BCBSTX to Acquire Health Benefits, a Subsidiary of Trustmark
Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC), which operates Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX), has signed a definitive agreement with Trustco Holdings, Inc. (Trustmark ) to purchase its wholly owned subsidiary, Trustmark Health Benefits (Health Benefits), a leading third-party administrator of health benefits in the U.S.
Big picture: The acquisition will allow us to offer customizable and flexible health benefit solutions to more of our customers. Self-funded employer groups will be able to design comprehensive and highly customizable health benefit solutions that meet their specific needs. Expanded administrative capabilities and operational efficiencies will offer a streamlined, integrated experience for employers.
About Health Benefits: Health Benefits designs and offers custom self-funded health benefits plans that help manage costs through innovative solutions, data transparency and member-centered support.
Health Benefits will continue to support its existing employers and members with the same level of service.
Background: We’ve successfully partnered with Health Benefits since 2018 and look forward to furthering our relationship through this acquisition. Completion of the transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including regulatory approvals, and is expected to close later this year.
More information: Contact your BCBSTX representative if you have questions.
News from the Blues
News from the Blues
BCBSTX and Southwestern Health Resources Negotiating New Contracts
Southwestern Health Resources sent BCBSTX a termination notice. Unless we reach new agreements, Texas Health Resources and UT Southwestern hospitals, doctors and health care professionals will leave our networks on Oct. 4, 2022. Blue Cross and Blue Shield Federal Employee Program® members will have in-network access until Oct. 11, 2022.
Pharmacy Program Quarterly Update, Part 1: Changes Effective Oct. 1, 2022
Applies to all groups
Review the revisions to the drug list for members with prescription drug benefits administered by Prime Therapeutics®.
Member notices: Targeted mailings were sent to members affected by drug list revisions and/or exclusions, prior authorization program and dispensing limit changes.
Note: Look for Part 2 later this quarter for more recent coverage additions, utilization management updates and any other pharmacy program updates.
BCBSTX contracts with Prime Therapeutics to provide pharmacy benefit management and related other services. BCBSTX, as well as several independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, has an ownership interest in Prime Therapeutics. MyPrime.comis an online resource offered by Prime Therapeutics.
News from the Blues
News from the Blues
New Fitness Program Members: Join and Get $10 Off for First Two Months
Available to groups with the Fitness Program (included in the Well onTarget® program) The offer: New, eligible members can sign up and save $10 off the membership fee for the first two months on any Fitness Program package. They must enroll from Sept. 1 to Sept. 30.
Convenience and access: The Fitness Program offers four flexible gym options, access to a nationwide network of participating facilities and thousands of digital fitness videos and live classes. Share the news with your employees and see how members can enroll.
News from the Blues
News from the Blues
Connecting Medical Members with Chronic Conditions to Vision Care
What’s new: We’re creating a seamless experience for medical customers with high-risk conditions to help reduce their risk of experiencing vision-related complications. The program reminds medical members who have chronic cardiac conditions and diabetes to use their vision benefits and complete their annual vision exams.
Why? People with high-risk chronic illnesses such as diabetes and cardiac problems have an increased risk of developing damaging vision conditions.
The program integrates medical and vision benefits to:
Deepen the connection between medical and ancillary member outreach
Personalize communications with members, urging them to seek vision care that can help reduce the risk of serious eye problems
Strengthen our competitive advantage in the marketplace
Through medical-vision integration, data sharing and outreach, we can help prevent serious and costly vision problems from arising.
Timing: Members with cardiac conditions and diabetes can expect to receive an email or mailer the week of Sept. 5 reminding them to schedule their vision exam.
Questions? Contact your ancillary account executive for details about medical vision integration.
News from the Blues
News from the Blues
Approach to Required Prescription Drug Cost Reporting
Applies to all groups
The Consolidated Appropriations Act, 2021 requirement for Pharmacy Benefit and Drug Cost Reporting was deferred until Dec. 27, 2022. Reporting for the 2020 and 2021 plan years is required on that date.
What’s required: Insurance companies and employer-based health plans must submit information about prescription drugs and health care spending to Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services.
Advanced Payment Review Q1 Fees Will Be Reported on Sept. 1 Invoice
Applies to ASO large groups
The first invoice for Advanced Payment Review (APR) will be released on Sept. 1. The invoice will consist of all Q1 2022 savings and APR fees. The corresponding APR Savings Report will be available on Blue Access for EmployersSM on Sept. 8.
As a reminder, APR is available to:
151+
ASO
ACAP (Administrative Services Only Cap)
MPP (Minimum Premium Program)
Cost Plus
News from the Blues
News from the Blues
Health and Wellness
News from the Blues
Adults Need Vaccines Too
Share the wellness guidelines with your employees
Vaccines are not just for babies and kids. Adults also need protection from a long list of preventable diseases . The flu, Hepatitis A and B, measles, pneumonia, shingles and tetanus are just a few of them. The vaccines that adults need depend on their age, health status, jobs and even travel.
Why it matters: Anyone who has been sick would likely recommend a quick shot compared to suffering from one of these illnesses. For the flu alone, the CDC says it costs the U.S. approximately $10.4 billion every year in direct costs for hospitalizations and outpatient visits for adults. And that doesn’t include lost work time and wages, and other impacts to families and businesses.
What you can do: Encourage your employees to check with their health care providers to make sure they are up to date on their vaccines. Share this article about vaccines and our adult wellness guidelines for recommended vaccines.
News from the Blues
Webinar Reminder: Workplace Wellness Post COVID-19 Employer webinar: The pandemic revealed that many company wellness programs were not comprehensive or well-rounded enough. The programs also did not address whole-person health.
Join us: At the Aug. 23 webinar, we’ll explore strategies that reimagine worksite wellness. Register for the webinar.
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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association