Healthcare benefit services provider Medagate announced a partnership this week with ReadyWireless to offer free mobile phones to Medicaid members on its OTCMedicaid card platform. Medagate offers prepaid cards under their OTCNetwork that Medicaid members can use on eligible items in pharmacies and stores. ReadyWireless aggregates Lifeline wireless service offerings and can provide Lifeline programs in all 50 states throughout the US.
The Federal Lifeline Assistance program offers discounts on monthly charges for income-eligible consumers' primary home phone line (including mobile phones.) The program is supported by the FCC and USF (Universal Service Fund).
"One of the biggest challenges Medicaid Plans face is an inability to reach or communicate directly with members," stated Dennis Henderson, ReadyWireless CEO, in a press release. "The result is that they are unable track and manage chronic health conditions, or for example remind expecting mothers of prenatal office visits, critical to successful health outcomes and reducing Medicaid program costs."
ReadyWireless mobile users will have features including a "dedicated line" feature that allows members to contact their Medicaid Plan without using monthly minutes. The offering also includes health alerts for appointment reminders as well as wellness incentives. In addition, members are allowed to load additional airtime minutes at locations nationally.
Read the full press release after the jump.
PRESS RELEASE: Medagate Corporation, the company that powers OTCNetwork™, the only national over-the-counter (OTC) healthcare benefit payments platform, today announced it has partnered with ReadyWireless to offer Medicaid Members cell phones via the federal Lifeline Assistance program at no cost to health plans or members. Unlike other Lifeline program providers limited in the number of states they service, ReadyWireless is the first and only Lifeline wireless service aggregator, and has the ability to provide Lifeline programs in all 50 states. The combined service offering enables Medicaid Plans the ability to have direct communication with members via cell phones, and offer wellness incentives around preventative health initiatives via Medagate's OTCMedicaid™ card platform.
"One of the biggest challenges Medicaid Plans face is an inability to reach or communicate directly with members," said Dennis Henderson, co-founder and CEO of ReadyWireless. "The result is that they are unable track and manage chronic health conditions, or for example remind expecting mothers of prenatal office visits, critical to successful health outcomes and reducing Medicaid program costs."
"Medagate has the ability to deliver wellness programs for member participation in preventative health initiatives via its OTCMedicaid card platform, and can be used at over 35,000 leading retailer locations nationally solely for the purchase of health-related items and services," said Devin Wade, CEO Medagate. "Through this unique partnership, we are enabling leading health plans to improve member health and communication, encourage patient self-care through over-the-counter health-related items, and ultimately increase HEDIS [Health Effectiveness Data Set] scores."
The Lifeline Assistance program provides discounts on basic monthly service for wireless service at the primary residence to income-eligible consumers. This program is supported by the federal Universal Service Fund (USF) and administered by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Lifeline programs offer Medicaid members between 100 and 250 free airtime minutes in addition to the use of their free phone each month depending on the state.
Combined Benefits Of ReadyWireless Service And OTCMedicaid Card
Dedicated Line: allows members to contact their Medicaid Plan and for Medicaid Plans to reach their members without a drain on monthly minutes.
Health Alerts: enables Medicaid Plans to send text message alerts to members when they are scheduled for health screenings and other routine health maintenance, or to notify members when they have received a health incentive loaded for use onto their OTCMedicaid card.
Additional Mobile Minutes: many beneficiaries of Lifeline programs are unable to use their mobile phones after monthly benefit minutes are used, then must wait for new minutes to be automatically loaded the following month. ReadyWireless offers the ability for Medicaid members to purchase additional airtime minutes at thousands of leading retailer locations nationally via its AirFair Wireless service. AirFair Wireless is the only universal Lifeline reload service in the United States.
About ReadyWireless
ReadyWireless offers prepaid wireless services nationally. Its handsets and broadband devices are available in more than 30,000 retail locations nationwide. Airtime reloads are available in more than 80,000 locations nationwide. For details on ReadyWireless, visit: www.readymobile.com.
About Medagate Corporation
Medagate Corporation is a leading provider of healthcare benefit platform solutions and services. Medagate's innovative technology, products, and services empower consumers with greater access to health care benefits for use in self-care. Medagate powers the OTCNetwork™ in partnership with InComm -- the leading issuer and processor of gift cards, processing over $15 billion in transactions annually. OTCNetwork acceptance is today integrated into front-of-store Point-Of-Sale (POS) terminals at over 35,000 retail locations in all 50 states. Medagate's OTCMedicare™ and OTCMedicaid™ branded re-loadable prepaid cards are the first to restrict spend exclusively to OTC Medicare and Medicaid eligible items. Visit our website at: www.otcnetwork.com.
