We’re expanding access to diabetes monitoring products for commercial members, starting in January

Starting Jan. 1, 2021, diabetes monitoring products, such as glucometers and test strips, lancets, continuous glucose monitors and insulin delivery devices, will be added to the pharmacy benefit for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan commercial and Blue Care Network commercial members.

Members will be able to obtain diabetes monitoring products or supplies through participating pharmacies or through durable medical equipment providers, as outlined below.

Participating pharmacies

Select glucometers and continuous glucose monitors will be available through members’ pharmacy benefit with no cost sharing.

Other diabetes supplies will be covered according to the drug list for the member’s plan. The appropriate pharmacy cost sharing or copayment will apply.

Glucometers and continuous glucose monitoring products that are available with no cost sharing include:

• OneTouch Verio Reflect^®
• OneTouch Verio Flex^®
• OneTouch Ultra^® 2
• Contour^®
• Contour Next
• Contour Next One
• Contour Next EZ
• Dexcom G5™ receivers and transmitters
• Dexcom G6™ receivers and transmitters

Durable medical equipment providers

Members can also obtain diabetes monitoring products through a DME provider. The process to locate DME providers varies depending on a member’s plan:

• Blue Cross commercial fully insured groups: These members must obtain their diabetes monitoring products through a Northwood Inc. network provider starting Jan. 1. To find a Northwood network provider, members can do one of the following:
• Log in to their Blue Cross member account through bcbsm.com or our mobile app and click on Find a Doctor.
• Go to bcbsm.com/dmesupplies and click on Find a Northwood provider.

A Northwood icon appears next to each Northwood network provider.

• Blue Cross commercial self-funded groups: To find a network provider, members can log in to their secure member account through bcbsm.com or our mobile app and click on Find a Doctor.
• BCN commercial members: To find a J&B Medical Supply network provider, members can do one of the following:
• Log in to their secure member account through bcbsm.com or our mobile app and click on Doctors & Hospitals. They can then click on the durable medical equipment link.
• Call J&B Medical Supply at 1-888-896-6233.

What this change means

This change effects members as follows:

• Blue Cross commercial fully insured groups: For these groups and members, we’re  moving to the Northwood network, beginning Jan. 1, 2021.
  
  Starting Jan. 1, if members use a provider in the Northwood network, their medical copayment, cost sharing, coinsurance or deductible won’t change. However, if members use a provider outside the Northwood network on or after Jan. 1, they may pay a higher copay, cost share, coinsurance or deductible. Members can obtain diabetes supplies and prescriptions from a participating network pharmacy or from a provider through the Northwood network.

• Blue Cross commercial self-funded groups: There’s no change to how members obtain DME. Members can continue to get diabetes supplies from the DME provider they’re using now under the pharmacy benefit.
• BCN commercial members: J&B Medical Supply is the diabetic supplies DME provider for BCN commercial members. There won’t be a negative effect on members who currently receive diabetes monitoring supplies under the medical benefit. This change simply expands access by allowing members to get diabetes supplies and prescriptions from participating network pharmacies, in addition to the DME providers they’re using now.