Headlines

MSSF Seeking NW-Region Marketing Rep

Montana School Services Foundation (MSSF), which administers the Montana Unified School Trust (MUST), is seeking a Marketing and Service Representative for its northwest region.

Responsibilities include: educating members on MUST health benefits and wellness programs, working with groups to select benefit packages that best fit their needs, representing MUST at industry-related events, and providing customer service to member groups in the NW region.

Ideal candidate will have a bachelor’s degree in marketing, communication, or a related field, or the equivalent combination of education and experience. A background in education or health benefits is a plus.

Position located in NW Montana, preferably in the greater Missoula area. Must be able to work independently. Travel required. Competitive pay and a robust benefits package are offered.

Send resume and references to:Montana School Services Foundation, Attn: Human Resources, PO BOX 4579, Helena, MT 59604

MUST Reminder

It's a new Benefit Period, so don't forget to give your current MUST ID card to your provider at the time of your visit. Using an old card will cause your claims to be delayed.

New Bozeman Area Provider Joins MUST Network

We would like to welcome Dr. Debra Hill-Busselle of Bozeman to the MUST network. Dr. Hill-Busselle is a noted gynecologist and women's healthcare specialist who recently returned to the area.

Important Network News

MUST is pleased to announce that Benefis Hospital has renewed its contract and will remain a MUST network provider for 2012. In other good news, Northern Rockies Anesthesia of Kalispell joined the MUST network effective October 1.

New Shingles Vaccine Rules

The Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices (ACIP) recently reversed its recommendation that people age 50-59 should get the shingles vaccine. Since MUST adjudicates vaccination claims based on such recommendations, it will now only cover the vaccine for members 60 and over.

ACIP reviewed the status of the shingles vaccine (Zostavax-ZOS) and the burden of herpes zoster (HZ) disease and reversed their decision to expand the recommendation for the use to include people age 50-59 years for the following reasons:

  1. Vaccines that contain varicella virus (i.e., varicella, ZOS, and MMRV vaccines) are in recurrent short supply in the U.S.
  2. Though the burden of HZ disease increases after age 50, disease rates are lower in this age group than they are in the 60-years-and-older age group
  3. currently, ZOS vaccination rates are less than 10 percent, and
  4. A recommendation to vaccinate people age 50–59 years could result in more zoster disease if the limited supply of vaccine were to be given to people whose risk of disease is lower than that of older, more vulnerable adults.  

Since MUST plans follow the ACIP recommendation for coverage of immunizations and will cover the shingles vaccine for members age 60 and older.

Important Disease-Management Changes

MUST and Alere have made a few changes to the disease-management program in order to improve and streamline the service. First and foremost, members should be aware that the program phone number will change to 1-877-912-5373 on August 1, 2011. Another addition is a toll-free nurse line (24 hours a day, 365 days a year), which can only be utilized by MUST members enrolled in the Alere program. The program has limited pediatric-asthma management to children ages six to 17 ½ and eliminated peptic ulcer disease from the list of covered conditions. The new list of managed chronic conditions reads as follows:

  • Asthma (adult)
  • Asthma (pediatric, age 6 to 17 ½)
  • Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
  • Congestive heart failure
  • Coronary artery disease
  • Diabetes

Plan Amendments and Notices Mailed

A summary of plan changes for this benefit period mailed recently. All MUST members should read these carefully and contact MUST customer service if the mailing is not received or for further explanation of the materials. Be aware, however, that all summary information is superseded by the Summary Plan Description.

Claims Web Site Update

First Choice Health has updated the MUST member portal.  The site features some welcome improvements, including links to PDF versions of member EOBs.  Member accumulators (deductible and out-of-pocket totals) can be found under the Eligibility & Benefits section.

MUST in the News

MUST's application for the U.S. Department of Health & Human Services' (HHS) Early Retirement Reinsurance Program was recently accepted.  To learn more about this program and how MUST intends to use the funds, check the HHS announcement and read MUST's letter of appreciation. 

Welcome to the New MUST Web Site

Hundreds of MUST members access our Web site every single day and over the years statistical data has given us a more precise idea of what members need and how long they are willing to spend finding it.  Now it should be easier than ever to find forms, browse publications, and to get the information you need as quickly as possible.

Here is a list of some of the more notable improvements:

  • Common forms and publications can now be found from the home page with one click. Just hover over the tabs on the green navigation bar to see quick links to all kinds of helpful documents.
  • Quickly access claims information and EOBs by clicking the First Choice Health log-in button on the bottom left side of the screen.
  • Navigation has been simplified for finding network providers.  Just hover over the "network provider" tab on the left to follow links to various area-specific MUST networks.   

There will be a learning curve but we believe the new structure will better suit the most members possible. However, if you have problems finding things, don’t hesitate to call 1-800-845-7283 for assistance.