*Action Required: Average Monthly Premium Data is Due April 27

Applies to fully insured groups
BCBSTX is assisting our fully insured, Blue Balance Funded^SM and Minimum Premium group customers with the Prescription Drug Data Collection (RxDC) Reporting to the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) for the 2022 reference year. To complete this reporting requirement for our group customers, the account’s benefits administrator must provide us with some information. Zoom in.

*ASO Group Billing and Fees for Provider Negotiation and Independent Dispute Resolution (IDR) Processes

Applies to ASO groups
A new provider dispute and negotiation process was put in place when provisions of the No Surprises Act (NSA) started for plan years beginning on or after Jan. 1, 2022.

This new, provider-initiated negotiation process, and IDR process—if negotiations fail—is only applicable to NSA-eligible claims. Go deeper.

*BCBSTX Extends Contract with Hendrick Health in Abilene to May 31, 2023

Applies to all groups, Individual & Family
We’re in active negotiations with Hendrick Health in Abilene. The current contracts were set to expire on April 30, but we’ve extended our contracts to May 31.
 
The negotiation includes Hendrick Medical Center and Hendrick South in Abilene, as well as Hendrick Health doctors and home health services.
 
We’re working with Hendrick Health to protect our members and customers while providing access to quality care at affordable rates.
 
More information: For the latest information, visit bcbstx.com/hendrick. Please contact your BCBSTX representative with any questions or concerns.

Announcing a New Bonus for Producers: Our Partner in Health

Applies to all groups
We look to you as a partner in making health care accessible to our communities. Now, you can earn up to an extra $70 per contract when you sell new, fully insured and Blue Balance Funded group business to accounts that may lose coverage due to their current carrier’s exit from the health insurance market.
 
Note: This only applies to new business with effective dates from April 1, 2023, to Jan. 1, 2024.
 
This bonus is in addition to all other BCBSTX bonus programs. General Agents can earn a $10 per contract bonus for eligible accounts sold during the bonus period.
 
Click here to view more about this program.  Learn more about additional BCBSTX bonus programs. 

For more information, please contact your BCBSTX representative.

Airrosti Remote Recovery Go-Live Date Postponed

Applies to ASO, fully insured groups
We have postponed the implementation date of the productized Airrosti Remote Recovery (ARR) solution. This delay is to allow our teams to continue reviewing the proposed structure, implementation, and presentation of the ARR offering. Selected ASO and fully insured group plans will be impacted.

Airrosti is a valued partner, and we want to stress that the delay is to further evaluate the offering and ensure we address any regulatory questions presented by the current structure.

We are working quickly and diligently to make the necessary refinements and plan to provide additional details once available.

If you have questions, please contact your BCBSTX account representative.

*Reminder: Multifactor Authentication Is Coming to the Employer Portal

Applies to all groups
Multifactor Authentication (MFA) will go into effect for Blue Access for Employers^SM users in the coming weeks. Learn more.

For Retail Producer Portal Users: Update Your Express Link by May 1

Applies to Medicare, Individual & Family
Recently we issued new Express Links to our Retail Producer Portal users. While your old Express Link is valid until May 1, you should update it as soon as possible if you haven’t already. Keep reading.

Reminder: One-Stop Shop for Individual & Family Markets Materials and Resources

The readiness website is available to help you market, sell, enroll and renew. Get the updated resources.

Curious about Taking a Break from Alcohol?

Wonder what taking a break from alcohol can do for your mind and body? Maybe even more than you might think. New research suggests that drinking even modest amounts of alcohol isn’t good for you. You don’t have to have a problem with alcohol to gain health benefits from skipping it.

There are benefits to skipping alcohol for long or short periods any time of the year. That’s because even small amounts of alcohol can have a big effect on your body. From the very first sip, alcohol enters your bloodstream and quickly impacts your body.

Share this article with your clients to learn more about the benefits of giving up alcohol and how to get started.

*Texas Legislative Digest, Issue 14, 2023

Legislators in the Texas House debated the proposed two-year budget for the 2024-2025 biennium. Among other expenditures, the bill would allot $60.3 billion – an increase of $12.5 billion – toward school funding; $79.3 billion for Medicaid; and more than $6 billion for non-Medicaid behavioral health services.
 
March Madness – Texas style: The Texas Monthly magazine asked readers to vote top dog in four Texas brand categories: restaurants, products, stores and wild cards. Hamburger haven Whataburger grilled runner up Dairy Queen. H-E-B supermarket bested Buc-ee’s. Blue Bell held off Dr Pepper, and Southwest Airlines beat Schlitterbahn. H-E-B iced runner-up Blue Bell to be named top Texas brand.
 
Get all the updates in the Texas Legislative Digest.