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September 2025 Top of Mind

Emotional Wellbeing Solutions: Good for you, good for your patients

If you’re providing Employee Assistance Program (EAP) services to your patients, you already know the benefits it can provide to them and to your business.

Not yet accepting EAP referrals through the Optum Emotional Wellbeing Solutions (EWS) program? Here are some great reasons to consider it:

  • Same reimbursement rate – Unlike other payers, Optum has the same reimbursement rates as routine outpatient behavioral health services.
  • Open to any network providers – All contracted and credentialed in network therapists can offer EAP services.
  • No deductible, copayment or coinsurance amount – Since the member’s employer pays for EWS services, you only need to schedule an appointment with the member after they request authorization and submit the claim – no copay to collect and no invoicing later.
  • Easy transition – Providing ongoing counseling is seamless once the allowed EAP services end.

Authorization and claims billing

The EWS program offers a limited number of sessions with a behavioral health clinician.

  • Authorization is required for EWS services:

    • You’ll need to ask members for the EWS authorization code number, effective dates, expiration dates and whether any of the authorized visits have been used.
    • You may use the Auth Look-up tool in the Provider Express secure portal to verify authorization information.
    • You may also contact Optum EWS at 1-866-248-4094 for help.

  • Submitting claims for services provided:

Get noticed

If you have specialized training as an Employee Assistance Professional or Certified Employee Assistance Professional, you can indicate this as an Area of Expertise specialty in your directory information. This can help you stand apart as an expert in employee assistance benefits, bringing you even more referrals.

You can update your info any time. Just go to the Show Your Status in the Provider Directory section under Additional Resources on the Emotional Wellbeing Solutions webpage for easy steps.

As you add providers or new staff to your practice, make sure they also know about how easy it is to provide EWS.

Need to know more?

See the EWS Provider Reference Guide for a quick summary of the program.

You can also register for the EAP 101 for Behavioral Health Providers course, developed by OptumHealth Education, and earn 1 Continuing Education Unit for completing the course.


 

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