News & Media
Staywell/Sunshine/Wellcare/Ambetter Health Plan Members
Your health is important to us, and we want to make you aware of a change that may affect you. We were informed by Centene on August 27 that they decided to terminate negotiations and Weems contracts for the above health plans.
What this means for you:
If you do not change plans, then you will need to seek non-emergency care through another provider after our termination dates, for Sunshine/Ambetter – 8/30/2021 and Wellcare/Staywell – 8/31/2021. The Sunshine/Ambetter hospital services contract will terminate 11/30/2021.
Patients currently receiving services as of the termination date may qualify for “continuity of care” and your coverage would continue. Check with your plan at the number on your card.
If you want to keep receiving care from Weems Medical Centers, you will need to inquire about changing to other plans as your provider is no longer in your plan’s network.
Plans we currently participate with include:
| Capital Health Plan | (877) 247-6512 |
| Florida Blue | (800) 352-2583 |
| Humana | (844) 330-7799 |
| United Healthcare | (866) 414-1959 |
| Simply Healthcare | (844) 405-4298 |
Medicaid patients: For more information, contact the Florida Statewide Medicaid Managed Care Helpline and speak with a Medicaid Choice Counselor at 1-877-711-3662 (TDD 1-866-467-4970) or visit www.flmedicaidmanagedcare.com .
We regret the inconvenience this may cause patients.
April marks Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month. Weems Memorial Hospital has been a part of Franklin County’s Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) for more than 10 years, providing a coordinated, survivor-focused response to the needs of sexual assault victims.
Weems features a designated room in the Emergency Department equipped for medical staff to administer medical attention to sexual assault victims. According to Director of Nursing Courtney Alford, Weems nurses are equipped to handle medical situations involving cases of sexual abuse. Beyond medical attention, Alford said Weems medical staff compassionately assist sexual assault victims by providing victim advocate resource information.
“We coordinate with other SART partners to make sure sexual assault victims have all the resource information they need to move forward as they recover physically,” Alford said.
Other local SART partners in Franklin County include victim advocates with the Refuge House, the Franklin County Sheriff’s Department and the Office of the State Attorney.
Refuge House is the domestic and sexual violence center for Franklin County and the seven neighboring counties in north Florida including Leon, Gadsden, Jefferson, Liberty, Madison, Taylor, and Wakulla. The mission of Refuge House is to provide direct services to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault, and to their children and families, as well as to eliminate such violence through community education and public advocacy. The group offer guidance and encouragement for families and friends worried about a daughter, sister, child, or parent. You can reach them on their 24 Hour Hotline at (800) 500-1119 or visit their website www.refugehouse.com.
Domestic violence and sexual assault affect thousands of women, children and men in the U.S. every year. According to the National Sexual Assault Hotline, younger people are at the highest risk of sexual violence. Nationally, one in six women in the United States has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime. Men are not immune. According to the statistics, one out of every 10 rape victims are male.
Across the country, April is the month dedicated to promoting and celebrating volunteerism. Many groups often have special projects or volunteer appreciation events during this time. Weems Memorial Hospital operates or coordinates with community partners in several programs that include opportunities to volunteer and to become a mentor.
The George E. Weems Memorial Hospital coordinates a volunteer Chaplains program to assure there is a respectful response to any patient who wants spiritual services, day or night. Ministers participating possess the pastoral care education and experience recommended by their religious denomination. If you are interested in joining the Chaplains Association, please call 850-653-8853.
The Weems Hospital Governing Board recently approved changing the name of the Weems HealthCare Scholarship to the Doug Creamer Healthcare Scholarship in honor of Doug Creamer, the long-standing member of Weems Hospital Governing Board who died earlier this year.
“Doug Creamer was an avid supporter of healthcare in Franklin County and a champion for access to care,” said Weems CEO David Walker. “He served faithfully on the Weems Governing Board and most recently as Chairman. Doug cared about our staff and patients who received care through our hospital’s healthcare system.”
The George E. Weems Memorial Hospital scholarship is awarded annually to a high school student who is interested in seeking a career in healthcare. The scholarship amount is $1,000. Graduating seniors interested applying for the scholarship, please contact Courtney Alford and Amanda Byrd at (850) 653-8853 ext. 108.