September 2017

STAR Kids, Coordination of Care and Texas Health Steps

One of the benefits to our STAR Kids members is the Coordination of Care they receive through their designated Service Coordinator. Because these members have multiple diagnoses, and intellectual or physical disabilities, there is an increased need for collaboration and care coordination among health care providers, members, caregivers and health plans. Service Coordinators serve as liaisons to members and caregivers to ensure STAR Kids are receiving the best care.

As a provider, you can contact and collaborate with your STAR Kids members’ Service Coordinator if you have any questions or concerns about the member, utilization or authorization needs. Visit the Texas Health and Human Services Commission website for details about the program and a high-level description of the population.

Although this population may see many specialists, it is just as important for them to get a preventive health exam or Texas Health Steps (THSteps) exam. When members are seen for their THSteps exam, they have a decreased risk of visiting the Emergency Department (ED) for conditions that could have been seen at a lower level of care. These visits are an opportunity to engage with members and caregivers to provide education and anticipatory guidance in between preventive visits.

Preventing ED visits (specifically for upper respiratory infections) are part of a new STAR Kids Performance Improvement Project that will begin in January 2018. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas encourages our contracted providers to engage and promote preventive THSteps visits to our STAR Kids members, and also utilize their Service Coordinators as needed to better serve our shared members.