Choice, quality, flexibility, ease of access, and exceptional value – these are what employers seek in managed care plans. As one of the largest, most effective PPO networks in the Carolinas, MedCost Preferred provides broad access and choice while delivering substantial savings.

The overall goal of the MedCost Preferred network is to provide a continuum of quality care for the patient. Stringent credentialing and selection criteria for physicians and hospitals ensures that the Preferred network offers an integrated approach to quality services.

Advantages of the MedCost Preferred Network

Provider Choice. The MedCost Preferred network is comprised of more than 10,500 primary care physicians, 20,500 specialists, and over 840 hospitals/facilities/ancillary providers. Providing broad access to most providers in North Carolina and South Carolina, MedCost Preferred is the leading PPO in the Carolinas.

No Referral Process. Preferred providers represent an extensive continuum of care including a broad range of medical specialties. Patients have open access to these providers.

Credentialed Physicians. MedCost Preferred physicians are required to meet strict credentialing criteria that examine: education, certification, licensing, hospital privileges, practice history, criminal history, malpractice history, and 24-hour practice coverage. All participating physicians are subject to recredentialing every three years.

Credentialed Hospitals. The hospitals/facilities in the MedCost Preferred network are also extensively credentialed. All hospitals are accredited by the Joint Commission on Accreditation on Health Care Organizations (JCAHO) and/or have quality assurance programs that meet JCAHO standards. The MedCost provider selection committee examines the hospital relative to surrounding hospitals with regard to reputation, range of services, cost-effectiveness, and location.

Flexibility. MedCost has relationships with over 100 claim administrators and insurance companies. This provides maximum flexibility to you when choosing an administrator and designing your plan.

Savings. On average, MedCost clients save $63 for every $1 they pay to access the MedCost Preferred network.

Other reasons why you should choose MedCost Preferred:

• MedCost has completed key provider contracts with tertiary care centers to offer savings for transplants.
  
  
• As patient care continues to shift from the hospital setting to other settings, MedCost has broadened its network to include all types of ancillary services such as home health, hospice care, durable medical euipment, home infusion therapy services, prosthetics, and orthotics.
  
  
• MedCost has formed strategic alliances to offer national network services to clients who have representation outside of the Carolinas. Our national partners have selected the very best quality regional PPO provider networks that offer maximum coverage while delivering substantial savings all through one central source for consolidated network administration and under one contract.
  
  
• MedCost is committed to providing a high caliber of service that makes us as accessible and responsive to our customers as possible. We adhere to standards of operational excellence that make it easy to do business with us. For example:

• Our Customer Service Contact Center assists callers with provider participation questions, answering 70% of calls in 30 seconds or less.
• Our Web site allows visitors to search the provider database or download a provider directory.
• We electronically transmit claims to participating claim administrators via Emdeon. In addition, 70% of inbound claims are now received electronically at MedCost.