Public Employee Press

Innovations: Health care in cyberspace

By GREGORY N. HEIRES

Members in EmblemHealth/GHI will soon be able to receive routine care for minor everyday ailments and be able to schedule their doctors' appointments in cyberspace.

The online consultation and schedule is part of a benefits enhancement package that municipal unions worked on with the city. The package also includes a discount for city employees who enroll in Weight Watchers.

"These improvements are designed to make health care more convenient and less costly," said Willie Chang, administrator of the DC 37 Health and Security Plan. Chang chairs the health subcommittee of the Municipal Labor Committee, which negotiates with the city on behalf of local public-employee unions on health-care matters.

Here is a description of the new benefits:

Telemedicine: This service gives members access to online medical consultations through American Well (also known as AmWell), a telemedicine services company. It allows patients to have health-care consultations through online video or the telephone.

This benefit is not a substitute for visits to your primary care physician. It is an alternative treatment option for simple ailments that may not require a doctor's visit, such as colds, the flu, fevers, rashes, abdominal pain, sinusitis, pinkeye, ear infections and migraines. This benefit will go into effect on July 1.

AmWell charges $39 per visit, but DC 37 members with EmblemHealth/GHI will only be charged $15.

You can learn about the telemedicine service and sign up at no cost by visiting www.AmWell.com. You can also sign up by calling 1-855-818-DOCS. Additional information is available at www.emblemhealth.com/city or www.NYC.gov/hbp.

Zocdoc: Members are able to use this online service for scheduling appointments starting July 1. According to Zocdoc, most patients are able to see a doctor within 48 hours.

You can visit www.zocdoc.com to find out more about the service and download their app, which allows you to find in-network doctors, schedule appointments and read patient reviews.

For additional information, visit www.emblemhealth.com/city or www.NYCF.gov/hbp.

Weight Watchers: Monthly passes for Weight Watchers typically cost $42.95. The price for city employees is only $30; the city and union contribute half of the cost. Also, the monthly price for Weight Waters Online Plus is $14. The union and city cover half of that cost too, so members will only pay $7 a month. This benefit goes into effect on June 1. Spouses and domestic partners are also eligible.

This new Weight Watchers benefit is available for members enrolled in all of the city's health plans.