Precertifying care
The precertification process helps guide you to the right care. As part of
care navigation, Quantum Health handles all precertification of medical services for PPO, EPO, and HDHP members when required. During the precertification process, Quantum Health's Care Coordinators work with you and your healthcare providers to help you get the best possible care.
Why precertification is important
Precertification means that a healthcare service must be reviewed and approved in advance to be covered by the Medical Plan. The precertification process helps to ensure you receive high-quality, safe, and effective care in the appropriate setting.
If you or a covered family member needs to have any of the following services, your healthcare provider should call Quantum Health to precertify the care. Your Quantum Health Care Coordinators will work directly with the provider to obtain the necessary documentation. The precertification process is typically completed within two business days after Quantum Health receives all the information needed from your provider.
Medical services requiring precertification
- inpatient and skilled nursing facility admissions
- outpatient surgeries
- MRI/MRA/PET scans
- oncology care and services
- genetic testing
- dialysis
- transplants
- home health care
- hospice care
- durable medical equipment (all rentals and purchases over $1,500)
- partial hospitalization and intensive outpatient care for behavioral health/substance use
What you need to do
Here's just one story, shared by a patient's employer, that shows how Quantum Health's Care Coordinators work to make sure individuals are using their benefits in the best way possible. The patient's doctor called Quantum Health to precertify an MRI, and the Care Coordinator realized the doctor was sending them to an out-of-network facility. Quantum Health reached out to the patient with a heads up that this would cost them more out of pocket. The Care Coordinator even helped them get an appointment that very day at a nearby network facility, saving them both time and money.
Be sure to share your medical ID card with your healthcare provider. The back of your card includes the toll-free number for your provider to precertify care through Quantum Health, along with the services that must be precertified.
Blue Cross Blue Shield network providers typically handle the precertification process on your behalf, but it's your responsibility to make sure precertification has been obtained. If you have a medical test or procedure coming up, contact Quantum Health at the number on the back of your new medical ID card and your Care Coordinator will
- tell you if the service must be precertified;
- confirm whether your provider has precertified your service, if necessary; and
- reach out to your provider to obtain any information needed to complete the precertification process.
Emergency hospital admissions
All emergency hospitalizations, whether for medical or surgical treatment, behavioral health, or substance use disorders, must be precertified within 48 hours of admission. Benefits are payable only if medically necessary.
If you do not precertify
The precertification process helps ensure care is medically necessary and appropriate. If you fail to precertify services when required, benefits may be denied.