Get to Know Your Student Healthcare Services

Welcome new and continuing students for the 2016-17 academic year!

Student Health & Counseling Services (SHCS) provides comprehensive primary care and mental health care at two clinics.

The Mission Bay clinic is located on the third floor of the William J. Rutter Community Center and the Parnassus clinic is located on the P8 Level of Millberry Union West. SHCS also provides wellness-related workshops and programs across campuses.

These services are available to all registered UCSF students, regardless of whether they have waived the UC Student Health Insurance Plan (UC SHIP). The exceptions are students who applied for reduced fees as a Student Employee does not have access to SHCS.

Services at Student Health

Student Health offers comprehensive primary care, urgent care, immunizations, physicals and preventive health examinations, mental health counseling, nursing advice and triage, alcohol and drug consultations, nutrition services, and travel consultations.

SHCS is the first point of contact for students and enrollees and will assist in coordinating all your healthcare needs.

These services are available to all registered UCSF students, regardless of whether they have waived the UC SHIP.

Follow this link for details on services. And go to Primary Care to schedule a visit online. The link to the scheduling system can be found on the SHCS homepage.

SHCS primary care providers possess a broad range of knowledge in many areas and will work with you to provide continuity of care for any health issue you may encounter.

For any condition, your provider will assess if a referral to a specialist or diagnostic testing is needed and guide you in obtaining that care outside SHCS.

Please note, there may be a fee for some services if you have waived UC SHIP.

Counseling and Psychological Services

SHCS offers short-term mental health counseling and psychiatry services at both Mission Bay and Parnassus for all registered students and UC SHIP enrollees.

To schedule an appointment at SHCS, call or visit Student Health and simply ask to schedule a mental health appointment.

Counseling Services are also available outside SHCS and covered by UC SHIP. A referral from SHCS is required.

Many students see a therapist for counseling at SHCS and want longer-term therapy or come to campus already established with a provider in the community whom they want to continue seeing. In either case, SHCS can provide you a referral to utilize your UC SHIP benefits.

For those covered under the UC SHIP and being referred outside SHCS, outpatient behavioral visits with a UC medical center provider is covered 100% after $5 co-payment, visits with an in-network provider are covered at 100% after a $15 co-pay, and out- of-network providers are covered at 65%.

SHCS also offers an after-hours mental health crisis hotline. Contracted therapists provide telephone crisis intervention services during non-working hours Monday through Friday and 24 hours on holidays and weekends.

To connect with this service, call SHCS at (415) 476-1281 and select option 7.

Wellness Programs and Outreach

SHCS serves students’ health and wellness needs. As an integral part of this mission, SHCS offers wellness programs and outreach services that include workshops, lectures, tabling events, stress management groups, and health education.

SHCS will also accept specific requests for targeted programs where a cohort of students is already identified (ex: class, student organization, etc.).

SHCS also provides consultation services to staff and faculty members who have questions or concerns about students.

These educational programs and resources include topics on general wellness, nutrition, academic success, stress management, mindfulness, community building, and mental health and promote the development and well- being of UCSF students in meeting their academic and professional goals. Click on the link for updates and the full fall quarter calendar.

UC SHIP Insurance Benefits

UC SHIP provides comprehensive healthcare including medical, behavioral health, and pharmacy services by non-Student Health practitioners and clinics.

All medically necessary, specialty care, hospital stays, physical therapy, acupuncture and chiropractic care, prescriptions, lab tests, radiology services and more are covered by the plan if authorized by a SHCS provider.

UC SHIP is a three tiered benefit plan (UC Family, Anthem Blue Cross, Out-of-Network) allowing you access to high quality specialty care and flexibility to choose a provider of your choice. Primary care services are provided by SHCS.

If you are out-of-area you may request a referral to primary care from SHCS. No primary care services outside SHCS are covered without a referral.

All UCSF students are automatically enrolled in UC SHIP unless an online waiver application is submitted and approved.

Eligibility begins for new students at the start of their program. Coverage for first year School of Medicine students is effective August 1.

Coverage is effective September first and second through fourth year School of Medicine students as well as Graduate Division programs. Coverage for students in the Schools of Dentistry, Nursing, Pharmacy, and Physical Therapy is effective September 7.

UC SHIP complies with major Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act (ACA) benefits. UC SHIP has no annual or lifetime limits on medical and behavioral health benefits, unlimited pharmacy prescription drug benefits, no caps on essential health benefits and has no pre-existing condition restrictions.

Deductibles, coinsurance, medical co-pays and prescription co-pays count toward the maximum set for out-of-pocket costs a student pays in a benefit year.

UC SHIP also provides for dental and vision benefits. Vision and dental care do not require a referral from a SHCS provider. For a complete summary of the UC SHIP benefits, please visit the Student Health and Counseling website.

UC SHIP goes mobile

The StudentHealth app gives you instant access to your UC SHIP benefits, ID card, and much more using your smartphone.

To register, from your smartphone go to the App Store or Google Play, tap “Register Now” and follow the instructions. You will need to enter your name, “My Access” ID and date of birth to create a mobilehealth username and password.

You can also register from your computer or tablet.

SHCS is your partner in managing your health. If you have an idea about how SHCS can improve services or if you have any question, please reach out.

Feel free to contact Executive Director Susan Rosen, MD, or Director, Adele Anfinson, MHA, or submit an anonymous message by clicking the Feedback link on the homepage. Student Health & Counseling Services is here to serve you!

Refer to the website or call at 415 476-1281 for more information.