Charges for emergency room care within 72 hours of an accident or within 24 hours of the sudden onset of an illness (medical emergency) are subject to a $35 $60 copayment per visit.  Effective January 1, 2005, this Hospital Emergency Room copayment will be $50 for emergency room services covered by the hospital contract.  Effective January 1, 2007, 2010  this Hospital Emergency Room copayment will be $60 $70  for emergency room services covered by the hospital contract.  Charges for other outpatient services covered by the hospital contract are subject to a $25 $35 copayment per outpatient visit regardless of the number and type of services rendered in the hospital outpatient setting. Effective January 1, 2005, the copayment for other outpatient services covered by the hospital contract will be $35. Effective January 1, 2010, the copayment for other outpatient services covered by the hospital contract, except for outpatient surgery, will be $40.  Effective January 1, 2010, the copayment for hospital outpatient surgery will be $60.   Effective January 1, 2005, services  Services provided in a hospital owned or operated extension clinic will be paid by the hospital carrier, subject to appropriate copayment.  Enrollees have the right of appeal of copayments not charged in accordance with this provision. Appeals should be directed to the hospital carrier or to the Health Benefits Administrator. In addition, there will be participating provider copayment for covered services for the treatment of alcohol or substance abuse. The outpatient and emergency room hospital copayments will be waived for persons admitted to the hospital as an inpatient directly from the outpatient setting, for pre-admission testing/pre-surgical testing prior to an inpatient admission or for the following covered chronic care outpatient services: chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or hemodialysis

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