June 1, 2016
Note: Soon Medicaid articles will be included in this Blue Review newsletter. There will also be a new layout of the newsletter making it easier to see and keep the information you need. And you’ll find a print button on each article page. Stay tuned. View a printable PDF of this newsletter. Learn About the Benefits of the BCBSTX BlueEdgeSM Product Portfolio
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas’ (BCBSTX) BlueEdge product portfolio offers consumer-driven health plans for our employer groups and subscribers. BlueEdge includes the Health Care Account and Health Savings Account which provide preventative care coverage at 100 percent (even before the deductible is met). Learn more. Provider Services Changes Coming
Join us for one of four webinars to learn about provider service changes, and electronic alternatives to better assist you. Register for a webinar today. New CDC Guidelines for Prescribing Opioids for Chronic Pain
Part 1 of a 3-Part Series: Determining When to Initiate or Continue Opioids for Chronic Pain
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued new recommendations for prescribing opioid medications. These recommendations are in response to an increased need for provider education, due to a nationwide epidemic of opioid overdose and opioid use disorder. BCBSA Report Highlights Dramatic Increase in Specialty Drug Spending
Read the BCBSA’s “Health of America” report about the rise in medication costs, especially the rise in specialty drug spend. Also, review some examples of our efforts to manage these costs effectively. Why MACRA is a Big Step Forward for Fee-for-Value Heath Care
As celebrated as the Medicare Access & CHIP Reauthorization Act (MACRA) was, its true impact will be felt in the long term, Dr. Stephen Ondra writes. The law is a clear signal that fee-for-service – for decades the primary way business was done in health care – will one day soon be the exception, not the norm. Dr. Ondra is senior vice president and Enterprise chief medical officer of our health insurance Plans in Illinois, Montana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas. Notices and Announcements
In this issue of the newsletter, learn more about how remittance viewer offers providers and billing services convenient access to claims information. Get the details. In Every Issue
BCBSTX is required to provide certain notices in all published correspondence with physicians, professional providers and facility and ancillary providers. For the latest updates, visit the News and Updates area of the BCBSTX provider website. Get started now on reviewing this month’s articles. Contact Us
View our quick directory of contacts at BCBSTX. Update Your Contact Information
Accurate provider directories are an important part of providing BCBSTX members/subscribers with the information they need to manage their health. If any of your information has changed, please update your contact information.
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