Apple Health (Medicaid) & Massage Therapy Through Community Health Plan of WA
Does Apple Health Cover Massage Therapy?
No and Yes: Technically speaking No, they do not. Washington State Apple Health (Medicaid) itself does not provide for Alternative Healthcare benefits in their fully integrated managed care plan they offer.
HOWEVER, each Managed Care Plan Provider in Pierce County offers various benefits called "Value-Added Benefits" to incentivize a client to essentially pick that company as their Managed Care Organization (MCO). In Pierce County those providers would be: Community Health Plan of WA, Coordinated Care, Molina, United Healthcare, or Wellpoint WA (Amerigroup).
These added benefits may make one company more attractive to someone who is needing maternity coverage, alternative healthcare coverage, food or housing support, Costco memberships, transportation etc.
Community Health Plan of WA (CHPWA) has an alternative benefit package offering as their Value-Added Benefit, providing a total of 20 Chiropractic, Massage, or Acupuncture visits if the provider accepts CHPWA and is willing to bill. For an hour of Massage Therapy it will use 2 of these visits, essentially providing the client with 10 hours of Massage to use if they solely use the benefit at UTB!
This is exciting news, and an amazing opportunity to access alternative care which is not provided by government sponsored healthcare at this time. At UTB access to care and supporting our community is core to our mission and we are more than thrilled to be able to bill for this added benefit to CHPWA in our clinic. It is our hope that community members who may not have financial means to pay out of pocket for Massage Therapy can use this benefit and find relief in a safe and natural way to decrease pain or tension. Research suggests Massage Therapy can be a viable alternative to treating pain and decreasing pain med usage, potentially helping restore function to diminished activities of daily living thereby increasing quality of life.
Steps to Approval:
Step 1: Verify that you have chosen Community Health Plan of WA (CHPWA) as your Apple Health (Medicaid) Managed Care Organization (MCO)
When you are approved for WA Apple Health (Medicaid) you have the choice of what Managed Care Organization you will utilize for their provider network and added value benefits an MCO may offer as an incentive to choose their company over another offered in your county.
If you have chosen Community Health Plan of WA (CHPWA) as your MCO, you have access to an "added value alternative healthcare benefit package" allowing you to up to 10 hours of massage per year!
If you have another MCO (Molina, United, Coordinated Care, etc.) you are able to call Apple Health Customer Service at: 1-800-562-3022 and switch your MCO effective the 1st of the following month to CHPWA to gain access to these "added value alternative healthcare benefits".
***ATTENTION*** BEFORE SWITCHING YOUR MCO WITH APPLE HEALTH - CHECK WITH YOUR EXISTING CARE PROVIDERS TO MAKE SURE THEY ARE IN THE CHPWA NETWORK. IF YOU NEED GUIDANCE ON THIS, CONTACT YOUR CURRENT PROVIDERS, APPLE HEALTH CUSTOMER SERVICE 1-800-562-3022 , OR COMMUNITY HEALTH PLAN OF WASHINGTON CUSTOMER SERVICE 1-866-907-1904.
Step 2: Visit Your Primary Care Doctor or Chiropractor
Once you have verified you have CHPWA as your Managed Care Plan through Apple Health, you will need to visit your Primary Care Physician or Chiropractor to obtain a referral for Massage Therapy with a diagnosed condition (neck pain, low back pain, shoulder pain) listed and have the paperwork faxed or mailed to UTB or you can get it in hand and bring it to us. As an alternate option, you may call us after your visit and we can reach out to your care provider to request it as well.
Step 3: Your Provider Sends Authorization to UTB and We Get You Scheduled for up to 10 Massages!
Once you have met with your primary care provider or Chiropractor and asked for a prescription for Massage Therapy, your request will be sent to Unlocking The Body in a few days. Call us to let us know to expect a referral for you from your provider and give us your medical benefit information over the phone to get you into our system. Once we receive the prescription, we will contact you to get you scheduled!
Helpful Links:
Contact Methods for Apple Health (Medicaid)
Questions or to Switch to CHPWA