CommunityBlue Direct

CommunityBlue Direct is an open access program that offers two levels of benefits. If you receive services from a provider who is in the CommunityBlue network, you will receive the higher level of benefits for covered services. If you receive services from a provider who is not in the CommunityBlue network, you will receive the lower level of benefits for covered services. There is no requirement to select a Primary Care Physician; however, we request that you choose a Primary Care Physician to assure you get consistent, quality care. Below are specific benefit levels.

CommunityBlue helps employers save money because it uses a more select network of healthcare providers. The CommunityBlue network includes advanced teaching hospitals as well as local community medical centers. Blue Cross Blue Shield managed care network physicians who have admitting privileges to these hospitals are part of the CommunityBlue network.

Currently CommunityBlue is available in the following counties:

Allegheny Armstrong Beaver Butler Crawford Erie Westmoreland

Fayette Greene Indiana Lawrence Mercer Washington

Care is considered coordinated (in-network) when it is performed or referred by your PCP, or referred through the Blues On Call^SM Health Information and Support Line. Exceptions apply for emergency room, Ob/Gyn, and mental health and substance abuse services. If you choose to obtain medical care through another provider, in most cases, this care will be considered self-referred care. Following a referral from your PCP or through Blues On Call^SM, network specialists may continue to provide follow-up care and refer for diagnostic services for a 60-day time period. Below are specific benefit levels.

Wish to have a printable version of this benefit grid? A simply click will open a pdf version...CommunityBlue Direct

The following benefits are effective January 1, 2004. Please click on the Site Map to view benefit information for the 2003 plan year.

Benefits	"In-Network" Care	"Out-of-Network"
Deductible
Individual	None	$250
Family	None	$500
Out-of-Pocket Maximums
	Not Applicable	$2,000/Individual $4,000/Family
Coinsurance
	100%	80% after deductible until out-of-pocket maximum is met; then 100%
Policy Maximum
	Unlimited	$1,000,000
Premier Prescription Drug Program
(defined by Premier Gold III Pharmacy Network - Not Physician Network)	Retail Drugs $10 Co-Pay Generic $20 Co-Pay Brand Mandatory Generic + Formulary4 31 day supply Maintenance Drugs through Mail order $20 Co-Pay Generic $40 Co-Pay Brand Mandatory Generic + Formulary4 90 day supply
Physician Office Visits (PCP)
	100% after $10 Co-Pay	80% after deductible
Specialists Office Visits
	100% after $10 Co-Pay	80% after deductible
Preventive Care
Adult
Routine physical exams	100% after $10 Co-Pay	Not Covered
Routine gynecological   exams, including PAP tests	100% after $10 Co-Pay	80% (deductible/policy maximum does not apply)
Mammograms, as required	100%	80% after deductible
Pediatric
Pediatric immunizations	100%	80% (deductible/policy maximum does not apply)
Routine physical exams	100% after $10 Co-Pay	Not Covered
Emergency Room Services
	100% $35 co-pay (waived if admitted)
Ambulance Services
	100%	80% after deductible
Hospital Expenses
Inpatient	100%	80% after deductible
Outpatient	100%	80% after deductible
Maternity
	100%	80% after deductible
Infertility counseling, testing, and treatment1
	100%	80% after deductible
Assisted Fertilization Procedures
Not Covered
Diagonstic Services
(Lab, X-ray and other tests)	100%	80% after deductible
Physical Therapy
	100% after $10 Co-Pay	80% after deductible
	Combined limit: 20 visits/calendar year
Speech Therapy
	100% after $10 Co-Pay	80% after deductible
	Combined limit: 20 visits/calendar year
Occupational Therapy
	100% after $10 Co-Pay	80% after deductible
	Combined limit: 20 visits/calendar year
Medical/Surgical Expenses
(Except office visits)	100%	80% after deductible
Spinal Manipulation
	100% after $10 Co-Pay	80% after deductible
	Combined limit: 20 visits/calendar year
Skilled Nursing Facility
	100%	80% after deductible
	Limit: 100 days/calendar year
Home Health Care
	100%	80% after deductible
Private Duty Nursing
	100%	80% after deductible
Hospice
	100%	80% after deductible
Durable Medical Equipment
	100%	80% after deductible
Mental Health 2
Inpatient
	100% Limit: 30 days/calendar year	80% after deductible Limit: 10 days/calendar year
	Combined Maximum: 30 days/calendar year
Outpatient
	100% after $10 Co-Pay Limit: 20 visits/calendar year	80% after deductible Limit: 10 visits/calendar year
	Combined Maximum: 20 visits per calendar year
Substance Abuse2
Inpatient
Detoxification	100%	80% after deductible
	Combined Maximum: 7 days/admission; 4 admissions/lifetime
Rehabilitation	100%	80% after deductible
	Combined Maximum: 30 days/year; 90 days/lifetime
Outpatient
	100% after $10 Co-Pay	80% after deductible
	Combined Maximum: 60 visits/year; 120 visits/lifetime
Precertification Requirements
	Performed by Network Medical Management	Required for inpatient admission to non participating hospital 3
Claim Forms Required
	No	Yes

¹Treatment includes coverage for the correction of a physical or medical problem associated with infertility. Infertility drug therapy may or may not be covered depending on your group's prescription drug program.

²To obtain mental health and substance abuse services at the maximum benefits level, you must contact Highmark's Mental Health and Substance Abuse unit before seeking treatment.

³If Blue Cross Blue Shield is not contacted prior to a non-emergency inpatient admission the patient will be responsible for a $300 precertification penalty. If it is later determined that all or part of the inpatient stay was not medically necessary or appropriate, the patient will be responsible for payment of any costs not covered.

⁴Prescriptions are covered as long as they are listed on the prescription drug formulary applicable to your plan. Under the mandatory generic provision, the member is responsible for the payment differential when a generic drug is available and the doctor or patient specifies a brand name drug. The member payment is the price difference between the brand drug and the generic drug in addition to the brand drug Co-Pay or coinsurance amounts which may apply.

The benefit summary outlines the principal features of the program. It should not be considered the contract of benefits and provisions. Please refer to your member handbook for a complete description of benefits or contact us for a further explanation.

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To locate a participating provider, please click on the link below.

• CommunityBlue

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To determine premium rates, Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield uses a demographic rating method based on the following factors: business location, the number of eligible employees enrolling, the average age of all covered employees, and industry classification. Please contact the Council's Employee Benefits Group to determine your specific rates.

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Highmark Blue Cross Blue Shield® is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association serving businesses and residents in western Pennsylvania.

Highmark® is a registered service mark of Highmark Inc.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield® and the cross and shield symbols are registered service marks of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association, an Association of Independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans.

Blues on Call^SM is a service mark of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

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This information is not intended for use without professional advice. While we have attempted to make this site as accurate as possible, it is only a summary. For more information, see our disclaimer.

Last updated on:  Thursday, November 04, 2004  Page: 

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All Rights Reserved.