Discharging a Patient from Your Practice

In some cases, a health care provider will need to discharge a member. Read the Discharge Policy for the criteria for patient discharge.

Discharge Process

1. A primary care physician notifies his or her patient of the intention to discharge him or her in writing, on company letterhead, or using the Priority Health Discharge form (126KB PDF). Information should include:
2. • The reasons for the discharge related to the criteria in the Discharge Policy
   • The patient's Priority Health Contract ID number
     
   • The patient's date of birth
     
3. The physician makes a copy of the letter to the member and sends it to Priority Health Customer Service.
4. Customer Service contacts the member to help him/her select a new primary care physician, to be effective the first of the next month following the date 30 days after receipt of the letter. For example, if the patient receives a letter on April 28, 30 days later is May 28; the discharge would go into effect June 1.
5. The primary care physician is responsible for emergency coverage for the patient for 30 days following the effective date of the change.

If you have any questions regarding this procedure, call the Provider Services Help Line.

Record Transfer Process
Priority Health provides patients with a Transfer of Medical Records Form when they request a change of PCP.

When you receive a Transfer of Medical Records Form from the patient, we suggest that you verify that the patient has changed his or her PCP with their health plan, either through the Patient Profile tool or by contacting us.