BLUE CROSS BLUE SHIELD

Blue Cross Blue Shield is ending coverage at four Minnesota pain clinics

Fri, 24 Sep 2021 17:49:12 GMT

ALEXANDRIA, Minn. -- Beginning Friday, Oct. 1, patients with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota insurance will have to pay out of their own pockets for visits to the Center for Pain Management, which has four Minnesota locations in Alexandria, Bemidji, Baxter and Sartell.

The clinic said it is trying to regain coverage for its patients, and that being outside the Blue Cross Blue Shield network of doctors will hurt patients who have limited options for care in the areas they serve.

"Access to our services has helped lessen the impact of the opioid epidemic and the COVID pandemic," wrote Jessie Keller, clinical services manager, to the Alexandria Echo Press in an effort to spread the word about the pending loss of a major insurance carrier. "Lack of access may result in a rise of opioid medication use, ER visit, and use of illicit drugs. We have provided our patients experienced, exceptional, and professional care through the years and feel limiting options will be detrimental to patients and overwhelm an already struggling system in these rural communities."

Through a spokesperson, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota confirmed that it is terminating its contract with the Center for Pain Management, but declined to provide a reason.

The company said it initially notified the clinic and its insurance customers that the contract would be terminated without cause effect Oct. 1.

"Upon further internal review of patient records, medical practices and billing information, Blue Cross submitted a revised termination notice – with cause – to Center for Pain management, effective October 1, 2021," wrote company spokesperson Bryce Butzer. "Due to peer review laws, we cannot disclose any details about the cause for termination at this time."

The company said it continually assesses its provider network "to ensure that all Blue Cross members have access to safe, effective and affordable care, and to verify that providers are billing appropriately for covered services."

It added that it will help its members find other nearby providers.

Keller said the Center for Pain Management was established in 2001 and has been in the Blue Cross Blue Shield network for 20 years with a good standing relationship. The clinic serves many underserved communities across greater Minnesota, she said.

The clinic was first notified on April 26 of the termination, then followed up with the insurer by mail and when it didn't hear back, followed up with a phone call, Keller said. At that point, the insurer's provider services told the clinic that its contract was current, she said.

"We then started hearing about our patients receiving letters of us becoming out of network end of Aug(ust)," she said.

RELATED: Read more health coverage in NewsMD

That started a back-and-forth dialogue with Blue Cross Blue Shield, which Keller said implied that the contract was renewed as of July 1. When the clinic asked why its patients were getting the letters about the termination, it received no reply until Sept. 9, Keller said.

Over the past six months, the Center for Pain Management has served 1,300 patients insured by Blue Cross Blue Shield, and 20% of its revenue comes from the insurer, she said.

Keller said other pain management clinics have voiced concern about the move, but Butzer said that no other pain management clinics have been removed from the Blue Cross network in the past year.

"Looking ahead, we will continue to evaluate our network to ensure our members are receiving safe, effective and appropriate care, and that providers are billing appropriately for services provided," he wrote.

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Blue Cross waives out-of-pocket costs for coronavirus testing, treatment in Minn., Dakotas

Jeremy Turley — Thu, 09 Apr 2020 13:58:24 GMT

BISMARCK — Residents of the Dakotas and Minnesota on Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance plans will not have to pay out-of-pocket charges for COVID-19 testing or treatment.

Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota and Minnesota and Wellmark Blue Cross Blue Shield, which covers South Dakota and Iowa, announced in news releases at the beginning of the month they are waiving all medical co-pays, deductibles and co-insurance charges related to COVID-19 treatment through the end of May. COVID-19 is the illness caused by coronavirus.

“Blue Cross wants our members to know we’re here to support them through this pandemic,” said Dr. Craig Samitt, president and CEO of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Minnesota. “We want to remove barriers to health care and offer peace of mind during this uncertain time. Blue Cross is here to help. We’ll continue to support our members and our communities throughout the duration of this crisis.”

A total of 251 North Dakotans, 1,154 Minnesotans and 393 South Dakotans have tested positive for the illness, as of Thursday morning, April 9.

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Blue Cross Blue Shield latest insurer to slash insulin costs in Minnesota

Christopher Magan / St. Paul Pioneer Press — Thu, 22 Aug 2019 22:20:31 GMT

ST. PAUL — Another Minnesota health insurer is cutting the cost of insulin for its customers.

Blue Cross Blue Shield announced Thursday, Aug. 22, insulin would be available to thousands of members at no charge starting Jan. 1. The change affects members who are fully insured with individual and employer plans.

“Our first responsibility is to do what we can to improve the health and financial stability of our members,” said Dr. Craig Samitt, CEO of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Minnesota. “We felt a responsibility to address the skyrocketing cost of insulin with the options we have available.”

Blue Cross Blue Shield did not adjust its premium rates for 2020 because of this change.

Blue Cross Blue Shield is the third Minnesota insurance company to cut insulin costs for customers. Earlier this month, Medica and UCare announced they would cap monthly insulin costs at $25 a month for customers.

The price guarantees come as state lawmakers continue to debate the best way to ensure every diabetic who relies on insulin to survive has access to the medicine. Several Minnesotans have died while rationing their insulin because the cost of the drug has skyrocketed about 300% in the last decade.

Democrats have pushed for a new fee on drugmakers to fund an emergency insulin program. They want to raise about $10 million a year to help low income diabetics afford their medicine.

Republicans have been supportive of an emergency program, but not a new fee on drug makers to cover the costs. They’ve also favored other changes to make medicine like insulin more affordable.

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