The Record header image

Forward to a friend  |  Subscribe  |  The Record Archive  |  Contacts  |  bcbsm.com  |  Print this article
May 2023

Blue Cross expanding covered services for substance use disorders and mental health

Effective July 1, 2023, we’ll cover the following as standard benefits for all Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan commercial members:

  • Partial hospitalization program services for substance use disorders
  • Intensive outpatient program services for mental health

Currently, Blue Cross covers partial hospitalization program services only for mental health and intensive outpatient program services only for substance use disorders.

Blue Care Network already covers these services, as do some groups with Blue Cross commercial coverage.

Aligning these benefits across our Blue Cross and BCN lines of business will do the following for our Blue Cross commercial members:

  • Help reduce inpatient stays.
  • Provide additional step-down options.
  • Increase access to care.

 This change won’t affect members’ out-of-pocket costs.

Additional information

Partial hospitalization program services will continue to require prior authorization through New Directions.  For more information, see the For Blue Cross commercial members section of the Blue Cross Behavioral Health page on our ereferrals.bcbsm.com website. 

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 2022 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.