BlueLink Newsletter

CareFirst's bimonthly administrative provider newsletter for participating practitioners and their office staff.

2021

	Month	Highlights
	December	New CareFirst Member ID Cards to Display Additional Benefit Information Update on the Consolidated Appropriations Act (CAA) Coming Soon: New Interactive CareFirst Direct User Guides Review the Latest Updates to CareFirst’s Medical Provider Manual Are you Taking Advantage of our New Provider Education Site? FOBT Colorectal Cancer Screening on the Rise – Kevin Schendel, M.D. BlueHPNSM Updates for 2022 CareFirst Expands its Available Networks – Are you In- or Out-of-Network? Launch of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Group Medicare Advantage Plan Medical Preferred Drug Strategy Update – January 1, 2022 High Risk OB Care Management Overview and Referral Process Effective Dates, Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) Codes and Policy Updates for December New Place of Service Pre-Processing Edit New Year, New Office Habits for CareFirst Direct Users Are You Up to Date on Best Practices and Quality Standards? Available Vaccine Resources In Case You Missed It
	October	Requirement: Verify Your Provider Data Let’s Stay Connected – Keep in Touch With Us What Providers Need to Know About the Consolidated Appropriations Act and Consumer Transparency Rules Review the Latest Updates to CareFirst’s Provider Manual Provider Profile Score Training Blue High Performance NetworkSM (BlueHPNSM) Expansion and Upcoming Training Are You Accepting New Patients … or Not? CareFirst Announces New Behavioral Health Digital Resource CareFirst Launches Kidney Screening Pilot CareFirst Implements New Care Management Platform Oncology Care Management Overview and Referral Process Changes to Maryland Facilities: Commercial and Medicare Advantage Metabolic Monitoring for Children and Adolescents on Antipsychotics Launch of CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield Group Advantage Plan Are You In- or Out-of-Network? Onduo – A Physician’s Perspective by Dr. Kevin Schendel Effective Dates, Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) Codes and Policy Updates for October October Medical Technology Updates New Authorization System Launched for Commercial and Federal Employee Plan (FEP) Members Medications Added to Prior Authorization and Site of Care Management Lists – Effective 12/01/21 Enhancements to National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Supported Regimen-level Review – Effective 12/01/21 Remind Your Patients to Schedule Dental Appointments Remind Your Patients with Diabetes to Schedule Annual Comprehensive Eye Exams Are You Up to Date on Best Practices and Quality Standards? Available Vaccine Resources In Case You Missed It
	August	What Providers Need to Know About the Consolidated Appropriations Act and Consumer Transparency Rules Are You Accepting New Patients…or Not? Upcoming Webinars for New Prior Authorization System Medicare Advantage Inpatient Authorizations Update Care Reminders Campaign Colorectal Screening Pilot Project CareFirst Launches Hypertension Program Pilot Coming to a Provider’s Office Near You: CareFirst’s Behavioral Health DocTour Changes to the Utilization Management and Review Process CareFirst Expands its Available Networks – Are you In- or Out-of-Network? Social Determinants of Health – A Message from Dr. Kevin Schendel, M.D. Effective Dates, Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) Codes and Policy Updates for August August Medical Technology Updates Medications Added to Prior Authorization and Site of Care Management Lists – Effective 10/01/21 Enhancements to National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) Supported Regimen-level Review – Effective 10/01/21 Place of Service Reminder for Residential Treatment Centers Are You Up to Date on Best Practices and Quality Standards? Available Vaccine Resources In Case You Missed It
	June	Coming Soon! A New and Improved Center for Provider Education Review the Latest Updates to CareFirst’s Medical Provider Manual Are You Accepting New Patients…or Not? New Prior Authorization System Now Coming Fall 2021 The Kidney Profile Care Management Overview and Referral Process 24/7 Virtual Care Options CareFirst is Growing its Available Networks – Are you In- or Out-of-Network? Effective Dates, Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) Codes and Policy Updates for June June Medical Technology Updates Medications Added to Prior Authorization and Site of Care with Criteria Enhancement—Effective 8/1/21 Are You Up to Date on Best Practices and Quality Standards? Available Vaccine Resources In Case You Missed It
	April	Review the Latest Updates to CareFirst’s Medical Provider Manual New Prior Authorization System Coming Mid-2021 CareFirst Expands Access to its Online Fee Schedule Tool A PCMH Perspective on Remote Patient Monitoring Medications Added to Prior Authorization List – Effective 7/1/21 CareFirst is Growing its Available Networks – Are you In or Out of Network? April Effective Dates, Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) Codes and Policy Updates April Medical Technology Updates Are You Up to Date on Best Practices and Quality Standards? In Case You Missed It
	February	Medicare Advantage Product and Authorization Training Available Clinical Practice Guideline Updates are Available on CareFirst.com CareFirst is Growing its available Networks – Are you In or Out of Network? Blue High Performance Network (HPN) Beginning January 2021 Celebrate the Little Smiles During National Children’s Dental Health Month Care Management Updates Effective January 1, 2021 Refer Patients to CareFirst’s Diabetes Virtual Care Program The Value of a Second Opinion February Effective Dates, Current Procedural Terminology (CPT®) Codes and Policy Updates February Medical Technology Updates Medicare Advantage Claims – Are You Submitting Correctly? CareFirst Updates Automatically Approved Inpatient Notifications Medications Added to Prior Authorization List and Site of Care – Effective May 1 Drug Prior Authorization – Enhancements to NCCN Supported Regimen-Level Review Coming in May Are You Up to Date on Best Practices and Quality Standards?