Community Health Options will soon expand its virtual health services and provide Members access to virtual primary care providers, giving them consistent care when they need it anytime, anywhere. The new service can help make it easier for Members struggling to find a nearby provider accepting new patients, whether they need preventive and routine care or help managing more complex issues.
Firefly Virtual Primary Care, available in January 2024 to Members 18 and older, provides a team comprising of a primary care doctor, nurse practitioner, health guide and behavioral health specialist, who address all aspects of care and can create a personalized plan to tackle specific concerns.
Firefly's primary care is virtual-first. Members can connect with their care team through the Firefly Health app via video appointments or chat, making healthcare swiftly and easily accessible from any location. When Members need a specialist or in-person care, Firefly offers expert support to find local, high-quality in-network specialists and in-person providers, or even providers who come to a Member’s home. Members need reliable cell phone coverage or internet service to use Firefly.
“We’re proud to partner with a robust network of providers in Maine and across New England, yet many of our Members are still challenged to find an available primary care provider,” said Dr. Lori Tishler, chief medical officer of Community Health Options. “We’re delighted to offer this high-quality, convenient option, supporting our Members, as always, with our Maine-based care teams who have on-the-ground knowledge of the local resources so critical to our Members’ overall well-being.”
Learn more here from our news release.
Maine has extended its review to determine who’s eligible for MaineCare until the end of October with a renewed effort to reach those who may have missed out in 2023—even if they didn’t respond to earlier requests to provide the information needed to confirm their eligibility.
The state began reviewing eligibility in 2023 following the end of the federal public health emergency and successfully renewed coverage for 300,000 Mainers. About 9% lost their MaineCare coverage last year, but the state says it expects a higher percentage of the remaining 55,000 people will lose coverage, either thanks to higher wages or because some have moved out of state. Those folks are scheduled for renewal in August, September or October, according to the Maine Department of Health and Human Services.
