Benefits Overview

Behavioral healthcare is care for your mental health. A person struggling with behavioral health issues may face stress, depression, anxiety, or need help with substance abuse. MHS has behavioral health case managers who help members with special healthcare needs by working together with you and your behavioral health doctor to make a plan of care.

If you are having one of the following problems, please call MHS at 1-877-647-4848 and follow the prompts for behavioral health. If you have a life-threatening emergency, please go to the nearest hospital emergency room.

• You are worried about substance abuse or mental health issues
• You are sad or feel you need help
• You need names of therapists or doctors
• You need help to find resources in your community for mental health
• You don’t understand your mental health benefits

Crisis Text Line

If you are in crisis and need support, you can text MHS to 741741. It’s free, confidential and available 24/7.

Covered Behavioral Health Services

• Diagnostic services
• Intensive outpatient programs
• Second opinions
• Addiction counseling and treatment
• Crisis intervention
• Partial hospitalization
• Psychological testing
• Residential Substance Use Disorder Treatment
• Inpatient and outpatient
• Opioid Treatment Program (OTP)

Long-term care, home and community-based waiver services, state psychiatric facility services, intermediate care facilities for individuals with intellectual disabilities, and psychiatric residential treatment facility services are not covered by Hoosier Care Connect. Those services may be covered under another program.

Behavioral Health Programs

• Hospital Admission Follow-Up for Children
• Intensive Care Management Programs:
  • Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
  • Austism/Pervasive Developmental Disease
  • Bipolar Disorder Management
  • Depression
• Medicaid Rehabilitation Option (MRO)
• Pregnancy and Post-Partum Care

Care coordination and disease coaching are part of your health benefits and are provided to you at no cost. MHS pays for these services. We provide services for many conditions, such as asthma, diabetes, COPD, high-risk pregnancy and many more. Call Member Services at 1-877-647-4848 (TTY: 1-800-743-3333).

MHS is proud to work with Connections Plus® and SafeLink Wireless to offer you these special, federal programs.

Connections Plus® Cell Phone

MHS can lend a cell phone to our members enrolled in care management who do not have access to a regular phone. Connections Plus cell phones are programmed to make calls to and receive calls from the MHS Care Management team, a member’s PMP, other doctors in the treatment plan, MHS’ 24 hour nurse advice line and family who support the member’s care plan.

SafeLink Cell Phone

• 350 minutes, 3 GB of data and unlimited texts.
• The option to buy extra minutes at a discount. Only $0.10 per extra minute.
• A FREE phone and monthly minutes.
• The ability to make and receive calls from your doctors, nurses, 911, family and friends.
• Communication access 24 hours a day.
• Ability to participate in educational programs.

MHS members get all the same benefits of a SafeLink phone, plus more!

There are no added costs for these extras:

• Unlimited inbound text messages
• Calls to MHS Member Services that will not count towards your 350 minutes.
• To take part in MHS cell phone health programs.

With a SafeLink phone, there are no bills, so there are no surprises. If you run out of minutes, you can buy more. And you can always call 911 or MHS Member Services for free, even if you run out of minutes.

Ways to Enroll in the MHS SafeLink Phone Program

1. If you already have a SafeLink phone, call 1-877 631-2550 so you can begin receiving MHS’ SafeLink benefits.
2. Visit safelink.com to apply online.
3. Call SafeLink at 1-877 631-2550 to apply over the phone.

MHS’ Children with Special Needs Unit brings experienced professionals with varied backgrounds together as a team to address the complex needs of individual members. The program provides case management to families with children who have difficult medical problems and will benefit from team care – including children with autism, developmental disabilities, muscular dystrophy, cerebral palsy, immune deficiencies and other chronic illnesses.

Through this new unit, MHS staff provides education, resources and tools to members and their families to assist in getting the help needed to maximize health, development and independent living in the community.

The team goals include reducing complications related to conditions or diseases; increasing the ability to perform activities of daily living; and reducing or eliminating the fragmentation of services and the barriers to care, education and social activities.

Family or guardians may call MHS and ask for a member of the Special Needs Unit in order to learn more about how to obtain an MHS case manager for a special needs child.

View and print our Children with Special Needs brochure (PDF).

As a MHS Member, you can choose who you see for your healthcare needs from our network of Providers. We have many for you to choose from. If you need help choosing a doctor, call Member Services at 1-877-647-4848 (TTY: 1-800-743-3333).

Get Your Preventive Care Regularly

We visit the doctor when we are sick or hurt so that we can get better, but doctors can help us when we’re not sick, too. Doctors can help us find the early warning signs of health problems so that we can change our lifestyles or take medications that will keep us from getting sick – or worse. We also get immunizations (shots) that keep us from getting diseases that can cause wide-spread sickness in our communities.

The best way to stay healthy is to get your regular preventive care. Preventive care visits are covered for all MHS members. This means visiting the doctor for a regular check-up, rather than waiting until you are sick. Every year, adults need to receive an annual check-up from their doctor. MHS covers an annual physical for adults. Depending on your age and gender, you may need certain screenings and even immunizations.

Review the Immunization Schedules and Preventive Care Guidelines

Women’s Health | Preventive Care

Women need certain health tests men don’t need. These tests are simple screenings that can make a big difference. All women should talk to their doctor about getting preventive care screenings such as Pap tests, chlamydia tests and mammograms. Women’s preventive health screenings and getting birth control (family planning) are self referral services. That means you can see a doctor other than your MHS doctor. You do not have to get a referral from your doctor, but you must visit an Indiana Medicaid network provider.

Men’s Health | Preventive Care

Men need preventive services too. Talk to your doctor about specific recommendations based on your age and medical history. 

Be Prepared for Your Doctor Visit

Follow these tips to get the most out of each doctor visit:

• Bring your insurance card and photo ID.
• Turn off your cell phones and other electronic devices.
• Write down a list of questions to ask the doctor.
• Bring your medical and shot records and any medicine you are currently taking.
• Arrive on time.
• Describe symptoms and complaints.
• Ask questions and take notes during each visit.
• Discuss your next steps for your care plan with the doctor.
• Schedule follow-up visits and any yearly checkups.

Get Your Child's Preventive Care Regularly

The best way to stay healthy is to get your regular preventive care. Preventive care visits are covered for all MHS members. This means visiting the doctor for a regular check-up, rather than waiting until you are sick.

Regular child check-ups are also covered for those under the age of 21. These doctor visits should occur at the below ages.

• Birth or neonatal exam
• 2 to 4 days for newborns discharged less than 48 hours after delivery
• By 1 month
• 2 months
• 4 months
• 6 months
• 9 months
• 12 months
• 15 months
• 18 months
• 24 months
• 30 months
• Once per year from 3 years through 20 years

Search for a provider in our network.

Children also need a blood lead test between 9 and 15 months. If the child is at high risk for lead exposure, the first lead screening should be at the 6 month visit. Children should have another blood level test between ages 21 and 27 months.  Any child between 28 and 72 months who has not had a blood lead test must have one as soon as possible. 

MHS adopts the American Academy of Pediatrics’ schedule for well-child checkups, which includes a list of suggested preventive health services based on age. Click here for a complete listing of the preventive health guides (PDF). More importantly, you should ask your doctor at each visit if your children are up to date and current on all preventive health requirements for children up to age 21.

You can earn My Health Pays rewards for each well-child checkup for children 0-15 months, for up to six visits. You can also earn My Health Pays rewards for each yearly well-child checkup for children age 15 months to 20 years old.

Exams and Screenings for Your Child

There are a series of tests your child needs to receive every year from birth to age 21. These tests are called well-child checkups, HealthWatch visits or EPSDT visits (Early Periodic Screening, Diagnosis and Treatment). Your child should be screened early so health problems can be found and treated. MHS and your doctor will remind you when it’s time for your next screening.

EPSDT screenings include:

• Health and development history
• Physical exam
• Nutrition evaluation
• Development evaluation
• Vision, hearing and dental exams
• Lab tests, including lead levels
• Health education

Immunizations (Shots)

Your doctor will usually give immunizations (shots) during a well-child check-up. Each one of these shots helps protect your child, your family, and your community from dangerous disease and illness. If you think your child may be due for an immunization, please call to set up their next appointment right away.

Review the Immunization Schedules and Preventive Care Guidelines

Be Prepared for Your Doctor Visit

Follow these tips to get the most out of each doctor visit:

• Bring your insurance card and photo ID.
• Turn off your cell phones and other electronic devices.
• Write down a list of questions to ask the doctor.
• Bring your medical and shot records and any medicine you are currently taking.
• Arrive on time.
• Describe symptoms and complaints.
• Ask questions and take notes during each visit.
• Discuss your next steps for your care plan with the doctor.
• Schedule follow-up visits and any yearly checkups.

MemberConnections® 

This is an outreach team of MHS staff who can help you one-on-one with understanding your health coverage and other community resources. MemberConnections can provide in person or over-the-phone help. They will help you build a relationship with your doctor, help you understand your health benefits and put you in touch with community resources.

If you are in need of transportation, food, shelter or other health programs, MemberConnections can help. Call MHS Member Services for more information at 1-877-647-4848.

The MHS Family Education Network can help explain your health coverage through in-person training around the State.

Please call MHS Member Services at 1-877 647-4848 or send us a message if you would like to know more about these programs. We have a MemberConnections Map (PDF) that shows contacts around the state.

MHS 24/7 Free Nurse Advice Line

Everyone has questions about their health. If you have a question, you can reach the MHS 24 hour nurse advice line at 1-877-647-4848. The MHS nurse advice line is a free, medical advice phone line staffed by bilingual licensed nurses. It is open 24 hours a day, every day of the year. You can learn more by using the Nurse Advice Line brochure (PDF).

Here are some questions you might ask:

• Questions about pregnancy
• What to do if your baby is sick
• How to deal with asthma
• How much medicine to use/give
• When to go to the emergency room

The Ombudsman Program is designed to assist MHS members in finding effective ways to resolve concerns or complaints about the benefits and services provided under their MHS coverage plan. The program will provide support to members and their families or representatives and work with MHS and providers to solve problems and misunderstandings and create responses based on an individual’s needs. The Ombudsman toll-free number is 1-877-647-5326.

The aim of the ombudsman program is to provide MHS members with free and easy access to an independent party which will investigate and help with member concerns, provide member education, and help members contact the right people for assistance within the Medicaid system and MHS. It is the hope of MHS that our members will feel comfortable accessing a trusted community-based organization with any concerns they may have about the health plan or the services they have received. A non-profit, independent organization manages the Ombudsman program.

You do not have to use the ombudsman. You can talk to MHS directly about any problems you may be having.

If you would like to learn more about the Ombudsman program, please call MHS Member Services.

MHS provides bilingual staff or an interpreter to help members who speak languages other than English. We can help schedule appointments and answer questions over the phone. This service is free to use. Call MHS Member Services at 1-877-647-4848 and ask for language assistance.

Hearing impaired members can call the Indiana Relay Service at 1-800-743-3333 for TTY service. This number can be used anywhere in Indiana. Ask the operator to connect you to MHS at 1-877-647-4848 or to any other number. Tell your doctor if you need a sign language interpreter for your medical visits.

Interpreter services are provided free of charge to you during any service or grievance process. This includes American Sign Language and real-time oral interpretation.

If you need something translated into a language other than English, please call MHS. We can also provide things in other formats such as Braille, CD or large print.

Start Smart for Your Baby (Start Smart) is our special program for women who are pregnant and for those moms who just had a baby.  We want to help you take care of yourself and your baby every step of the way. If you are pregnant, please let us know by completing a Notification of Pregnancy form by signing into your member portal account. After completing this form you will be enrolled in Start Smart. You will receive information in mail and over the phone. You can also get information in the Health & Wellness section.

Tips for Pregnancy

If you are pregnant or want to become pregnant, keep these things in mind:

• Go before you show! Go to the doctor as soon as you think you are pregnant. It is important for you and your baby to see a doctor as early as possible. It will keep both of you healthy. It will also help your baby get off to a good start. It is even better to see a doctor before you are pregnant. This is so you can get your body ready for pregnancy.
• Maintain healthy lifestyle habits. This includes exercising, eating balanced and healthy meals, and resting for 8-10 hours every night.
• Do not use tobacco, alcohol or drugs now or while you’re pregnant.

Breastfeeding

Doctors and health organizations agree that breastfeeding is best. You may already know that breast milk is packed with the perfect mix of nutrients your baby needs. Did you know that it is also more than just food? Breast milk has special ingredients, like antibodies, that only you can provide. Breast pumps are helpful if you are breastfeeding and have to be away from your baby. Call us after you deliver to see if breast pumps are offered.

Are You Pregnant? Tell Us Right Away!

Call us. Or, you can login to your MHS account and fill out the Notification of Pregnancy form.

What is a Referral?

Sometimes your PMP may want you to get care from other providers. When this happens, you must get approval from your PMP. This is called a referral. A referral will let you go to another MHS doctor, hospital, or lab.

Your PMP will:

• Give you a written note of approval to take with you when you get the service
• Arrange the service for you
• Tell you how to get the service

Seeing a Specialist

A specialist is a doctor who works in one healthcare area. For example, a doctor who only works with the heart (a cardiologist) is a specialist. Your PMP will provide you with a referral if you need to see a specialist. The specialist will be an MHS provider.

Prior Authorization

Some services need approval from MHS before you get them. This is called prior authorization (PA). Your doctor must inform MHS about your health to obtain authorization. MHS will then decide if the requested care and services are appropriate. MHS will not pay for the services if your doctor does not get prior authorization when it is needed. Below is a list of services that require PA.