Dec. 21, 2016

New Virtual Visit Program – Care When and Where Members Need It

Beginning Jan. 1, 2017, virtual visits, powered by MDLIVE, will offer members live consultations with board-certified MDLIVE doctors 24 hours a day, seven days a week for non-emergency medical needs such as allergies, cold/flu, sinus infections and more. Additionally, MDLIVE therapists are available by appointment for behavioral health consultations. Virtual visits can help reduce high-cost urgent care center and emergency room visits.
 

• Members can conveniently connect with a MDLIVE doctor via mobile app, online video or by telephone.* (Behavioral health consults are available by mobile app and online video only.)
• MDLIVE doctors can send prescriptions electronically to the member’s pharmacy of choice (when appropriate).
• Virtual visits is integrated with Provider Finder^® and Blue Access for Members^SM.

Promote Virtual Visits
New resources are available for employers to assist with developing a communication strategy to promote virtual visits for their employees, including the best practices for messaging to employees and a sample communication plan. The sample communication plan provides a variety of member communications to promote virtual visits each month, including six standard emails that will be sent by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) throughout 2017 to encourage the use of virtual visits.

These standard emails are provided at no additional cost to employers. Employers can also choose to opt-out of the standard emails and receive the standard email copy to customize and send to their employees (employer is responsible for customization and distribution).

Additionally, a variety of marketing materials have been created for employers to promote virtual visits, including a new member video and collateral such as fliers and welcome cards in English and Spanish. These materials can help raise awareness and encourage usage of the virtual visit service among employees and their covered dependents. Please note, BCBSTX provides collateral in electronic files only. For printed collateral, employers are responsible for print and postage costs.

View the member video:

Virtual visits will be available upon renewal starting Jan. 1, 2017 for non-grandfathered fully insured individuals and groups. Virtual visits are optional for self-insured and labor groups. Virtual visits may not be available with all network plans. Expansion to other fully insured plans is being evaluated for future roll-outs.

For more information, please contact your BCBSTX account representative for any of your client promotion needs.

*Internet/Wi-Fi connection is needed for computer access. Data charges may apply when using a tablet or smartphone. Check phone carrier’s plan for details. Non-emergency medical service is limited to interactive-audio (phone only) consultations, along with the ability to prescribe in Texas. Non-emergency medical service in Idaho, Montana, New Mexico and Oklahoma is limited to interactive audio/video (video only), along with the ability to prescribe. Behavioral Health service is limited to interactive audio/video (video only), along with the ability to prescribe in all states. Virtual Visits currently are not available in Arkansas. Service availability depends on location at the time of consultation.

MDLIVE, an independent company, that provides virtual visit services for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. MDLIVE operates and administers the virtual visit program and is solely responsible for its operations and that of its contracted providers.

MDLIVE is not an insurance product nor a prescription fulfillment warehouse. MDLIVE operates subject to state regulations and may not be available in certain states. MDLIVE does not guarantee that a prescription will be written.

MDLIVE does not prescribe DEA-controlled substances, non-therapeutic drugs and certain other drugs that may be harmful because of their potential for abuse. MDLIVE physicians reserve the right to deny care for potential misuse of services.