What is the Employee Assistance Program (EAP)?

EAP provides employees an opportunity to receive assistance in resolving general psychological problems in addition to workplace issues by offering employees short-term assessment, treatment and/or referral, crisis intervention, educational programs and consultation to management.

What is the difference between the EAP and my mental health benefit?

EAP	Managed Care
Not an insurance benefit Employee encouraged to use regardless of the issue or problem Problems in daily living addressed EAP facilitates service to employee Preventive/preemptive focus Provides services before employee absenteeism, tardiness, etc. become issue Strictly confidential Incorporated into fabric of organization as a human resource/manager/supervisor resource/tool	An insurance benefit Employee allowed to use if medically necessary Mental, nervous disorders or substance abuse issues addressed Insurance manages service to employee Preventive, secondary or tertiary care Except for preventive services, provides services after symptoms appear Distinct from organization

FAQs about Maricopa's New Integrated EAP Program

The following are frequently asked questions about the new integrated Employee Assistance Program (EAP) for Maricopa County employees and their dependents, which was effective July 1, 2007.

What is an Employee Assistance Program?

The EAP offered through Magellan Health Services (Magellan) is an employer-paid benefit that provides short-term counseling for both personal and work-related issues for you and your dependents regardless of whether you and/or your dependents are benefit eligible or waive your medical coverage.

Sometimes employees face problems that they cannot solve alone. Concerns can become overwhelming and affect work performance, personal happiness, family relations and health. When this occurs, professional help may be needed to resolve the problem before it becomes a larger issue.

Your EAP provides a full range of counseling and referral services for individual, family and marital concerns, stress and job-related matters, child and domestic abuse, chemical and alcohol dependency assessment and for legal or financial issues. Your EAP is an enhanced 'fully integrated' service.

What Does 'Fully Integrated' Mean?

Now there's just one toll-free telephone number that you call to access services. One toll-free number, 1-888-213-5125, is all you need to get help, information or consultation you need on issues that are important to you.

When Did This New Program Start?

Starting July 1, 2007, Maricopa County employees and their dependents had access to a new fully integrated Employee Assistance Program. The new Maricopa County program is being provided by Magellan Health Services, the leader in providing employee assistance program and managed behavioral health care services.

How Much Do EAP Services Cost?

There is no premium charged to you for this benefit and there is no co-payment when you use the EAP.

How Often Can I Use the EAP?

Your EAP benefit provides up to eight individual counseling sessions for you and your dependents per person, per problem, per year. You must use your FML/sick or PTO/vacation accruals if your sessions occur during work hours (does not apply to Court employees).

Is the EAP Confidential?

Magellan provides the strictest confidentiality possible, as set forth in state and federal statutes; if sufficient need is shown, upon your approval, your counselor may encourage other members of your family to participate. Release of information by the EAP concerning an individual can be given only with your written consent, except where required by law (e.g., when child abuse is suspected or when posing a danger to self or others).

What Other Services Does My EAP Provide?

Legal Consultation Services
Your EAP provides Legal Consultation Services. When you call you will be referred to an attorney for a prepaid intitial in-person consultation or for an immediate telephonic consultation on issues such as estate planning, family and divorce law, civil and criminal matters and more. Ongoing legal services are provided at a discounted rate.

Financial Services
Your EAP offers Financial Services with unlimited free telephonic consultations with a financial counselor on issues such as debt consolidation, planning for retirement, IRS matters and more. Depending on the issue you may be eligibile for a free initial in-person session. Visits or calls are 60 minutes in length.

MagellanHealth.com

Visit the award-winning MagellanHealth.com for more information on hundreds of health and wellness topics to help you better understand and cope with your everyday - and not so everyday - concerns. MagellanHealth.com offers screening tools, self-assessments and personalized improvement plans that can help you get the most out of your work and life.

Online fitness calculators can help you get healthy and stay healthy. The Medical Information Center available on MagellanHealth.com features a Medical Interaction Database where you can find out about possible drug interactions and side effects. Financial calculators can help you get a handle on your debt, start saving for the future, or calculate how much it will cost to purchase a home or your next car.

How Do I Access Services?

Remember, now there's just one toll-free telephone number that you call to access your EAP or any of the other services listed above. One toll-free number, 1-888-213-5125, is all you need to get the help, information or consultation you need on issues that are important to you 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

For the Magellan brochure, click here / Employee Assistance Program Frequently Asked Questions / Employee Assistance Program Key Features