual service directly, but Molina Healthcare Medicaid customers are provided the service through Molina.
Anyone who wants to use the service can call 855-356-8053 or visit franciscancarenow.org online.
