Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico 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 News & Updates for the latest information on each initiative.
Note: By rule of the New Mexico Office of Superintendent of Insurance (OSI), there is currently no end date for mandatory cost share waiver for COVID-19 testing, COVID-19 testing-related visits (in person or telemedicine), COVID-19 treatment (in person or telemedicine), and testing/treatment for COVID-related pneumonia and influenza (in person or telemedicine). This New Mexico rule applies to fully insured and Interagency Benefits Advisory Council (IBAC) members.
| Initiative | Start Date | End Date |
|---|---|---|
| Chest CT Scan without Prior Authorization | March 2, 2020 | Expired on Dec. 31, 2020* |
| COVID-19 Testing Cost-Share Waiver | March 7, 2020 | End of Health and Human Services (HHS) public health emergency, or the end of the OSI rule Fully insured and IBAC members – no end date |
| COVID-19 Testing-Related Visits Cost-Share Waiver | March 18, 2020 | End of HHS public health emergency Fully insured and IBAC members – currently no end date |
| COVID-19 Treatment Cost -Share Waiver | April 1, 2020 | Expired on Dec. 31, 2020* Fully insured and IBAC members – currently no end date |
| Interfacility Transfer without Prior Authorization | April 1, 2020 | Expired on Feb. 28, 2021 |
| Prior Authorization Extension | Services scheduled between Jan. 1 and June 30, 2020 | Expired on Dec. 31, 2020 |
| Telehealth Expansion, Cost-Share Waiver | March 18, 2020 | The cost-share waiver for most members expired on Dec. 31, 2020* For Medicare (not Part D) and Medicare Supplement plans, cost-share waiver for telehealth services will continue through the public health emergency. For information about our 2021 telemedicine coverage see our News & Update article. There is currently no end date for the cost-share waiver, for COVID-19-related testing and treatment delivered by telemedicine for fully insured and IBAC members. |
*Services that were originally scheduled to end May 31, 2020
** Service originally scheduled to end May 15, 2020
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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association