Prior to a planned hospital admission or surgery, you or your doctor must call Innovative Care Management to request "pre-admission certification". Pre-admission certification is required to make sure you'll receive the maximum amount of benefits under your plan. Failure to call could result in a penalty or reduced benefit for your hospital admission and/or surgery.

Your physician should contact Innovative Care Management to obtain preauthorization before you are admitted or before services are provided.

In a medical emergency, you may be admitted to an inpatient facility without preauthorization, but your physician should contact Innovative Care Management as soon as reasonably possible after your admission. Additional days of inpatient care, beyond those initially authorized, must also be preauthorized by Innovative Care Management.