FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS? Top
What types of problems should I go to the ER for?
Doesn't the ER give the best and most up to date medical care for any of my healthcare needs?
What is an urgent care clinic?
How do I find an urgent care clinic near me?
What is a PCP?
How do I find a PCP?
What is a health plan? Do I have a health plan?
Who is my HPR?
How do I decide whether to go to an ER, urgent care, or PCP?
Where do I go for mental health services?
Who are the experts for poisoning information?
What types of problems should I go to the ER for?
You should go to the nearest hospital ER when your life is in danger or when you could suffer a permanent disability if you don't get immediate medical care and treatment. For more information, click here.
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Doesn't the ER give the best and most up to date medical care for any of my healthcare needs?
Many people think that a hospital ER will provide them the best possible medical care because of the high tech equipment and testing that is available there. What's missing is the knowledge from your own primary care provider (PCP) who knows you and your medical history. The ER doctor will probably need to run tests because he doesn't know you or your medical history. Having tests you don't need puts you at risk of problems from the test itself.
Did you know that the radiation exposure to a single CT scan (computed tomography or CAT scan) is the equivalent of about 600 chest x-rays? Click here for more information.
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What is an urgent care clinic?
An urgent care clinic is open more hours than regular medical offices. They are open evenings and weekends and they see patients without an appointment. The doctors at urgent care clinics treat people for medical problems that should not wait. They don't keep a medical chart and history on the patients that are seen at an urgent care clinic.
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How do I find an urgent care clinic near me?
Check with your Medicaid health plan or insurance provider for a list of urgent care / after hours medical providers that accept your coverage. You can also check our list of some urgent care providers and call them to see if they accept your insurance.
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What is a PCP?
A PCP is the health care provider people see for most of their lifetime medical care. It can be a doctor who specializes in family practice, internal medicine, pediatrics or sometimes obstetrics and gynecology (Ob/Gyn). It can also be a mid-level provider such as a Family Nurse Practitioner (FNP) or a Physician Assistant (PA). FNP's and PA's work under the direction and license of a doctor usually at the office of the doctor who supervises them. PCP's keeps a medical chart and history on each patient they see. The patient chart is updated at each office visit recording diagnoses, medication changes, and test results.
Family Practice specialists treat patients from birth-to-death and from head-to-toe.
Internal Medicine specialists treat adult patients, usually age 18 and up. Some take patients at around age 14.
Pediatricians are specialists who see only children, usually from birth through age 18. Some teens want to graduate at a younger age to a family doctor or an internist.
Ob/Gyn's are specialists who see only women, usually for care during a pregnancy and annual pap smears and exams. Some Ob/Gyn's also see their female patients for routine sick visits.
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How do I find a PCP?
- Contact your Health Program Representative (HPR) if you have Select Access and need help finding a PCP. Your HPR can give you names of providers in your area that will accept Select Access. If you have Healthy U, HOME, or Molina please call the health plan's Customer Service line.
- You can call a Community Health Center for an appointment.
- Talk to family and friends for a recommendation.
- Call the Utah Medical Association at 801-355-7477 for names of doctors in your community accepting patients.
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What is a health plan? Do I have a health plan?
A health plan is a group of doctors, clinics, hospitals, and other medical experts you will use for your medical care. Medicaid contracts with health plans to cover most of your Medicaid benefits. Some benefits are still provided by the State.
It is important to sign up for a health plan. Please contact your Health Program Representative (HPR) if you are not sure if you have a health plan or if you need to sign up for one.
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What is an HPR?
An HPR is a person who works for Medicaid whose offices are located within the Department of Workforce Services offices. HPR's can:
- Give you information about your Medicaid benefits,
- Talk to you about health plans and help you choose one,
- Help you select a Primary Care Provider, or
- Help you when you have problems with your Medicaid benefits.
To find your HPR please call 1-866-608-9422 or click here.
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How do I decide whether to go to an ER, urgent care, or PCP?
Ask yourself these questions:
- Is it safe to wait and call my PCP first?
- Is it safe to wait and schedule an appointment in the next day or two with my PCP?
- Is it safe to wait if I can get an appointment today with my PCP?
- If my PCP can't see me, is it safe to wait to be seen at an urgent care clinic as a walk-in?
- Could I die or suffer a serious injury if I don't get immediate medical help?
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Where do I go for mental health services?
Your Medicaid card lists the name and phone number of the pre-paid mental health plan you can use for mental health care.
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Who are the experts for poisoning information?
It may be possible to avoid a trip to the emergency room.
The poison control center has specially trained staff on duty all the time to answer questions about a poison emergency or possible poison exposure. These specially trained pharmacists and nurses provide immediate treatment advice for any kind of poisoning concern. Call 1-800-222-1222.
If someone is not breathing, call 9-1-1 NOW.
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