
Commercial Preferred Provider Organization
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A PPO, or Preferred Provider Organization, contracts with physicians and hospitals to secure preferred rates for you and your covered family members. You can decide to visit a PPO provider any time medical care is needed. Should you choose a non-PPO provider, a lower level of benefit may apply. When you choose a PPO provider, you will receive quality medical care and the highest level of benefits. ODS contracts with several PPO networks to provide more physician choices and geographic coverage.
All of our health plans include access to the largest directly contracted PPO network in Oregon, the ODS Plus Network.
ODS members can access all insurance-related information at one convenient online location with myODS,which provides access to member handbooks, claims status and history, detailed benefit information, health tools and more.
These additional services are provided to ODS medical plans at no additional cost.
Through our medical management and health coaching programs, clinical professionals will work with you to help you manage your health. With their help, you’ll identify, plan and achieve the goals that are essential in helping you feel your best.
A variety of helpful tools, both online and via the phone, are available around the clock to help you improve your health, including:
Additionally, the following services are provided through our subsidiary, BenefitHelp Solutions.
How will I benefit from using the PPO physicians and hospitals?
You will benefit for the following reasons:
How do I use the PPO when I need healthcare?
Follow the directions below:
Do all family members have to choose the same PPO provider?
No. Each family member may choose his or her own provider. However, the use of a PPO provider (whether the same as yours or not) results in higher benefits.
What if my family physician is not in this directory?
You may decide to visit a non-PPO physician, however any allowable services will be paid at lower benefit levels than if you visited a PPO physician.
What should I do in a medical emergency?
In the event of an emergency you are covered worldwide 24 hours a day. Emergency medical condition means a medical condition that manifests itself by symptoms of sufficient severity that a prudent layperson possessing an average knowledge of health and medicine would reasonably expect that failure to receive immediate medical attention would place the health of a person, or a fetus in the case of a pregnant woman, in serious jeopardy.* In such a case you should proceed to the closest medical facility for care. In the case where a non-participating facility or provider is used for follow up care to a medical emergency, lower out-of-network benefits will apply.
How are my claims handled?
If you use a PPO provider, they will bill ODS directly.
What happens if my benefit plan does not cover a service which I have received from a preferred provider?
For services not covered by your health benefit plan, you will be responsible for paying the provider's fee.
How do I find out what my benefits will be when using PPO physicians and hospitals?
Please refer to your member handbook or contact Customer Service.
*This is our standard contract wording, your plan may be different so please reference your member handbook for what applies to your plan.