Durable Medical Equipment (DME), Medical Supplies, Prosthetic Devices, Enteral Formula or Food, and Hair Prosthesis (Wigs) This plan covers durable medical equipment and supplies, prosthetic devices and enteral formula or food as described in this section. Durable Medical Equipment (DME) DME is equipment which: • can withstand repeated use; • is primarily and customarily used to serve a medical purpose; • is not useful to a person in the absence of an illness or injury; and • is for use in the home. DME includes supplies necessary for the effective use of the equipment. This plan covers the following DME: • wheelchairs, hospital beds, and other DME items used only for medical treatment; and • replacement of purchased equipment which is needed due to a change in your medical condition or if the device is not functional, no longer under warranty, or cannot be repaired. DME may be classified as a rental item or a purchased item. In most cases, this plan only pays for a rental DME up to our allowance for a purchased DME. Repairs and supplies for rental DME are included in the rental allowance. Preauthorization may be required for certain DME and replacement or repairs of DME. Medical Supplies Medical supplies are consumable supplies that are disposable and not intended for re- use. Medical supplies require an order by a physician and must be essential for the care or treatment of an illness, injury, or congenital defect. Covered medical supplies include: • essential accessories such as hoses, tubes and mouthpieces for use with medically necessary DME (these accessories are included as part of the rental allowance for rented DME); • catheters, colostomy and ileostomy supplies, irrigation trays and surgical dressings; and • respiratory therapy equipment. Diabetic Equipment and Supplies This plan covers diabetic equipment and supplies for the treatment of diabetes in accordance with R.I. General Law §27-20-30. Covered diabetic equipment and supplies include: • therapeutic or molded shoes and inserts for custom-molded shoes for the prevention of amputation; • blood glucose monitors including those with special features for the legally blind, external insulin infusion pumps and accessories, insulin infusion devices and injection aids; and • lancets and test strips for glucose monitors including those with special features for the legally blind, and infusion sets for external insulin pumps. The amount you pay differs based on whether the equipment and supplies are bought from a durable medical equipment provider or from a pharmacy. See the Summary of Pharmacy Benefits and the Summary of Medical Benefits for details. Coverage for some diabetic equipment and supplies may only be available from either a DME provider or from a pharmacy. Visit our website to determine if this is applicable or call our Customer Service Department. Prosthetic Devices Prosthetic devices replace or substitute all or part of an internal body part, including contiguous tissue, or replace all or part of the function of a permanently inoperative or malfunctioning body part and alleviate functional loss or impairment due to an illness, injury or congenital defect. Prosthetic devices do not include dental prosthetics. This plan covers the following prosthetic devices as required under R.I. General Law § 27-20-52: • prosthetic appliances such as artificial limbs, breasts, larynxes and eyes; • replacement or adjustment of prosthetic appliances if there is a change in your medical condition or if the device is not functional, no longer under warranty and cannot be repaired; • devices, accessories, batteries and supplies necessary for prosthetic devices; • orthopedic braces except corrective shoes and orthotic devices used in connection with footwear; and • breast prosthesis following a mastectomy, in accordance with the Women’s Health and Cancer Rights Act of 1998 and R.I. General Law 27-20-29. The prosthetic device must be ordered or provided by a physician, or by a provider under the direction of a physician. When you are prescribed a prosthetic device as an inpatient and it is billed by a provider other than the hospital where you are an inpatient, the outpatient benefit limit will apply. Enteral Formulas or Food (Enteral Nutrition) Enteral formula or food is nutrition that is absorbed through the intestinal tract, whether delivered through a feeding tube or taken orally. Enteral nutrition is covered when it is the sole source of nutrition and prescribed by the physician for home use. In accordance with R.I. General Law §27-20-56, this plan covers enteral formula taken orally for the treatment of: • malabsorption caused by Crohn’s Disease; • ulcerative colitis; • gastroesophageal reflux; • chronic intestinal pseudo obstruction; and • inherited diseases of amino acids and organic acids. Food products modified to be low protein are covered for the treatment of inherited diseases of amino acids and organic acids. Preauthorization may be required. The amount that you pay may differ depending on whether the nutrition is delivered through a feeding tube or taken orally. When enteral formula is delivered through a feeding tube, associated supplies are also covered. Hair Prosthesis (Wigs) This plan covers hair prosthetics (wigs) worn for hair loss suffered as a result of cancer treatment in accordance with R.I. General Law § 27-20-54 and subject to the benefit limit and copayment listed in the Summary of Medical Benefits. This plan will reimburse the lesser of the provider’s charge or the benefit limit shown in the Summary of Medical Benefits. If the provider’s charge is more than the benefit limit, you are responsible for paying any difference. Early Intervention Services (EIS) This plan covers Early Intervention Services in accordance with R.I. General Law §27- 20-50. Early Intervention Services are educational, developmental, health, and social services provided to children from birth to thirty-six (36) months. The child must be certified by the Rhode Island Department of Human Services (DHS) to enroll in an approved Early Intervention Services program. Services must be provided by a licensed Early Intervention provider and rendered to a Rhode Island resident. Members not living in Rhode Island may seek services from the state in which they reside; however, those services are not covered under this plan. Early Intervention Services as defined by DHS include but are not limited to the following: • speech and language therapy; • physical and occupational therapy; • evaluation; • case management; • nutrition; • service plan development and review; • nursing services; and • assistive technology services and devices.
Diagnostic Services Procedures ordered by a recognized Provider because of specific symptoms to diagnose a specific condition or disease. Some examples include, but are not limited to:
Durable Medical Equipment (DME), Medical Supplies Prosthetic Devices, Enteral Formula or Food, and Hair Prosthesis (Wigs) • Items typically found in the home that do not need a prescription and are easily obtainable such as, but not limited to: o adhesive bandages; o elastic bandages; o gauze pads; and o alcohol swabs. • DME and medical supplies prescribed primarily for the convenience of the member or the member’s family, including but not limited to, duplicate DME or medical supplies for use in multiple locations or any DME or medical supplies used primarily to assist a caregiver. • Non-wearable automatic external defibrillators. • Replacement of durable medical equipment and prosthetic devices prescribed because of a desire for new equipment or new technology. • Equipment that does not meet the basic functional need of the average person. • DME that does not directly improve the function of the member. • Medical supplies provided during an office visit. • Pillows or batteries, except when used for the operation of a covered prosthetic device, or items for which the sole function is to improve the quality of life or mental wellbeing. • Repair or replacement of DME when the equipment is under warranty, covered by the manufacturer, or during the rental period. • Infant formula, nutritional supplements and food, or food products, whether or not prescribed, unless required by R.I. Law §27-20-56 for Enteral Nutrition Products, or delivered through a feeding tube as the sole source of nutrition. • Corrective or orthopedic shoes and orthotic devices used in connection with footwear, unless for the treatment of diabetes. Experimental or Investigational Services • Treatments, procedures, facilities, equipment, drugs, devices, supplies, or services that are experimental or investigational except as described in Section 3. Gender Reassignment Services • Reversal of gender reassignment surgery.
Diagnostic procedures to aid the Provider in determining required dental treatment.
Speech Therapy This plan covers speech therapy services when provided by a qualified licensed provider and part of a formal treatment plan for: • loss of speech or communication function; or • impairment as a result of an acute illness or injury, or an acute exacerbation of a chronic disease. Speech therapy services must relate to: • performing basic functional communication; or • assessing or treating swallowing dysfunction. See Autism Services when speech therapy services are rendered as part of the treatment of autism spectrum disorder. The amount you pay and any benefit limit will be the same whether the services are provided for habilitative or rehabilitative purposes.
Chiropractic Services This plan covers chiropractic visits up to the benefit limit shown in the Summary of Medical Benefits. The benefit limit applies to any visit for the purposes of chiropractic treatment or diagnosis.
Radiation Therapy/Chemotherapy Services This plan covers chemotherapy and radiation services. Respiratory Therapy This plan covers respiratory therapy services. When respiratory services are provided in your home, as part of a home care program, durable medical equipment, supplies, and oxygen are covered as a durable medical equipment service.
Vaccination and Inoculation (a) The Employer agrees to take all reasonable precautions, including in-service seminars, to limit the spread of infectious diseases among employees.
Rhytidectomy Scar revision, regardless of symptoms. • Sclerotherapy for spider veins. • Skin tag removal. • Subcutaneous injection of filling material. • Suction assisted Lipectomy. • Tattooing or tattoo removal except tattooing of the nipple/areola related to a mastectomy. • Treatment of vitiligo. • Standby services of an assistant surgeon or anesthesiologist. • Orthodontic services related to orthognathic surgery. • Cosmetic procedures when performed primarily: o to refine or reshape body structures or dental structures that are not functionally impaired; o to improve appearance or self-esteem; or o for other psychological, psychiatric or emotional reasons. • Drugs, biological products, hospital charges, pathology, radiology fees and charges for surgeons, assistant surgeons, attending physicians and any other incidental services, which are related to cosmetic surgery.
Telemedicine Services This plan covers clinically appropriate telemedicine services when the service is provided via remote access through an on-line service or other interactive audio and video telecommunications system in accordance with R.I. General Law § 27-81-1. Clinically appropriate telemedicine services may be obtained from a network provider, and from our designated telemedicine service provider. When you seek telemedicine services from our designated telemedicine service provider, the amount you pay is listed in the Summary of Medical Benefits. When you receive a covered healthcare service from a network provider via remote access, the amount you pay depends on the covered healthcare service you receive, as indicated in the Summary of Medical Benefits. For information about telemedicine services, our designated telemedicine service provider, and how to access telemedicine services, please visit our website or contact our Customer Service Department.
