Johns Hopkins Advantage MD Adding HMO Plan

Because Medicare is not a one-plan-fits-all solution, Johns Hopkins Advantage MD is adding a new health maintenance organization (HMO) plan with lower cost options for Maryland seniors.

Advantage MD is a Medicare Advantage plan, covering everything that Medicare Part A and Part B cover, plus extra benefits such as dental, vision, hearing and prescription drug coverage. Administered by Johns Hopkins HealthCare, Advantage MD currently offers:

• Advantage MD preferred provider organization (PPO)
• Advantage MD (PPO) Plus
• Advantage MD Group

The PPO and PPO Plus plans have higher premiums but offer more network flexibility and do not require referrals for specialist visits. Advantage MD Group is a retirement plan for eligible retirees of select Johns Hopkins affiliates. With the addition of the HMO plan, Medicare beneficiaries can choose lower cost coverage coordinated by the members' primary care physicians. All care must be received from in-network providers.

Medicare-eligible Maryland residents living in the plan’s service area can enroll in Advantage MD (HMO) through Dec. 7.

To learn more, visit Johns Hopkins Medicine Medicare Plan.

Johns Hopkins USFHP One of Highest-Rated Plans in State, Nation

For the second year in a row, Johns Hopkins US Family Health Plan is one of the highest-rated private plans in the nation. Johns Hopkins USFHP received an overall rating of 5 out of 5 on the NCQA Private Health Insurance Plan Ratings 2017-2018—one of just five plans in the nation to receive that score. By this measure, it is the top-rated private health insurance plan in Maryland.

“To be among the highest-rated plans in the country is an honor, as well as a motivator,” said Mary Cooke, vice president of Johns Hopkins USFHP. “Everything that we do is in pursuit of serving our military families and retirees with the highest quality of care possible.” The plan also received an NCQA Health Plan Accreditation of Excellent, scoring 94.26 out of a possible 100.

Johns Hopkins USFHP offers comprehensive health care benefits to members of the seven uniformed services, including active-duty family members, retirees and their family members, and survivors. With more than 48,000 members in Maryland, Washington, D.C., Delaware, Northern Virginia, south central Pennsylvania, and parts of West Virginia, the plan is administered by Johns Hopkins HealthCare under a contract with the Department of Defense.

Employees Launch Hurricane Relief Effort for Colleagues

While many Johns Hopkins All Children's Hospital employees escaped Hurricane Irma without significant harm or damage to their homes, colleagues in some outlying areas faced challenges all too familiar in the aftermath of a major storm. 

In response to learning that colleagues at the Fort Myers Outpatient Care Center (OCC) location experienced flooding and power outages, Johns Hopkins All Children’s employees in the greater Tampa Bay area mobilized to offer much-needed resources. Major flooding and damage near the Fort Myers center prevented some from leaving or returning to their homes. Power outages, gas shortages, and lack of supplies locally proved to be the greatest challenges in the recovery effort, says Shirley Storo, regional OCC director for South Counties Outpatient Services.

Colleagues placed a drop-off collection box in the lobby of the 500 Building on the main hospital campus, where employees were encouraged to donate nonperishable foods, toiletries and items for children—and water. Supplies of bottled water were completely sold out before the storm, and it wasn’t until several days after the storm that most stores had bottled water.

The items filled two trucks. Accompanying the supplies were warm messages to colleagues crafted on large pieces of cardboard. In addition to helping the 20 employees and their families, the team in Fort Myers supported patients and their families with basic needs, says Susan Byrd, senior director of ambulatory services at Johns Hopkins All Children’s. The center reopened Sept. 18, eight days after the storm hit.