Managed care.  Managed care offers most medical care through one source: a health plan. A health plan is a health insurance company.  DSHS contracts with health insurance companies to make health care available to your children through SCHIP.  These plans all offer the same medical services.  However, they have their own team of doctors, specialists, pharmacies, health care providers, and hospitals.  

If your children are in a managed care health plan, they go to one person for their medical care called a Primary Care Provider. A Primary Care Provider is the doctor, nurse practitioner, or physician assistant who takes care of your children to make sure they get all of the health care they need. Your Primary Care Provider knows your children's medical history and will send you to a specialist and other services when needed. If you need to see a specialist or have tests, your Primary Care Provider will refer you. If you get care without a referral or go to a doctor, pharmacist, or other provider who doesn't work with your plan, you can be asked to pay for the services you receive. 

Whichever health plan you choose, your children will receive the care they need to stay healthy and the care they need when they are sick. This includes well child exams, diagnostic tests, and treatment.

Fee-for-Service. 

With fee-for-service you don't belong to a health plan. You can go to any doctor, pharmacist, or other provider who will take your children's medical ID card for payment.  To find these providers, you need to call and ask if they will take your children's medical ID card. You don't need a referral from another doctor to get care. Sometimes it is not easy to find providers who will take your medical ID card. If you go to a provider who won't accept your card, you must pay for the services you get.

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