September 5, 2024
Support for Wellcare members impacted by land movement
On September 3, 2024, Governor Gavin Newsom declared a state of emergency in the City of Rancho Palos Verdes to protect public safety amid ongoing land movement that has resulted in disrupted utility services and evacuation warnings for impacted residents. The land movement under the City of Rancho Palos Verdes has accelerated significantly following the 2023 and 2024 severe storm events and is now sliding at an average of 9 to 12 inches per week. On September 2, 2024, Southern California Edison continued to shut off the power to even more residences in the Seaview Community due to the threat to public safety, with the power to 20 of these residences shut off indefinitely.
We want to help ensure that members who have been impacted, because they or their usual health care providers have been temporarily displaced, have continued access to health care services and prescriptions during the state of emergency.
Here is what you need to know.
Prior authorization, precertification and referrals
Wellcare is taking steps to ensure that participating providers in areas affected by the land movement are able to continue providing care for members’ medical needs.
Participating providers may call the Provider Services Center at 866-999-3945 for guidance on:
- Shortening time limits for health care service plans to approve prior authorization, precertification, or referrals, and extending the time that prior authorizations, precertification, and referrals for treatment remain valid.
- Approving out-of-network services in the event a contracting provider or facility becomes unavailable.
- Authorization for the replacement of medical equipment or supplies.
Filing claims
The deadline to file claims for providers impacted by the land movement will be extended. Providers may contact the Provider Services Center at 866-999-3945 for additional guidance on claims extension time frames.
Prescription information
Wellcare will approve any essential prescription medications (with current copayments and deductibles) for any member in Los Angeles County whose medication was lost in the land movement or remained behind during an evacuation. Wellcare will also suspend prescription refill limitations and allow an impacted enrollee to refill their prescriptions at an out-of-network pharmacy. Providers should inform their patients that to obtain an emergency supply, affected members can return to the pharmacy where the original prescription was filled. If the pharmacy is not open due to the state of emergency, affected members can contact Wellcare at 866-999-3945 for questions or assistance.
Member insurance cards and health care information
Members whose insurance cards have been lost or left behind due to the state of emergency and members who have health care questions during the state of emergency can contact Wellcare at 866-999-3945 for questions or assistance.
Coping assistance
Wellcare members who lost their homes or have been evacuated due to the land movement may contact 866-999-3945 for referrals to mental health counselors, local resources or telephonic consultations to help them cope with stress, grief, loss or other trauma resulting from the land movement.
Additional information
Depending on how the land movement progresses, Wellcare may make additional changes to its policies as needed to ensure members have access to necessary health care services.
If you have questions regarding the information contained in this update, contact the Provider Services Center by phone at 866-999-3945 or through the provider website at provider.wellcare.com/california.
