Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas

Results for Blue Promise

Blue Promise: Are Rural Hospitals a Target for Pass-Through Billing?

BCBSTX Connect Team May 24, 2019

Something called “pass-through billing” is driving up the cost of your health care. In this edition of Blue Promise, we describe pass-through billing, identify efforts to address the problem and share how you can make a difference. If you suspect...
- 366 Views
Blue Promise: The Unusual Impact of UCR Charges (Part 2)

BCBSTX Connect Team May 22, 2019

Texas government mandates that private health insurers pay health care providers according to “usual and customary reimbursement” charges. But how can we ensure that patients are not victims of a situation outside their control? Lee Spangler, Vice...
- 285 Views
Blue Promise: The Unusual Impact of UCR Charges (Part 1)

BCBSTX Connect Team May 22, 2019

Health insurance is a highly regulated industry. One of its unique aspects includes “Usual and Customary Reimbursement” charges, mandated in the state of Texas. Lee Spangler, Vice President of Government Relations at Blue Cross and Blue Shield of...
- 289 Views
Blue Promise: Small Towns Have Big Health Care Concerns (Part 2)

BCBSTX Connect Team March 19, 2019

Texas is home to some of the most advanced health care in the world. Unfortunately, the most rural parts of our state struggle to receive health care services at all. So what's being done about it? In this Blue Promise conversation, Dr. Nancy Dickey...
- 369 Views
Blue Promise: Small Towns Have Big Health Care Concerns (Part 1)

BCBSTX Connect Team March 19, 2019

Of the 254 counties in Texas, more than two-thirds are deemed "rural" by the Texas Department of Agriculture and the Texas Department of State Health Services. There are increasing challenges to accessing health care in these communities. In this...
- 361 Views
Blue Promise: Are Insurance Networks Really Necessary?

BCBSTX Connect Team March 19, 2019

Health insurance networks come in all shapes and sizes. But are they really necessary? In this Blue Promise conversation, two experts from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas offer their insights to the purpose and value of networks -- Shara McClure...
- 461 Views
Blue Promise: Is Price Gouging Legal?

BCBSTX Connect Team March 12, 2019

Seeking medical care during emergencies shouldn’t put people at risk for bankruptcy. However, Texans are continuously charged exorbitant prices in the midst of their most vulnerable moments – during an emergency medical situation. In this Blue Promise...
- 438 Views
Blue Promise: The Purpose of Price Tags

BCBSTX Connect Team February 13, 2019

As health care costs continue to rise, Texans are feeling more and more pressure to be savvy spenders. But how is that possible when they can’t see the price tags attached to their health care services? This panel of experts includes two Blue Cross...
- 591 Views
Blue Promise: Why are Texans Being Hit with Surprise Medical Bills?

BCBSTX Connect Team February 13, 2019

Would you pay $3,000 to treat a cough? Many health care patients already have. Texans continue to face sticker shock like this after receiving surprise medical bills at freestanding emergency rooms. In this episode, BCBSTX's DSVP of Health Care...
- 473 Views
Blue Promise: The Cost of Health Care in the US

BCBSTX Connect Team October 16, 2018

Why are health care costs in the U.S. so much more expensive than health costs in comparable countries around the world? Dr. McCoy discusses how we can contain these runaway costs with Dr. Paul Hain, BCBSTX North Texas Market President, and co-host...
- 820 Views
Blue Promise: How Do Hospitals Make Money? Part 2

BCBSTX Connect Team October 5, 2018

Join us for the second part of our discussion about hospital business models and the price you pay for health care. The panel for this segment includes Shara McClure, DSVP of Texas Health Care Delivery, David Cripe, DVP of Network Management, and...
- 713 Views
Blue Promise: How Do Hospitals Make Money? Part 1

BCBSTX Connect Team October 5, 2018

We all know hospitals provide important medical services in our communities, but do you know how they make their money? Join Dr. McCoy for this Blue Promise discussion to learn more about the price you pay when you access health care at a hospital...
- 716 Views
Blue Promise: Upcoding

BCBSTX Connect Team September 26, 2018

What are 'upcoding' and ‘bundling’ and how can they affect the price you pay for health care? In this Blue Promise, a panel of experts discusses two leading drivers for the rising cost of health care. This discussion includes Dr. Paul Hain, BCBSTX...
- 811 Views
Blue Promise: Consolidation in Health Care Delivery Part 2

BCBSTX Connect Team September 11, 2018

Why do physicians want to join a hospital-based practice and how can we empower them to remain independent? Dr. McCoy talks about the importance of keeping physicians independent with Dr. Vivian Ho, a health economist at Rice University's Baker...
- 784 Views
Blue Promise: Consolidation in Health Care Delivery Part 1

BCBSTX Connect Team September 11, 2018

Independent and hospital-based physicians all wear the same white coats. How can the average consumer tell the difference and what are the implications for health care costs? This edition features Dr. Vivian Ho, a health economist at Rice University...
- 849 Views

A Division of Health Care Service Corporation, a Mutual Legal Reserve Company, an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association
© Copyright 2020 Health Care Service Corporation. All Rights Reserved.

Telligent is an operating division of Verint Americas, Inc., an independent company that provides and hosts an online community platform for blogging and access to social media for Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas.

File is in portable document format (PDF). To view this file, you may need to install a PDF reader program. Most PDF readers are a free download. One option is Adobe^® Reader^® which has a built-in screen reader. Other Adobe accessibility tools and information can be downloaded at http://access.adobe.com.

You are leaving this website/app ("site"). This new site may be offered by a vendor or an independent third party. The site may also contain non-Medicare related information. Some sites may require you to agree to their terms of use and privacy policy.