Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Carelon Behavioral Health Offer Free Access to Crisis Line Support for Mainers Following Lewiston Shooting

SOUTH PORTLAND, MAINE – In response to the recent shooting in Lewiston, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and its behavioral health partner, Carelon Behavioral Health, are offering all Mainers free access to crisis support, regardless of whether they are Anthem members.

 

Any Mainer needing assistance can speak to a behavioral health professional via phone by calling 1-800-580-6934. The crisis support line is confidential and available 24/7 at no cost.

 

“On behalf of our entire team at Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine, we are heartbroken by last night’s event in Lewiston and are committed to helping our community heal in the wake of this tragedy,” said Denise McDonough, president of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine. “We hope that by providing free crisis support to anyone in need, we can support our neighbors and our community during this difficult time.”

 

“Our crisis support line is here and ready to help since we know that mass violence and shootings affect people in many different ways,” said Dr. James Polo, chief medical officer for Carelon Behavioral Health. “It’s important to share your concerns and monitor your mental health during these extremely difficult circumstances. A phone call can often lessen anxiety, fear and channel our emotional response within times of crisis.”

 

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Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield is the trade name of Anthem Health Plans of Maine, Inc., an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. ®ANTHEM is a registered trademark of Anthem Insurance Companies, Inc. The Blue Cross and Blue Shield names and symbols are registered marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. Additional information about Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine is available at www.anthem.com. Also, follow us on Twitter at @AnthemBCBS_News and @AnthemBCBS or find us on Facebook.

 

Carelon, part of the Elevance Health family of brands, is a healthcare services organization that serves one in three people in the United States by offering connected capabilities that include research; an integrated, whole-health approach to care delivery; pharmacy; and digital platform and technology services. The Carelon companies support whole health by turning data into insights; insights into action; and action into personalized, innovative, and meaningful outcomes. By collaborating with clients and partners, Carelon provides a personalized, streamlined, end-to-end experience that connects each individual with the technology, data, and expertise needed to address and solve complex health challenges. For more information, please visit www.carelon.com or follow Carelon on LinkedIn.

 

Carelon Behavioral Health Inc. is a separate company providing utilization review services on behalf of Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield in Maine.

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