TEMSA Update - 9.12.23 - Updated BCBS EMS Policy & TDEM Warehouse Questionnaire

September 12, 2023

Texas Department of Insurance

BCBS of Texas Updates Its Overpayment Policy; Not Over Yet

As TEMSA indicated in the last update, TEMSA has been having discussions with Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas about its overpayment error policy.

Since that time, BCBSTX updated its policy - click here.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX) continues to evaluate whether some claims submitted from March 2021-2023 for ambulance services provided to members of out-of-state Blue plans were correctly paid. While both in-network and out-of-network providers may have received refund requests on these claims already, BCBSTX has suspended generating additional refund requests. BCBSTX will not seek to collect refunds on any local BCBSTX or FEP members. BCBSTX has paused automatic offsets for in-network providers on these claims and will not automatically offset any payments to out-of-network providers to recover on these claims. BCBSTX will provide additional notice if and when recovery efforts recommence.

While the issue is making progress, TEMSA is continuing to have discussions with BCBSTX about those EMS agencies that have already experienced recoupments and how they can be made whole.

Stay tuned.

Texas Division of Emergency Management

EMS Supply Chain Issues & TDEM: Your Feedback Is Requested

TDEM Chief Nim Kidd asked Texas EMS agencies for their top issues at EMS EVOLUTION 2023, and several agencies indicated that supply chain issues are their greatest concern.

TEMSA created a supply chain committee, and we are ready to give feedback to Chief Kidd.

If you have supply chain issues, and you would like to see TDEM create a "warehouse" for our top expendable items and medications, your feedback is critical.

Click here to fill out this simple form. TEMSA needs to know what supplies are in short supply for your agency.

If we don't hear from you, then we will assume that the supply chain is not an issue for your agency.