We continue to expand our networks
to provide you with affordable health
care choices. Beginning February 1, 2007, we will begin to
offer mini-clinics as participating
providers in all our networks.
Mini-clinics, or retail clinics, are
ambulatory centers that treat common,
low-intensity illnesses. They are
situated in kiosks located in retail
businesses, like pharmacies and
grocery stores. Usually, they are open
for 12 hours on weekdays and six to
eight hours on Saturdays and Sundays.
Care is provided by a master’s level
nurse practitioner (ARNP). A supervising
community physician provides
medical oversight. ARNPs operate
under a set of clinical protocols that
defi ne the conditions they can treat.
Only a limited number of diagnoses
are treated (e.g., strep throat, ear
infections, bronchitis, gastroenteritis,
etc.). The nurse practitioners redirect
any patients who don’t meet their
treatment profile to a physician or
another medical facility.
As of February 1, to find a mini-clinic in your area,
look under Convenient Care Centers
on our provider directory at www.bcbsfl.com, Find a Doctor or Hospital.
Wouldn’t it be great to know how
much a service would cost before you
are handed a bill? Well, Blue Cross
and Blue Shield of Florida has
developed a tool that will do just that!
By using CareCalcSM, physicians and
their staffs can quickly and easily
tell you your estimated copay or
coinsurance costs before they render
services. Although your final cost
will be calculated when the claim
is processed by Blue Cross and Blue
Shield of Florida, the physician’s
office can provide you with a printout
showing a detailed breakdown of
your estimated costs.
We’re the first in our industry to
provide this state-of-the-art tool
because we’re committed to taking
the guesswork out of health care and
putting the power of decision-making
back in your hands.
Initially, CareCalc will be made
available to a select group of physicians
and providers, including
primary care physicians, specialists,
OB/GYNs, urgent care centers and
ancillary providers. Throughout 2007,
CareCalc will be made broadly
available to physicians and providers
listed in our provider directory at
www.bcbsfl.com.
Beginning with December 2006,
BlueOptions and BlueChoice (PPO)
members will receive a new ID card.
You’re familiar with the magnetic
stripe on the back of a credit card,
right? Well, we are using the same
technology for our new member
ID cards to improve service.
The new durable plastic cards will
enable physicians’ offices to electronically
access your eligibility and
benefit information quickly, easily
and accurately. However, the card
will not store your medical
information.
Individually enrolled members living
in Northeast Florida counties will
start receiving their cards beginning
in early December. Remaining
individually enrolled members, as
well as members enrolled as part
of groups, will start receiving their
new cards in spring 2007.
