COVID-19 Initiatives Extended

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COVID-19 Initiatives Extended

May 18, 2020

Updated July 29, 2020

We updated this notice to reflect the extended end date for interfacility transfer without prior authorization.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) has taken steps to make access to the testing and treatment for our members easier and less expensive during this national health emergency. We have extended the duration of these measures to continue serving our members.

The chart below details those dates. We will continue to monitor the situation and update as needed. Check our provider site and our COVID-19 Related News for the latest information on each initiative.

Initiative	Start Date	End Date
Chest CT Scan without Prior Authorization	March 2, 2020	Open ended*
COVID-19 Testing Cost-Share Waiver	March 7, 2020	End of Health and Human Services (HHS) public health emergency
COVID-19 Testing-Related Visits Cost-Share Waiver	March 18, 2020	End of HHS public health emergency
COVID-19 Treatment Cost -Share Waiver	April 1, 2020	Aug. 31, 2020*
Credentialing Simplified	April 3, 2020	End of HHS public health emergency
Interfacility Transfer without Prior Authorization	April 1, 2020	Sept. 30, 2020**
Prior Authorization Extension	Services scheduled between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2020	Dec. 31, 2020
Telemedicine/Telehealth Expansion, Cost-Share Waiver	March 10, 2020	Aug. 31, 2020* for commercial and retail members Dec. 31, 2020 for Medicare

*Services that were originally scheduled to end May 31, 2020
** Service originally scheduled to end May 15, 2020