• Notice for Louisiana State Employees
• Community-based clinics providing Katrina evacuees health care
• San Diego doctors assist in health care for Katrina victims

Notice for Louisiana State Employees

Important Coverage Update for Displaced OGB Plan Members

The Louisiana Office of Group Benefits (OGB) is reaching out to its 73,000 state and school employees and their families who are displaced by Hurricane Katrina and who have health insurance through the state of Louisiana.

OGB announced several changes to make it easier for displaced state workers and school employees to obtain health care through its four plans (PPO, EPO, MCO, HMO):

• All plan members who lived in zip codes starting with 700, 701, 704 and 395 (plus zip code 70377) who want to switch to the PPO or the EPO may do so. The EPO has a nationwide network of physicians and hospitals. Plan members can contact their agency headquarters or can call OGB for assistance at 1-800-272-8451. Plan members interested in switching plans can also get help in determining their new premiums.
• PPO, EPO and MCO plan members can print a two-year history of their medical claims (including lab tests, X-rays and prescriptions) from the OGB website at www.groupbenefits.org. This will be especially useful for plan members seeing new providers.
• PPO, EPO and MCO plan members who use out-of-network pharmacies will not have to pay a penalty, until further notice.
• Plan members in the PPO, EPO, MCO and Humana HMO plans will be able to refill prescription drugs without the usual 30-day restrictions.
• United Behavioral Health has a hotline for all OGB members in any plan who have behavioral issues or who need a list of disaster relief assistance resources in their area. The toll-free number is 866-615-8700. Additional resources are also available at the UBH website at www.liveandworkwell.com.
• Plan members in the FARA MCO can call 1-800-427-4511 for help. FARA has moved its customer service operation to Lafayette.
• EPO plan members can call UnitedHealthcare toll-free at 1-866-336-9374.
• Plan members in the Humana HMO can call the customer service center toll-free at 1-866-427-7478.

Community-based clinics providing Katrina evacuees health care
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Flyer for easy posting and distribution: Link to PDF (0.2 MB), Link to DOC (1.0 MB)

HOUSTON-(Sept. 14, 2005)-As the George R. Brown Convention and Reliant Park shelters begin to wind down, medical services provided by Houston's community-based clinics are ramping up, offering evacuees continued medical care.

At least 30 community and Harris County Hospital District clinics are expanding hours and staff to serve the Katrina evacuees who are relocating around the Houston and Harris County area. These clinics are equipped to handle general needs.

Physicians from other states are volunteering to assist the clinics during this time of increased patient loads. More than 50 arrived this week in the first wave, and more are expected.

Hurricane evacuees should call 713-633-CALL to find a community clinic nearest to them. Additional clinics are available through the Harris County Hospital District. That list is posted here. (Harris County Hospital District Clinics: Link to DOC | Link to PDF).

The following clinics are welcoming storm-related patients:

• Alvin Community Health Endeavor, 416 South Johnson, Alvin, 77011, 281-331-1036
  • Mon. - Thurs. 8 - 11:30 a.m. and 1 - 4:30 p.m.
• Denver Harbor/Houston Community Health Center, 403 Hahlo Street, Houston, 77020, 713- 674-3326
  • Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• El Centro de Corzon, 5001 Navigation, Houston, 77011, 713- 926-1849
  • Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Ft. Bend Family Health Center, 400 Austin Street, Richmond, 77469, 281-342-4530
  • Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• Good Neighbor Healthcare Center, 277 W. Gray, Houston, 77019, 713-529-3597
  • Mon. - Fri. 8 - 11 a.m. and 1:30 - 3 p.m.
  • Sat. - Sun. 12 - 9 p.m.
• Healthcare for the Homeless, 2505 Fannin, Houston, 77002, 713-739-7752
  • Mon., Wed., Fri. 1 - 4 p.m.
• HOPE Clinic, 9800 Town Park, Suite 266, Houston, 77036, 713-492-7465
  • By appointment only
• Lone Star Community Health Center, 704 FM Road 2854, Conroe, 77301, 936-539-4004
  • Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 5 p.m.
  • Sat. 9 a.m. - 1 p.m.
• Montrose Clinic, 215 Westheimer, Houston, 77006, 713-830-3000
  • Mon. - Thurs. 9 a.m. - 7 p.m.
  • Fri. 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.
• Northeast Community Health Clinic, 4514 Lyons Avenue, Houston, 77020, 713-331-2565
• Northside Health Center, 8523 Arkansas, Houston, 77093, 713-696-5900
  • Mon. - Fri. 7:30 - 10 a.m. and 12 - 3 p.m.
• Pasadena Community Health Center, 524 Pasadena Blvd, Suite 1001, Pasadena, 77506, 713-554-1091
  • Mon. - Fri. 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• San Jose Clinic, 301 Hamilton, Houston, 77002, 713-228-9411
  • Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 3 p.m.
• South Central Community Health Center, 8610 MLK Blvd., Houston, 77033 713-734-4580
• Spring Branch Community Health Center, 9325 Kempwood, Houston, 77080, 713- 462-6565
  • Mon. - Fri. 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.
• Northwest Assistance Ministries, 15555 Kuykendahl, Houston, 77090, 281-885-4642
  • Mon. - Fri. 8 - 11:30 a.m. and 12:30 - 4:30 p.m.
• TOMAGWA, 13414 Medical Center Drive #1, Tomball, 77275, 281-357-0747
  • Mon. - Fri. 8:30 a.m. - 5 p.m.
• VA Outpatient Clinic, 2002 Holcombe Blvd., 77030, 713-791-1414
  • Mon - Fri. 8 a.m. - 4 p.m.

Media Contact:

Stefanie Asin
832-667-5809
pager: 281-735-9547

San Diego doctors assist in health care for Katrina victims
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The Department of Health and Human Services has employed more than 50 physicians from Kaiser Permanente and Scripps Healthcare System in San Diego to assist in the health care of Hurricane Katrina evacuees in Houston.

Physicians from Kaiser and Scripps will support more than 30 community health care clinics to help absorb some of the workload of Katrina patients and relieve the medical staff that has been working diligently since the hurricane hit New Orleans last month. The physicians will work in rotations.

Earlier this month, Michael Leavitt, Secretary of Health and Human Services, toured medical clinics around Houston with U.S. Surgeon General RADM Richard Carmona to assess medical workforce needs. Leavitt and Carmona promised a federal workforce to provide support to the medical teams at Houston’s medical clinics.