Thank you for partnering with Blue Shield of California and Blue Shield of California Promise Health plan daily to provide quality and affordable care for our members – even during this challenging time. We value the care you provide, and we will do all we can to keep you informed as quickly as possible about business needs, to help you provide the best care for our members.
We are taking immediate steps to support COVID-19 screening and testing to promote the health, safety and well-being of our members. We are also updating information about billing, coding, details about member cost-sharing waivers, and more.
Please visit this page frequently to stay informed. In addition to sending out provider communications, we will continually post new information as it becomes available, and we will make every effort to answer your questions as quickly and effectively as possible.
Waiving cost-sharing for members
Blue Shield and Blue Shield Promise are waiving all prior authorization and cost-sharing for COVID-19 screening and testing prescribed by a physician for all commercial plan members, as well as Medicare (HMO) (PPO) members. This includes cost-sharing for hospital, urgent care, emergency room, and office visits where the purpose of the visit is to screen or test for the virus.
Copayments do not apply to Blue Shield Promise Medi-Cal members.
Blue Shield is also waiving prior authorization for treatment needs resulting from a positive diagnosis of COVID-19.
Please keep us informed of your practice or facility plans and capacity challenges
We will continue to inform you of business decisions made by Blue Shield that affect your daily business processes for addressing COVID-19 as you provide care for our members.
Please keep us informed of your capacity to provide care as patient influx grows, and whether you are planning for alternative ways to screen and test, such as “drive-through testing” stations, so we can efficiently plan for member needs.
To report any concerns and updates about capacity issues, please contact your Blue Shield Provider Relations Representative.
If you are looking for information about eligibility, benefits, or authorization or claims status, we strongly encourage you to use the tools available here, at Provider Connection. Due to higher than usual call volumes related to COVID-19, callers to our Provider Customer Service Department are experiencing long waiting times.
Frequently asked questions on key topics
Cost-sharing, coding and billing