ST. LOUIS To help residents of Joplin/Jasper County recover and rebuild after the recent tornado, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri and its parent company foundation have granted $50,000 to the American Red Cross for disaster relief. The funds will be used by the Red Cross to provide supplies, medical assistance and comfort to Missourians impacted by the May 22 tornado.

In addition, the following assistance and waivers have been enacted:

• The Anthem Employee Assistance Program (EAP) is offering free counseling and referral services by telephone for the next 30 days to all residents throughout the impacted area. Services include access to a website and consultations by telephone with professional counselors. The EAP program is available 24 hours a day by calling toll free 1-800-765-4446 or by visiting our website here and using the password tornado.

• Premium payment will be waived for 60 days for Anthem members in group, senior and individual plans who have lost their homes in Joplin/Jasper County.

• Members of Anthems group, individual, and senior plans living in Joplin/Jasper County will receive a grace period of 60 days on premium payments due in late May and June. If members have questions about their premium payment status, they should call the customer service number on the back of their Member ID card, and if they do not have their card, they should call 1-800-492-2057.

• Joplin/Jasper County members of group, senior, individual and FEP plans who need early prescription refills due to missing prescriptions may do so without penalty. Copayments are being waived. Area pharmacies have been notified.

• As both major health systems in Joplin have been forced to cease or limit services, Anthem members in the affected area may use their in-network benefits at nearby hospitals and physician offices that currently are not in the Anthem provider networks.

• Precertification and preauthorization approvals will be waived for benefits covered by health plans. Members in the Joplin/Jasper County area and their health care professionals do not need to contact Anthem for these approvals at this difficult time, but may do so for benefit information.

• Anthem is replacing durable medical equipment and supplies that have been lost by members in the disaster area at no charge.

Our thoughts and prayers are with our fellow Missourians who lost loved ones, homes and businesses in these deadly storms, said Dennis Matheis, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Missouri. While no amount of financial assistance can ever erase the pain and suffering caused by storms such as these, we are pleased to be able to contribute to relief efforts through our donation to the Red Cross.

We believe that employees who staff our hotline will provide useful counseling and advice to residents. Our waiver and grace period on premiums and early prescription refill and copay waivers should help our members at this difficult time. We also have streamlined processes to help members who need to replace medical equipment or obtain access to care, Matheis said.

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