HealthSelect participants don’t have to take any special action to see Baylor Scott & White Health providers through Sept. 30

July 03, 2024

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Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas (BCBSTX), the administrator of HealthSelect of Texas^® and Consumer Directed HealthSelect^SM, is discussing new contracts with Baylor Scott & White Health, a large provider group with physician practices, hospitals and other facilities in north and central Texas. Contract negotiations with providers like Baylor Scott & White Health are a normal process for insurance companies.

The current contracts were set to expire July 1, 2024, but BCBSTX and Baylor Scott & White have extended them to Oct. 1, 2024, as they work on reaching a new agreement. HealthSelect of Texas and Consumer Directed HealthSelect participants can continue to see Baylor Scott & White providers at in-network coverage levels at least through Sept. 30, 2024.

The Employees Retirement System of Texas (ERS) is closely monitoring the negotiations. We are encouraged by the discussions and hopeful that Baylor Scott & White providers will remain in the HealthSelect^SM network longer term.

If Baylor Scott & White and BCBSTX do not reach an agreement before Oct. 1, 2024, Baylor Scott & White providers-including physician practices, hospitals and other facilities-will no longer be in the HealthSelect network. That means most services from Baylor Scott & White providers would be covered at the out-of-network level, which means higher out-of-pocket costs for participants. Emergency service coverage would continue at the in-network benefit level. If your provider leaves the network, your HealthSelect plan may allow you to continue to receive in-network services from that provider under certain conditions and for a set amount of time. This is called continuity of care.

Conditions that may be eligible for in-network continuity of care include:

• Treatment of a serious or complex condition
• Inpatient care
• A scheduled non-elective surgery, including post-operative care
• Pregnancy or course of treatment for pregnancy
• Terminal illness

To learn more about continuity of care, as well as other assistance BCBSTX would provide for participants who could be impacted by a network change, please visit the HealthSelect of Texas website or call a BCBSTX Personal Health Assistant at (800) 252-8039 (TTY: 711), Monday - Friday 7 a.m. - 7 p.m. or Saturday 7 a.m. - 3 p.m. CT.

ERS is hopeful that Baylor Scott & White providers will remain in the HealthSelect network. We will work with BCBSTX to inform plan participants of any developments.