Utilization Management

Affirmative Statement About Incentives

SummaCare bases utilization management (UM) decisions on reasonable medical evidence and consensus of relevant healthcare professionals. Clinical decisions about each request for service are based on the clinical features of the individual case and the medical necessity criteria.

The SummaCare Clinical Quality Committee (CQC) reviews and approved the development of UM criteria. The CQC consists of primary care and specialty physicians/practitioners who currently provide direct patient care. The SummaCare CQC reviews and updates medical criteria for UM decision making on an annual basis.

SummaCare approved criteria include, but are not limited to:

Milliman Care Guidelines – Inpatient and Surgical Care. The first line criteria for evaluation of inpatient medical and behavioral health services.

InterQual’s Imaging Criteria, the first line criteria for evaluation of medical necessity for imaging procedures.

InterQual's Adult and Pediatric Procedures Criteria, the first line criteria for evaluation of medical necessity for outpatient procedures.

Alere Paradigm Health Neonatal Guidelines, the criteria used for high-risk newborns cared for in neonatal intensive care
 
The Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Guidelines.

Health Plan Benefits and Coverage Guidelines including clinical Practice guidelines and medical necessity criteria.

Physicians/Practitioners may obtain the medical criteria used in making a determination by calling 330-996-8775 and requesting the information. Physicians/Practitioners may also speak to a Medical Director regarding decisions based on medical necessity by calling 330-996-8775 or 888-996-8710.

SummaCare is sensitive to the risks of underutilization of care and service which include inappropriate or delayed treatment, preventable contraction of disease, extended duration and/or exacerbation of symptoms, undetected progression of disease, misdiagnosis, impaired quality of life, permanent loss of function and preventable death. For this reason, all physicians/practitioners and SummaCare employees who make utilization-related decisions and those who supervise such employees are required to sign a Risk of Under Utilization Statement.

SummaCare does not reward physicians/practitioners or other individuals conducting utilization review for issuing denials of coverage or service. UM decision-making is based only on benefit limitations and appropriateness of care and service.

Several factors can delay or even prevent the authorization of care of services. These include late referrals, missing referrals, referrals to out-of-network practitioners/providers and incomplete clinical data. Your efforts to avoid these pitfalls will improve the satisfaction of your SummaCare patients and allow the processing of their care authorizations to progress smoothly. SummaCare has fax machines dedicated to these functions.

Prior Authorization Resources

Physicians/Practitioners may obtain the medical criteria used in making a determination by calling 330-996-8775 or 888-996-8710 and requesting the information.  Physicians/Practioners may speak to a Medical Director regarding decisions based on medical necessity by calling 330-996-8775 or 888-996-8710. 

For general utilization management questions, call Provider Support Services at 330-996-8400 or 800-996-8401.