Blue Review
A newsletter for physician, professional, facility, ancillary and Medicaid providers

June 2017

In-home Colorectal Cancer and Kidney Disease Test Kits Available

Applies to: Blue Cross Medicare Advantage (PPO)SM and Blue Cross Medicare Advantage (HMO)SM

Beginning in May, select Blue Cross Medicare Advantage (PPO) and Blue Cross Medicare Advantage (HMO) returning members may start receiving the Fecal Immunochemical Test (FOBT/FIT) (colorectal cancer screening) in-home test kits. New members may start receiving the Micro Albumin (urine test) (MAU) (kidney disease monitoring) in-home test kits. Members will first receive information from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) about the tests. The member has the option to opt out of the program and not receive the test kits.

As of Jan. 1, 2017, members who participate in the in-home test kit program and are registered for rewards and incentives may be eligible to receive a $25 Healthy Action* credit.

The following two tests will be sent to BCBSTX participants at no additional cost (and processed by the Home Access Health Corporation [HAHC]):

  • FIT Tests for colorectal cancer screenings (for returning members with BCBSTX since Jan. 1, 2016)
  • MAU-Micro Albumin Tests for kidney disease monitoring for diabetics (new members since Jan. 1, 2017)
    • A1C tests for blood sugar control for diabetes are only sent in year-end campaigns and will not be part of Q2 efforts

HAHC is an independent company that provides laboratory testing and will send results via mail to both members and their primary physicians on file. Our goal is to encourage members to close care gaps by making the process easier to complete the test(s) in the comfort of their own homes.

We're requesting that you do the following:

  • Encourage your patients to use the test kits if they receive them.
  • Advise your patients that after taking the tests, return them in the preaddressed and prepaid postage envelope.
  • Reiterate that they should provide their PCP’s name and mailing address, along with their sample, to receive the test results.
  • Watch for these test results so you can place them into the member’s records and be prepared to follow-up on any alert values received.

If you have any questions or if you need additional information, please contact your BCBSTX Network Management Representative.

*There is a $100 maximum annual reward for members registered for the rewards and Incentives program. One reward per healthy action per year. It may take up to 90 days for Healthy Actions to show as completed in the system.