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March 26, 2024

All Regence members have options when it comes to accessing care, and the choices they make can impact their budget. Visiting the ER, for example, can cost up to five times more than visiting an urgent care clinic. Similarly, seeing a doctor in person for a nonurgent need may cost more time and money than seeing one through virtual care.

Many Regence members in Oregon and Washington can receive on-call care in their homes for urgent, non-life-threatening medical needs through DispatchHealth. An in-network provider, DispatchHealth helps members avoid unnecessary trips to the ER or urgent care clinic and receive medical attention without having to leave the comfort of their home.

DispatchHealth is currently available to members living in select portions of the Portland, Seattle-Tacoma and Spokane metropolitan areas.

With DispatchHealth, members can receive same-day care by scheduling an appointment for a team of trained emergency medical professionals to visit them at home. DispatchHealth professionals can treat a variety of conditions, including cuts, lacerations and abrasions, infections, mild to moderate abdominal pains, severe cold and flu symptoms, and sprains and strains. They can even order prescriptions for patients. It’s a convenient way for members to get in-network, in-home care at a cost comparable to urgent care.

DispatchHealth also offers in-home care for patients after they’ve been discharged from a hospital, skilled nursing facility or inpatient rehabilitation stay. This service, known as Bridge Care, is provided upon referral by a member’s inpatient provider or Regence care manager. Within 24 to 72 hours of discharge, DispatchHealth visits the member’s home to help assess their status and ensure they have everything they need to recover—including a scheduled visit with their PCP.

All members who call DispatchHealth for on-call care are screened over the phone before their appointment. If it’s determined during the phone screening that more advanced emergency care is required, DispatchHealth will direct the patient to get care in an ER or urgent care clinic.

When it comes to helping make care more affordable and convenient, offering choices is only part of the equation. As a trusted advisor, you can help: Encourage your employer groups and their employees to better understand their care options before they need them so they can choose the best fit when each situation arises. Download the DispatchHealth employer engagement toolkits (OREGON | WASHINGTON) for a range of resources that can help keep your employer groups well informed about this important in-network provider.

DispatchHealth is available widely but not in all geographic areas. To learn more and determine availability, members should sign in to their member account on regence.com or the Regence app. Or they can call DispatchHealth at 1-833-652-0539.

Questions? Please contact your account representative.