September 2022

What's New 

Blue Review Readership Survey 2022: Your Voice Matters

The 2022 Blue Review Readership survey is open now to collect your feedback. Your input will inform our plans to enhance the Blue Review and other provider communications in 2023.

Wellness and Member Education

Help Your Patients Stay on Track With Childhood Immunizations

You play a vital role in educating parents to vaccinate their children aged 0 to 2 years and adolescents aged 9 to 13 years, about the importance of getting caught up with scheduled immunizations.

The Connection Between COVID-19 and Childhood Obesity

According to a new study by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the overweight and obesity rate in children and teenagers has increased at an alarming rate since the COVID-19 pandemic began.

Pharmacy Program  

Avoiding Antibiotics for Acute Bronchitis and Other Viruses

With the start of flu and cold season, we encourage you to talk with our members about taking antibiotics only when needed.

Pharmacy Program Updates: Quarterly Pharmacy Changes Effective Oct. 1, 2022 – Part 1

Based on the availability of new prescription medications and Prime’s National Pharmacy and Therapeutics Committee’s review of changes in the pharmaceuticals market, some additions, revisions (drugs still covered but moved to a higher out-of-pocket payment level) and/or exclusions (drugs no longer covered) were made to the Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) drug lists. Changes effective on or after Oct. 1, 2022, are outlined here.

Quality Improvement and Reporting

We’re Piloting a Remote Patient Monitoring Program To Improve Health Outcomes

BCBSIL is piloting a remote patient monitoring program that uses state of the art technology to monitor physiologic data trends for select patients following discharge.

Focus on Behavioral Health

Behavioral Health Support Resources: New Videos to Share With Your Patients

We’re spotlighting some short videos we’ve created for our members about behavioral health care and support.

Community Involvement

Fall Into Autumn at Blue Door Neighborhood Center^SM (BDNC^SM)

September is National Childhood Obesity Awareness Month, and BCBSIL wants to help educate the community about this serious medical condition.

MMAI and BCCHP^SM Providers: Join Our Community Stakeholder Committee

We’re hosting quarterly Community Stakeholder Committee meetings to find ways to better serve our Blue Cross Community MMAI (Medicare-Medicaid Plan)^SM and Blue Cross Community Health Plans^SM (BCCHP) members.

Clinical Updates, Reminders and Resources

Help Close Diabetes Disparity Gaps

Diabetes is one of the most common chronic conditions in the U.S. You and your staff may play an important role in supporting our members with diabetes or at risk of developing the disease. 

Coming Soon: Use Our Automated Phone System to Request Prior Authorization for FEP^® Members

Starting Oct. 15, 2022, the BCBSIL interactive voice response (IVR) system will offer the option to request prior authorization for some services for Federal Employee Program^® (FEP) members.

Provider Education

Webinars on Cross-cultural Care Offer Continuing Education Credit 

We’re pleased to offer several webinars at no cost through Quality Interactions, a separate company that provides cultural awareness training to health care professionals. 

Provider Learning Opportunities

BCBSIL offers free webinars and workshops for the independently contracted providers who work with us. A preview of upcoming training sessions is included in this month’s issue.

Claims and Coding

New Laboratory Benefit Management Program To Begin Nov. 1, 2022: Join Us for a Refresher Webinar To Prepare

BCBSIL will implement its new program with Avalon Healthcare Solutions for claims for certain outpatient laboratory services provided to many of our commercial, non-HMO members beginning Nov. 1, 2022.

Electronic Options

New ‘Message This Payer’ Option via Availity^® Essentials 

We’re launching a new digital Message This Payer option for you to resolve your claim inquiries online.

Notification and Disclosure

Verify Your Directory Details Every 90 Days

As a reminder, the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) of 2021 requires that certain directory information be verified every 90 days. Read more on News and Updates. 

Help Close Gaps in Care for Group Medicare Advantage Members

If we need medical records for Blue Cross Group Medicare Advantage (PPO)^SM members, you’ll receive requests only from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois (BCBSIL) or our vendor, Change Healthcare. This is part of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield (BCBS) National Coordination of Care program so that you won’t receive requests from multiple BCBS plans or their vendors. Please respond quickly to our requests, including requests related to risk adjustment gaps and Healthcare Effectiveness Data and Information Set (HEDIS^®) measures. Read more on News and Updates.

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