LVHN Partnership for Students and Families

As an LVPG family medicine practice, students will have access to a faster and more robust referral network. Students will experience a greater continuity of care between their providers at the campus health center and their own providers due to a shared record system that will support students both while at College and at home. Also, there will be a better continuity of care when students are transported to the hospital or experiencing acute health concerns outside of the typical college health spectrum. This partnership will afford greater support for the College in responding to and managing major public health challenges (e.g., H1N1, COVID-19, meningitis outbreaks). There also will be greater access to training and development for Muhlenberg’s clinical team to continue to up-skill in providing excellent care.

Initially, only Muhlenberg College students will be eligible for services.

The health and wellness fee does not cover direct clinical care resources and services. The fee goes specifically to support prevention education efforts including peer education around mental health, physical health, healthy eating, healthy relationships and gender violence prevention. In addition, it provides support to critical one-time and ongoing health and wellness initiatives including online mental health and alcohol prevention training modules, Muhlenberg College EMS and campus safety equipment and technology needs, and more, including mental health after-hours support, which is not covered through the LVHN partnership.

Lehigh Valley Physician Group (LVPG) is Lehigh Valley Health Network’s (LVHN) physician group and one of the largest in the United States. LVPG has clinicians representing more than 50 medical specialties at more than 300 practice locations. For more information about LVPG, click here. For more information about LVHN, click here.

There will be no charge for counseling visits.

The Counseling Service clinical care model is remaining the same. This model has a proven track record of helping the College to maintain low wait times, high accessibility to students for care and a strong referral service to support students with more complex mental health needs. The clinical care model seeks to maximize student well-being and emotional success by offering the appropriate dosage and frequency of therapy without session limits and based on the specific, individual needs of each student as determined by clinical conversations between the therapist and student.

As there will be no charge for counseling visits, these visits will not be charged to health insurance.

Our counseling team will continue to serve Muhlenberg College. That said, staff transitions are typical in any organization and happen from time to time in our center. The College will remain fully involved in the hiring and supervision of our counselors and in all hiring processes relating to student health. Our focus will remain on clinicians whose primary area of expertise and experience is in college student counseling.

Yes, health insurance claims will be submitted for visits to the health center only. This will be managed just like when students visit their health care providers at home. Copays will be collected, and all visits will be run through the student’s health insurance on record. Students will be responsible for deductibles, coinsurance and other charges not paid by their health insurance.

Students should call their insurance carriers or check their carrier’s website to determine if their insurance participates with LVHN.

Yes. All students can use the health center. If a student’s home health insurance plan does not cover LVHN services, students are encouraged to purchase the student health insurance plan. This plan is specifically for college students and offered at a competitive cost. Regarding copays, students with a significant financial hardship may request that the copay be offset by a financial hardship emergency grant through the College.

Yes. The College offers a student health insurance plan. Information about the student health insurance plan can be found here (rcmdstudentbenefits.com/muhlenbergcollege).

Yes. As in past years, the College requires that all students provide proof of health insurance. By August 1, all students must enroll or waive the student health insurance plan by completing the information online found here.

LVPG does not participate with out-of-state Medicaid plans. Patients with out-of-state Medicaid plans are expected to pay at the time of service or seek services in the state where they are covered. Students with out-of-state Medicaid plans may purchase the College’s student health insurance plan.

We encourage students to sign up for MyLVHN, the health network’s digital portal, so they can pay online prior to the visit. Otherwise, copays will be due at the time of service. If the copay is not paid, the guarantor will be billed. If the student is 18 or older, they are the guarantor. Students who sign up for MyLVHN and opt to go paperless will receive the bill on the portal.

The insurance plan’s explanation of benefits (EOB) will be sent by the insurance carrier to the subscriber/policyholder of the plan.

Patient statements will be sent to the address listed for the guarantor (if over 18 years old, the student) and are available on the MyLVHN portal.

Yes. LVHN accepts payment through this source as it would through any other credit or debit card transaction. Typically, patients are given a debit card for FSA accounts.

The College has an emergency grant fund that can occasionally assist high-need students by providing immediate funds to help address costs, such as copays, lab fees, etc., associated with emergent issues.

LVHN uses Epic.

Care Everywhere lets your health care provider securely access and update your record from other health care organizations. Your providers who use Epic (or another electronic medical record system that can share health information) exchange information when they need to coordinate care for you and other patients. Records are updated automatically between health care providers through a secure network, Care Everywhere. Your doctor sees your information from other health care organizations right within your medical record.

MyLVHN offers personalized and secure online access to view portions of your medical record. It enables you to securely manage and receive information about your health. With MyLVHN, you can:

• Schedule medical appointments.
• View your health information, including medications, allergies, test results and more.
• Request prescription refills.
• Pay or review bills for medical services.
• Send and receive non-urgent messages from your LVHN/LVPG doctors and clinicians.

To enroll in MyLVHN, click the Sign up now button on MyLVHN.org or MyLVHN mobile. Students are encouraged to enroll in MyLVHN before the start of the semester.