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Emergency and Urgent Situations

What to Do in an Emergency

An emergency is when someone has severe pain, illness or injury. It could result in danger to your child or you.

  • Call 911 right away if you have an emergency, or go to the nearest emergency room.
  • Emergency rooms are for emergencies. Call your doctor before going, unless your emergency is severe.
  • Call our 24-hour Nurse Advice Line at 1-866-799-5321 (TTY 1-800-955-8770). You will be connected to a nurse. Our nurses are available to help you 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Have your CMS Health Plan Member ID handy. The nurse may direct you to other care or may help you over the phone.

To get emergency services, you can go to any hospital or other setting for emergency care, regardless of network status.

 

What to do in a Behavioral Health Emergency

Call our 24-Hour Behavioral Health Crisis Line at 1-866-799-5321 (TTY 1-800-955-8770). 

Remember the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline - it’s like 911, but it’s 988. Dial 988for confidential, free, 24/7/365 support from a trained counselor for mental health, substance use or suicidal crisis.

Dial 988 for:

  • Ongoing anxiety or depression
  • Concerns about use of alcohol or drugs
  • Thoughts of hurting yourself or others

You can call, text, or chat 988 for help 24/7. It is free and confidential:

Additional Resources

What to Do in Mental Health Crisis

Urgent Care

Urgent Care is needed when someone has an injury or illness that must be treated within 48 hours. It is usually not life threatening, yet it cannot wait for a routine doctor’s office visit. Urgent Care is not emergency care. You may be told to go to an urgent care center for help. Urgent care centers do not require a prior approval.

When your child needs urgent care, follow these steps:

  • Call your child’s doctor. If it is after hours and the doctor cannot be reached, call our 24-hour Nurse Advice Line at 1-866-799-5321 (TTY 1-800-955-8770).
  • You will be connected to a nurse. The nurse may direct you to other care, or may help you over the phone. Have your child's CMS Health Plan Member ID card number handy.
  • A nurse may tell you to take your child to see another doctor or go to the nearest hospital emergency room.
  • You may also use our Find A Provider tool to locate the closest Urgent Care center to you. Click CMS Health Plan, then  Find a Provider/Pharmacy.