AMCO's Baptist Health Exclusive Option
To summarize the benefits of AMCO's exclusive arrangement with Baptist Health:
Providers
By selecting the "exclusive" option, the client agrees to access the following hospitals and surgery centers in the Central Arkansas area (Pulaski County only) for all Inpatient and Outpatient procedures:
- Baptist Medical Center
- Baptist Memorial Medical Center
- Baptist Rehabilitation Institute
- Little Rock Diagnostic Clinic
- The Surgical Pavilion
- Springhill Surgery Center
- OrthoArkansas Surgery Center
- University Hospital of Arkansas and Arkansas Children's Hospital for specific, limited procedures/treatments currently not available through Baptist.
Some of the Hospitals and Surgery Centers in Central Arkansas excluded under this arrangement are:
- Rebsamen Regional Medical Center
- Southwest Regional Medical Center
- St. Vincent Infirmary Medical Center
- St. Vincent Medical Center Sherwood
- Arkansas Heart Hospital, Little Rock Surgery Center
- North River Surgery Center
- Arkansas Surgical Hospital
- St. George Surgery Center.
- ** University Hospital and Arkansas Children's Hospital may only be used for services not performed at the Baptist Health facilities. Please speak with your Administrator or contact Baptist Health to inquire.
All AMCO physicians continue to be available through this arrangement; however, patients are responsible for notifying their physicians that hospital services (Inpatient and Outpatient) must be performed exclusively at Baptist facilities if available. AMCO does not provide separate Web Provider Directories. All hospitals appear on AMCO's website directory.
Frequently Asked Questions:
Q.) What hospital can I use with AMCO's Baptist Exclusive Network?
A.) Outside of Pulaski County, you may use any AMCO Hospital. Within Pulaski County, the primary in-network facilities are:
- Baptist Health Medical Center - Little Rock
- Baptist Health Medical Center - North Little Rock
- Baptist Rehabilitation Institute in Little Rock
For certain services not provided or appropriate at either of the Baptist facilities, you may use Arkansas Children's Hospital or University Hospital (UAMS) on a limited basis.
Q.) Why can I not use other hospitals in Pulaski County? I thought Arkansas had an Any Willing Provider law?
A.) Your health plan is self-funded, meaning all claims are paid by your employees' plan rather than paying premiums to an insurance company. Arkansas does have an Any Willing Provider law, but it allows self-funded plans to choose their specific plan.
Q.) I still do not understand why we would select a health plan that keeps me from going to other hospital facilities in Pulaski County?
A.) Baptist Health has a special arrangement with AMCO to provide much deeper discounts and savings to you as the employee and your health plan if your plan opts to access AMCO's Baptist Exclusive Network.
Q.) Does this arrangement limit the physicians I can choose for my care?
A.) No. You may use any AMCO Provider available.
Q.) What services does Baptist health not provide that I should use UAMS or Arkansas Children's Hospital?
A.) This question can be difficult to answer clearly, but following are several comments that should help:
- First and foremost, you should rely on the advice of your physician as to the appropriate setting for the care you or your family need. Your physician will typically know when the services cannot be provided at Baptist Health and will make a referral to Arkansas Children's Hospital or UAMS.
- When you access the Baptist Exclusive option, your health plan pays at a higher rate. It is important to now that your health plan does not prohibit you from using another facility, but it will not pay at the higher in-network rate.
- Baptist Health provides almost all of the hospital services you will need. There are some exceptions. For example, certain complex cancer treatments are provided by UAMS only in the Central Arkansas area. Severe burn treatment is only provided by Arkansas Children's Hospital as well as most complex pediatric care.
- If you are referred to Baptist Health for care in any of the above areas or if there is a question, Baptist Health will ensure that you or your family member are referred to UAMS or Arkansas Children's Hospital when that is in the best interest of the patient.
Q.) Should I go to UAMS for all cancer treatment or to Arkansas Children's Hospital for all pediatric care?
A.) No, not necessarily. There are a lot of common cancer treatments provided very well by Baptist Health in which you would not need to be referred to UAMS. Also general pediatric care is available at Baptist Health for many routine treatments and procedures. Once again, your physician, AMCO and Baptist Health will assist you in insuring you or your family member are in the appropriate setting for care. If there is any doubt, we will ensure you get the best care available.
Q.) Can Baptist Health provide high risk pregnancy and premature newborns?
A.) Baptist Health has perinatologists (OB/Gyn specializing in high risk pregnancies) on staff and are available to handle high risk pregnancy cases. Baptist Health also has a state-of-the-art Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and can handle most premature newborns. Certain high-risk specialty cases may need to be referred to Arkansas Children's Hospital and Baptist Health has the facilities in place to make transfers when appropriate.
Q.) Someone in my family may need a transplant. Where do we go for transplant services?
A.) Baptist Health provides both heart and kidney transplant services. They also perform cornea transplants at the Baptist Health Eye Center. Certain transplants, such as bone marrow transplants for cancer patients, are provided by UAMS and some other transplants may require a referral out of state.
Q.) Why isn't the Arkansas Heart Hospital included?
A.) While the Arkansas Heart Hospital is in the traditional AMCO network, Baptist Health is exclusive facility for the Baptist Exclusive plan. Baptist Health provides all cardiac services and has been a leader in heart care for years. If a patient needs heart care, but also has other health issues requiring assistance from other specialists, Baptist Health is in a good position to treat that patient because they are a full service facility. Lastly, it is important to remember, you are not prohibited to going to a facility other than Baptist Health, but if you chose to do so, your benefits will be limited.
While we have attempted to answer some of your questions regarding AMCO's Baptist Exclusive network, AMCO, Baptist Health and your Administrator are available to assist should you have additional questions.
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