Southcoast to offer care to low-income seniors

NEW BEDFORD – Southcoast Hospitals Group has become a contracted provider with Senior Whole Health, a new health plan for low-income seniors in Massachusetts, and will accept the plan at all its locations, including Charlton Memorial Hospital in Fall River, St. Luke’s Hospital in New Bedford and Tobey Hospital in Wareham.
Senior Whole Health is a special health plan for seniors who are eligible for both MassHealth (Medicaid) and Medicare. It covers preventive services, doctor’s visits, hospital care, prescription drugs, home-based services, care in nursing homes and many other services.
“This program will help us provide better care for these patients,” said Melissa Rose, director of contracting and reimbursement for Southcoast. “SWH can provide many benefits to our patients, and there are no premiums or co-payments for services or prescriptions.”
All SWH subscribers must choose a primary care doctor. Nurse coordinators and service coordinators then work with patients and doctors to determine what types of care and services are needed and preferred and help arrange those services.