Blue Benefits Bulletin

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December 2009

BlueCross is Committed to Ethical Business Practices

BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee is committed to a corporate culture of ethics and compliance. In an effort to reinforce that commitment, the Board of Directors has adopted a Code of Business Conduct that applies to all employees, officers, contractors and members of the Board of Directors. We are willing to share our Code of Conduct, along with related policies and procedures, with our business partners in order to relay our commitment to a corporate culture of ethics and compliance. The Code of Conduct sets an ethical tone for the organization and provides guidelines for how we and our business partners are expected to conduct business.

We encourage affiliates, business associates, suppliers and third parties with which we do business to adopt and follow a Code of Conduct particular to their own organization that reflects a commitment to prevent, detect and correct any occurrences of unethical behavior. In addition, we embrace fraud prevention and awareness as essential tools in preserving affordable quality health care and actively work with our business partners and law enforcement agencies to combat health care fraud.

Included in our Code of Conduct are two sections entitled “Conflicts of Interest” and “Dealing with Customers, Suppliers, and Third Parties”. The primary focus of these sections is to help ensure business decisions are based on the merit of the business factors involved and not on the offering or acceptance of favors. Any gift or gratuity offered or accepted must be reasonable, consistent with business practices and related to a legitimate purpose, and gifts of cash or cash equivalents should never be accepted. Additionally, any activity that conflicts or is otherwise incompatible with our responsibilities as a representative of BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee should be avoided.

You may review our Code of Business Conduct at our Web site at any time.
http://www.bcbst.com/about/company_profile/code-of-conduct

If you have questions or wish to report a suspected violation, please contact the BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee Corporate Compliance Department

by e-mail: ComplianceHotline@BCBST.com
by phone: 1-888-343-4221
by mail: BlueCross BlueShield of Tennessee
Attn: Corporate Compliance Department
1 Cameron Hill Circle
Chattanooga, TN 37402

In This Issue

Medicare Information

Medicare Supplement Changes for 2010

Medicare Supplements are scheduled for changes in 2010. The Medicare Improvements for Patients and Providers Act (MIPPA) was passed in an effort to streamline and modernize benefits and benefit plans, reduce beneficiary confusion and increase beneficiary choices. Read More »

Annual Credentialing Required to Receive Medicare Advantage Renewal Commissions

If you are one of our brokers who has sold BlueAdvantage products in previous years, we want to make sure you are eligible to receive future renewal commissions. New government regulations stipulate that only credentialed Medicare Advantage brokers can receive renewal commissions. Read More »

Important Information for Your Clients Changing from BlueAdvantage to BlueCross 65

With an economy that has been unpredictable and many questions about Medicare coverage, you may find more of your clients requesting a change from their BlueAdvantage Plan to a BlueCross 65 Plan. Read More »

Primary Coverage Reminder: Group vs. Medicare

Our staff receives questions from across the state on a daily basis, and one common question is: “Who is responsible for primary coverage on an employed group member who also has Medicare Parts A and B?” The answer depends on the size of the group. Read More »

Three Hospitals to Leave BlueCross65 Select Network at Year's End

Three provider hospitals have decided to leave the BlueCross65 Select network at the end of 2009. The departure will reduce the list of providers for BlueCross65 Select, a Medicare supplement product which is no longer available for new members. Read More »

Creditable Coverage Certificate Speeds BlueCross65 Application Process

When you submit BlueCross65 applications for your clients, you want the process to be quick and easy, and so do we. You can greatly reduce the amount of time your clients will have to wait for coverage by including a creditable coverage certificate with BlueCross65 applications.
Read More »

Special HSA messages from
Wells Fargo & First Horizon

Wells Fargo: Building a Better HSA – with Help from You

Earlier this year, Wells Fargo hosted our annual Health Savings Account (HSA) customer and broker advisory councils. The goal was to bring together healthcare professionals to discuss HSA trends and provide feedback on the Wells Fargo HSA. Read More »

First Horizon Expects HSA Demand to Increase

If early indicators hold true, more of your clients will ask you to tell them about high-deductible health plans and HSAs. Not only are employers increasingly concerned about how to control healthcare costs, this current health reform debate has drawn greater public attention to these plans and their advantages to employers and their employees. Read More »