May 2015

(Electronic distribution May 6, 2015)

View a printable PDF of this newsletter.

BCBSTX's 2014 Social Responsibility Report highlights our community commitment
BCBSTX's 2014 Social Responsibility Report is now available for you to read. I invite you to review and share the report within your networks and promote through the social media links contained directly within the online report. We also welcome any feedback you have. Access the report. – Bert Marshall, President BCBSTX

ICD-10: Be a part of the solution
ICD-10-CM diagnosis codes will be required on all professional and outpatient claims with dates of service on or after the compliance date of Oct. 1, 2015. Read more for ways you and your practice can take action to be prepared.

New videos on patient support, palliative care: What every physician should know
Share our two new videos and member-focused FAQ with your patients to encourage early member referrals to palliative care. Palliative care, which can be provided along with curative therapy, helps members with serious illnesses better control pain and other symptoms.

CMS replaces modifier 59 with new “X” modifiers
Effective Jan. 1, 2015, CMS added four new modifiers to replace modifier 59 when submitted with Current Procedural Terminology (CPT^®’)/HCPCS codes. Modifier 59 was previously used to report that a service was a distinct procedural service. We explain the new modifiers and their descriptions.

Notices and Announcements
In this issue we remind you that, under the Affodable Care Act, certain women's contraceptives are covered at no cost share when in-network providers and pharmacies are used. We also alert you that the claim status availability will change on our automated phone system. Get the details.

In Every Issue
BCBSTX is required to provide certain notices in all published correspondence with physicians and professional providers. For the latest updates, visit the News and Updates area of the BCBSTX website at bcbstx.com/provider. Get the details.

Contact us
Click here for a quick directory of contacts at BCBSTX.

Update your contact information
Accurate provider directories are an important part of providing BCBSTX members with the information they need to manage their health.

To update your contact information, please submit your correspondence via fax to 972-231-9664 or mail to P.O. Box 650267, Dallas, Texas, 75265-0267. You should submit all changes at least 30 days in advance of the effective date of change.

If your specialty, practice information/status or board certification is not correct on the BCBSTX Provider Finder^®, or if you would like to have a subspecialty added, please contact your Network Management office.

In addition, BCBSTX periodically identifies providers who have not submitted claims for a period of one year. We make an effort to contact each provider to confirm their information. If the provider does not respond, we will initiate a network termination. Similarly, BCBSTX will inactivate any tax identification numbers (TINs) under which there have been no claims submitted for a period of one year.

Blue Review is published for Blue Choice PPO^SM, HMO Blue Texas^SM, Blue Cross Medicare Advantage (PPO)^SM, Blue Advantage HMO^SM and ParPlan contracting physicians and other health care providers. Ideas for articles and letters to the editor are welcome; email BlueReviewEditor@bcbstx.com.

The information provided in Blue Review does not constitute a summary of benefits, and all benefit information should be confirmed or determined by calling the customer service telephone number listed on the back of the member ID card.

BCBSTX makes no endorsement, representations or warranties regarding any products or services offered by independent, third-party vendors mentioned in this newsletter. The vendors are solely responsible for the products or services they offer. If you have questions regarding any of the products or services mentioned in this periodical, please contact the vendor directly.

Blue Cross^®, Blue Shield^® and the Cross and Shield symbols are registered service marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.