In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma (BCBSOK) expanded access to telemedicine services to give our members greater access to care. The experience confirmed the importance of telemedicine in health care delivery. Members can access their medically necessary, covered benefits through providers who deliver services through telemedicine. Many of our members also have access to various telemedicine vendors, such as MDLIVE.
What’s covered?
Telemedicine services will be provided consistent with the terms of the member's benefit plan. As of Jan. 1, 2021, fully insured HMO and PPO members and our self-funded employer group members, providers will be able to deliver expanded telemedicine services to BCBSOK members, including but not limited to services included on:
- The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) permanent and temporary telehealth code list
- The American Medical Association (AMA) telehealth code list
- Applied behavior analysis (ABA) services
- Intensive outpatient program (IOP) services
- Partial hospitalization programs (PHP)
- Physical therapy (PT)
- Occupational therapy (OT)
- Speech therapy (ST)
Our self-funded employer group customers are following the coverage listed above. However, they have flexibility to make decisions for their employee benefit plans. Coverage for their employees may vary slightly. Check eligibility and benefits for any variations in member benefit plans.
We recommend the following:
- Consider telemedicine a mode of care delivery to be used when it can reasonably provide equivalent outcomes as face-to-face visits.
- Choose telemedicine when it enhances the continuity of care and care integration if you have an established patient-provider relationship with members.
- Integrate telemedicine records into electronic medical record systems to enhance continuity of care, maintain robust clinical documentation and improve patient outcomes.
Eligible members
Providers can use telemedicine for members with the following types of benefit plans. Care must be consistent with the terms of the member’s benefit plan.
- Fully insured HMO and PPO plans
- Blue Cross Medicare Advantage (excluding Part D) and Medicare Supplement (see Medicare info below)
- Self-funded employer group plans
We will continue to follow applicable state and federal requirements.
Submitting claims
For information on submitting claims for telemedicine services, please review our Clinical Payment and Coding Policy (CPCP033), Telemedicine and Telehealth Services.
Member cost share
As of Jan. 1, 2021, copays, deductibles and coinsurance apply to telemedicine visits for most members. The cost share varies according to the member’s benefit plans. Check eligibility and benefits for each member for details.
Our self-funded employer group customers make decisions for their employee benefit plans and may choose to waive telemedicine cost share. Check eligibility and benefits for any variations in member benefit plans.
What’s covered for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement members
CMS identifies covered services for Medicare members. This means we will cover all the CMS telemedicine codes, including those available only during the PHE for Medicare Advantage and Medicare Supplement members.
For the duration of the PHE, we are waiving cost share for our Medicare Advantage members. This means these members will not owe any copays, deductibles or coinsurance for telemedicine visits. The cost share waiver does not apply to Medicare Supplement members.
Referrals and prior authorizations
Some telemedicine care will require referrals and prior authorizations in accordance with the member’s benefit plan. Check eligibility and benefits for each member for details.
Delivery methods
Available telemedicine visits with BCBSOK providers include:
- 2-way, live interactive telephone communication (audio only) and digital video consultations
- Asynchronous telecommunication via image and video not provided in real-time (a service is recorded as video or captured as an image; the provider evaluates it later); Oklahoma Statute requires a store and forward delivery method when using asynchronous telecommunication
- Other methods allowed by state and federal laws, which can allow members to connect with physicians while reducing the risk of exposure to contagious viruses or further illness
Delivery methods for Medicare members
Providers should use an interactive audio and video telecommunications system that permits real-time interactive communication to conduct telemedicine services. CMS permits audio only in limited circumstances. See the CMS website for designated audio-only codes.
Providers can find the latest guidance on acceptable Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA) compliant remote technologies issued by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ Office for Civil Rights in Action.
Member benefit and eligibility assistance
Check eligibility and benefits for each member at every visit prior to rendering services. Providers may:
- Verify general coverage by submitting an electronic 270 transaction through Availity® or your preferred vendor.
- Connect with a Customer Advocate to check eligibility and telemedicine benefits by calling our Provider Customer Service Center at 1-800-451-0287.
- For Medicare Advantage members, call Blue Cross Medicare Advantage Network Management at 1-972-766-7100.
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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Oklahoma, a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association