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December 2017

Online health care services to include behavioral health

We’re enhancing our online health care services — Blue Cross Online VisitsSM — to include behavioral health care, effective Jan. 1, 2018. This provides our members with an alternative to in-person therapy or psychiatric appointments.

Blue Cross Online Visits will increase access to behavioral health care — especially important in rural counties where there’s limited access to behavioral health practitioners. It’s also useful for patients who aren’t comfortable with counseling in a face-to-face setting.

How it works

Formerly called 24/7 online health care, Blue Cross Online Visits is powered by American Well® and will include appointments with therapists and psychiatrists. Behavioral health visits are video-only appointments scheduled for 45 minutes.

Members can access online visits in one of the following ways:

  • Website: bcbsmonlinevisits.com
  • App: BCBSM Online Visits, which replaces the Amwell® app

Health care providers in our networks can continue to conduct telemedicine visits after receiving an authorization. Doctors who already provide or wish to provide their own telemedicine services should review the Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan telemedicine policy and the Blue Care Network eVisits and telemedicine policies. Members will have the same cost share as their current outpatient behavioral health benefit.

With online visits, members talk with a doctor or therapist through a secure web-based video application that’s compliant with the Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act of 1996. Visits are confidential and follow federal mental health parity rules.

Online visits don’t include treatment for substance abuse disorders or urgent and emergency behavioral health issues.

Who’s eligible for behavioral health care?

  • Therapy is available for adults and children 10 and older.
  • Psychiatry visits are for adults age 18 and older.

What plans or groups don’t have access to Blue Cross Online Visits?

  • Medicaid, Medicare Advantage (group and individual) and MiChild
  • Medicare/Medigap (non-exact fill)
  • Federal Employee Program®
  • FlexLink groups
  • Specialty products, such as dental, vision and hearing

Questions from patients?
If patients ask you if they have access to Blue Cross Online Visits, suggest that they call the number on the back of their member ID card or log in to the Blue Cross member portal.

No portion of this publication may be copied without the express written permission of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, except that BCBSM participating health care providers may make copies for their personal use. In no event may any portion of this publication be copied or reprinted and used for commercial purposes by any party other than BCBSM.

*CPT codes, descriptions and two-digit numeric modifiers only are copyright 2016 American Medical Association. All rights reserved.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and Blue Care Network are nonprofit corporations and
independent licensees of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.