October 2023
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) continues to streamline the Prior Authorization and Recommended Clinical Review (RCR) process to reduce your workload with BlueApprovR. Effective Sept. 11, 2023, this new tool in Availity® Essentials helps you expedite approvals for some medical and surgical services for many of our commercial members.
BlueApprovR offers End-to-End Efficiencies
Registered Availity Essentials users have free, 24/7 access to BlueApprovR to:
What if I am Prior Authorization Exempt?
Providers with active prior authorization exemptions are encouraged to submit a notification through BlueApprovR for services or procedures for which you have a prior authorization exemption. You will also be able to submit recommended clinical reviews through BlueApprovR before moving forward with some services or procedures that are not on the required prior authorization list. Learn more here.
Note: Your RCR submissions will follow the same path through BlueApprovR as prior authorization requests. Also, your RCR submission via BlueApprovR replaces the need to fax or to attach forms in Availity.
Use BlueApprovR to request prior authorization for these types of care:
How to submit Prior Authorization and Recommended Clinical Review requests through Availity Essentials:
Other prior authorization request methods:
Note: This new tool is currently not available for our Federal Employee Program® (FEP®), Employees Retirement System of Texas, Teachers Retirement System of Texas, or Medicare Advantage members. Please use your existing process for requesting prior authorization and recommended clinical review for these members.
Don’t forget: Benefits will vary based on the service being rendered. Always check eligibility and benefits first for BCBSTX members to confirm if prior authorization is required. This step also will alert you if your request must be submitted through a vendor, rather than BCBSTX.
Provider Resources
Learn more about how to access and use BlueApprovR at our Provider Tools web page.
For More Information
Continue to watch News and Updates for future program updates and training opportunities.