Blue Cross to manage additional benefits for State of Michigan retirees and employees

Starting in October 2014, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan will manage the following benefits for State of Michigan members who reside in Michigan:

• Durable medical equipment
• Prosthetics and orthotics
• Medical supplies

This becomes effective on Oct. 1, 2014, for State of Michigan retirees and on Oct. 12, 2014, for active employees.

Here’s how participating DME/P&O providers should handle billing:

• If the service occurred before the above dates, bill claims to the current vendor DMEnsion.

• If the services occurred after the above dates, bill claims directly to the members’ local Blue plan.

Other important items to note:

• Medicare-approved DME providers that provide services to State of Michigan Medicare members can continue to do so after these changes take place in October. Your secondary balance payments will come from Blue Cross instead of DMEnsion.

• Blue Cross will continue to process State of Michigan DME and P&O claims for members who receive services outside of Michigan through our BlueCard^® program. Suppliers that ship equipment or medical supplies to an out-of-state member must participate with the Blue plan in the member’s state in order for the member to receive his or her full benefits.

• Blue Cross will honor current prescriptions for rental DME and medical supplies as long as the supplier remains the same, the prescription is still valid and the prescription covers the rental period for equipment or supplies being billed.

As a reminder, accrued rental payments for DME items in the vendor program count toward the Blue Cross-approved purchase price.

If you have any questions, contact your provider consultant.