Maternity care can account for a large portion of a group’s claims, especially if there are complications in a pregnancy. You can support your clients’ employees and their dependents throughout pregnancy by including our Special Beginnings maternity management program in their coverage.

Special Beginnings participants have up to 3 percent fewer low birth weight babies than the general population. That reduces costly neonatal care. Special Beginnings encourages your clients’ employees to seek appropriate care, and helps them use their benefits efficiently. It all starts with the nurse case manager assigned to each enrollee. The nurse tailors educational materials, keeps in regular contact, and provides personal support.

Program Features

Special Beginnings provides expectant mothers with:

• A toll-free nurse hotline and secure e-mail, available 24/7.
• Their own nurse case manager throughout the pregnancy. The nurse acts as an Asuris liaison during pregnancy and helps guide them through the health care system and to use their benefits efficiently. The nurse will coordinate home care and any other covered services as needed.
• A health risk assessment, which helps the nurse provide tailored educational materials, answer questions, and encourage appropriate care.
• A choice of one of seven books or a DVD set about pregnancy.

Special Beginnings helps an expectant mother get appropriate prenatal care, follow her doctor or midwife’s direction and seek care when it is most effective. As a result, Special Beginnings can help keep your client’s claims experience down.

How Members Enroll

• Members can confirm eligibility by e-mailing or calling us at 1 (888) JOY-BABY during business hours (1-888-569-2229).
• Then they can enroll securely online
• OR download and print the enrollment form:
  • Enrollment form in English (PDF)
  • Enrollment form in Spanish (PDF)
  • Enrollment form in English (PDF) for Healthy Options* members only
  • Enrollment form in Spanish (PDF) for Healthy Options* members only
  • If members print the form, fax or mail the completed form to:

    Special Beginnings
    Asuris Northwest Health
    PO Box 1106 Mail Station LA1W
    Lewiston, ID 83501
    FAX: (208) 798-2092

    * Don't know if your client's a Healthy Options member? Ask them to check their ID card -- if they are, it will say "Healthy Options" on the front. Or check with us by e-mail or phone: 1 (888) JOY-BABY (1-888-569-2229).

• To increase participation, our staff may call employees or their dependents who are pregnant to encourage enrollment if they don't respond to our mailings. Eighty percent of members who receive our mailing and a phone call choose to enroll. The Special Beginnings program boasts higher participation than similar programs across the nation, demonstrating its impact on your clients' claims experience.

When to enroll

We encourage members to enroll early in their first trimester to get the most out of the program, but they may enroll up to one month before their due date.

Group Availability

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