Knowing Which Is the Right Level of Care

When you have a medical concern, knowing how to access the right kind of care can be confusing. While there are many options for care, knowing how serious your condition is and how quickly you need to access medical care can help you make the right choice. So, before you actually need care for injury or illness, it is important to understand all your options for care.

  • Routine Care: The regular and preventive health care you get from your primary care provider (PCP) to keep you healthy.
  • Urgent Care: Medical care for injuries or illness that requires immediate attention but is not life-threatening.
  • Emergency Care: Inpatient and outpatient hospital services necessary to treat life- or limb-threatening health conditions.

Additional Options

If you are not sure what kind of care you need, the Denver Health NurseLine can provide you with advice, at no cost to you. For help, call the NurseLine at 303-739-1261.

The NurseLine helps you quickly access trained triage nurses who can provide care advice.NurseLine nurses can advise you on the most appropriate place to get care for your condition. For example, if it makes the most sense to see a primary care provider or if your condition is best served with Urgent Care or Emergency Care.

Some of the health issues the NurseLine can help with include, but are not limited to:

  • Coughs
  • Colds
  • Fever
  • Sore throat
  • Stomach aches
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Emergency contraception
  • Lice
  • Scabies

In-Person Care at a Clinic

In-person visits are necessary for some services, like mammograms and eye exams. To schedule your appointment at Denver Health, call 303-436-4949 or schedule using the Denver Health MyChart app. If you don't have a MyChart account, you can set it up now. If your plan includes providers outside of Denver Health, you can schedule your provider visits directly with them. See 'Who is in My Provider Network' below.  

Telehealth

Many members choose telehealth, for the ease of meeting with their providers in the comfort of their home. Telehealth allows you to access care from your phone or computer for conditions such as:

  • Eczema
  • Diaper rash
  • Bronchitis
  • Shingles
  • Sore throat
  • Chickenpox
  • Urinary tract infections
  • Pink eye

Learn more about our telehealth options.
 

If your condition is not life- or limb-threatening, you can visit an urgent care center with no prior approval or appointment needed. Conditions that can be treated include, but are not limited to:

  • Fractures and sprains
  • Flu and fever
  • Minor cuts and burns
  • Severe colds
  • Rashes
  • Seasonal allergies
  • Migraines

While there are multiple Denver Health urgent care centers, you may visit any urgent care center in the United States, so you can get the care you need when you need it.

Virtual Urgent Care

If you use Denver Health MyChart, you can access virtual urgent care. It’s easy to get the urgent care you need from the comfort of your home using your smartphone, tablet or computer.

If you would like to access virtual urgent care but do not have a MyChart account, set up an account now.

DispatchHealth

DispatchHealth provides urgent care to you in the comfort of your home. You can schedule an appointment on the Dispatch Health website or by calling 888-908-0553. 

If this is an emergency, go to the nearest hospital or call 9-1-1. Your DHMP plan will cover you at any emergency room, anywhere in the U.S.

Denver Health has separate Adult and Pediatric Emergency Departments located on the downtown hospital campus:
777 Bannock St
Pavilion A, 1st Floor
Denver, Colorado

Emergency departments provide the highest level of care for conditions including, but not limited to:

  • Chest pain
  • Major trauma
  • Shortness of breath
  • Severe pain
  • Possible broken bone
  • Excessive bleeding
  • Seizure
  • Serious burn or cut
  • Head injury
  • Poisoning
  • Loss of consciousness
  • Suicidal feelings
  • Sudden paralysis

Refer to your plan below for information about your Provider Network. To find an in-network provider, refer to our provider directory.

Elevate Medicare Advantage

  • Denver Health
  • UCHealth (Denver Metro Area)
  • STRIDE
  • Intermountain Health (Denver Metro Area)
  • National Jewish.
  • Eye Care Specialties of CO 
  • Delta Dental

Denver Health Plan (HMO)

  • Denver Health

Denver Health Extended Plan (POS)

  • Denver Health
  • UCHealth
  • Children’s Hospital Colorado
  • Intermountain Health (Denver Metro area)
  • First Health

Elevate Exchange/CO Option

  • Denver Health
  • Banner Health
  • Southwestern Colorado and mountain providers

Elevate Medicaid Choice

Elevate Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+)

 

For planned hospitalizations, such as surgeries, refer to your plan below to make sure your hospital is within your network.

Elevate Medicare Advantage

  • Denver Health
  • Saint Joseph Hospital
  • Good Samaritan Hospital
  • UC Health Hospitals (Denver Metro Area)
  • Lutheran Medical Center
  • West Pines Behavioral Health
  • Platte Valley Medical Center

Denver Health Plan (HMO)

  • Members and their dependents have access to Denver Health Medical Center for hospitalization.

Denver Health Extended Plan (POS)

  • Members and their dependents have access to Denver Health Medical Center, UCHealth, Children’s Hospital Colorado, Intermountain Health (Denver metro area) and hospitals within the First Health Network.

Elevate Exchange/CO Option

  • Denver Health Medical Center
  • Animas Surgical Center at Escalante 
  • Kremmling Memorial Hospital
  • Longmont United Hospital 
  • Mercy Regional Medical Center 
  • Middle Park Health 
  • OrthoColorado Hospital 
  • Pagosa Springs Medical Center 
  • Penrose Hospital 
  • St. Anthony North Hospital 
  • St. Anthony Summit 
  • St. Elizabeth Hospital 
  • St. Francis Hospital 
  • St. Mary-Corwin Hospital 
  • St. Thomas More Hospital 
  • St. Vincent General Hospital 

Elevate Medicaid Choice

  • Members have access to Denver Health Medical Center for hospitalization.

Elevate Child Health Plan Plus (CHP+)

  • Members have access to Denver Health Medical Center for hospitalization.

*Note that emergency hospitalization is covered at any hospital on all DHMP plans.

These plans offer transportation benefits at no cost to you to help you get to your medical appointments. Refer to your plan below for details.

Elevate Medicare Advantage

Non-emergent medical transportation is a covered benefit for Elevate Medicare Advantage members. As a member, you have access to 24 one-way trips that can be used to visit any plan-approved, health-related location.

If you’re enrolled in Elevate Medicare Choice (HMO D-SNP), you can use your FlexCard monthly allowance for transportation. 

Elevate Medicaid Choice

Intelliride may require pre-approval before rides can be scheduled. To find out if your trip needs pre-approval or to set up a ride, call 1-855-489-4999 48 hours before your appointment.

Please contact Health Plan Services if you have any additional questions.

 

Elevate Medicare Advantage is a Medicare-approved HMO plan. Enrollment in Elevate Medicare Advantage depends on contract renewal. The Plan also has a written agreement with the Colorado Medicaid Program to coordinate your Medicaid benefits.

H5608_DHMPWeb26 | Last updated 9/11/26