New! Members Can Get Vaccines at Pharmacies
Effective immediately, members 18 years of age and older with pharmacy benefits can get 11 different immunizations at a participating Express Scripts^®′ retail pharmacy. There's no cost share and a prescription is not required.

New MA Law mandates coverage for oral anticancer drugs
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts will provide full coverage for prescribed, orally administered anticancer drugs. For HSA-compliant high-deductible health plans, the overall deductible will still be applicable.

$9 Generic Medications
Your employees can pay just $9 for each 90-day supply of certain prescription medications at the Express Scripts Mail Service Pharmacy^®′.

New Sleep Management Program Improves Convenience, Compliance, and Affordability
Beginning July 1, 2013, we will introduce a sleep management program for our HMO and POS members (excluding Medicare Advantage) to improve convenience and enhance health care affordability.

Brand-New Find a Doctor Tool Now Available
Our completely redesigned Find a Doctor tool makes it easier for your employees to search for providers and make informed health care decisions.

New for 2013: Summary of Health Plan Payments
We renamed and redesigned our Explanation of Benefits, also known as Claim Summary. Now called the Summary of Health Plan Payments, this simpler and easier-to-understand statement shows our members how we process their claims.

Update: Three New State Mandated Changes
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts has updated our plans to reflect the changes Governor Deval Patrick signed into law in August.

New! Blue Funding Solution: A New Self-Funding Option
Learn how employers with 51-99 employees can maximize their savings potential while limiting risk and managing cash flow

New! Dental Blue^® Community Rated Voluntary Dental Plans for Small Groups
Our new community rated voluntary dental plans offer competitive rates, local and national coverage, and the dependability of a world-class health care leader. Dental Blue members see the provider of their choice. Because it's a voluntary plan, employers can offer this popular benefit without incurring additional costs.

Pathway to Savings: A multi-year roadmap to lower cost and better health
Available for fully insured accounts with 100+ employees, Pathway to Savings, is a customized and integrated, multi-year strategy designed to help ease rising health care costs and improve employees' health.

A Guide to HMO Blue^® Coverage Outside the Area
Learn what's covered when your employees are living or traveling outside their service area.

New: Coaching For Inner Strength Program
Dealing with a serious, ongoing illness can be exhausting and stressful, not only for the member who is ill, but also for his or her family and coworkers as well. Now there's a new program from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts that gives members personalized support as they cope with challenging medical issues.

New! Mobile Services Website
Members can easily connect with mobile services—apps, websites, social media sites, and text programs—from our new site.

Do Your Employees Know the Importance of Referrals?
When employees understand that referrals actually help them receive better care, they are more likely to request them. However, you may need to explain their importance.

Members Invited to Join Study Promoting Medication Adherence
Beginning in January, we will contact select members and invite them to participate in a research study investigating ways to get patients to take their medications as prescribed.

A Guide to Coverage Outside the United States
Learn what's covered when employees carry Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts cards while traveling outside the country.

Introducing a New Plan for Large Groups (51+)
Beginning January 1, 2013, we will be offering a new affordable option: HMO Blue New England $3,000 Deductible^SM.

Coming January 1, 2013: Updates to Pharmacy Formulary Program
With these changes, members and doctors will continue accessing a variety of safe, clinically effective medications at affordable prices.

New Approach to Health Management
To better help members with common chronic conditions, we are launching a state-of-the-art in-house care management service.

Update: Expanded Prevention Coverage for Colorectal Services
Starting January 1, 2013, we will remove the age and frequency restrictions for preventive colorectal services in our preferred provider organization (PPO) and Indemnity plans.

New: Coaching For Inner Strength Program
A new program from Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts that gives members personalized support as they cope with challenging medical issues.

BlueValue Rx^SM Formulary Will Be Discontinued
Starting January 1, 2013, we will begin phasing out our generic medication-based formulary, BlueValue Rx.

Walgreens Returning to Retail Pharmacy Network
Walgreens and Express Scripts^®' reached a multi-year agreement for Walgreens and its subsidiary pharmacies.

Metro Drugs Joins Specialty Pharmacy Network for Fertility Medications
With the addition of Metro Drugs, our members have another high-quality option for purchasing their prescription medications that treat infertility.

Introducing Next Generation Blue365^®: Because health is a big deal^SM
To encourage members to live a healthier lifestyle and promote their well-being, the Blue365 program offers weekly deals on healthy discounts from top national and local retailers.

Update: BlueLinks^SM Help Desk Hours Changed
If you need help, call the BlueLinks for Employers Enrollment Management Help Desk during our new hours: 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. ET.

Additional Dental Products for Small Groups
Beginning October 1, 2012, we will increase our standard dental plan selections for small group employers.

Coming Fall 2012: Summary of Benefits and Coverage (SBC)
Under the federal Affordable Care Act, health insurers and group health plans are required to provide an SBC to those who have private insurance.

The 2012-2013 Flu Season
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts remains committed to helping limit the spread of the flu virus.

Changes to Women's Preventive Health Services Coverage
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued guidelines to ensure that all women have access to preventive health services necessary for women's health and wellbeing.

Blue Options Tiers Being Updated
We are updating the hospital and primary care provider groups tiering levels within our Blue Options plans. The changes will go into effect for employer groups currently offering a Blue Options plan on the group's first renewal date on or after January 1, 2013 and for all new accounts on or after January 1, 2013.

Change in Tiered Network Benefits For Some Serious Conditions
Our tiered network plans now include a new benefit for certain members with a serious health condition, such as cancer or cystic fibrosis.

Expanded Prevention Coverage for Women's Health and Wellbeing
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has issued new guidelines that require health plans to cover the recommended women's preventive health services without charging a copayment, co-insurance, or deductible.

New: Affordable Mail Service Pricing at Retail Pharmacies
With our Exclusive Home Delivery benefit, members can use Express Scripts^®' mail pharmacy for certain maintenance medications.

AcariaHealth™ Joins Specialty Pharmacy Network
Members who take specialty medications are required to use one of the specialty pharmacies in our network. We're pleased to announce that AcariaHealth is now part of that network.

Healthy Actions Program
Healthy Actions is a unique wellness program is available to small group employers with 10-50 employees enrolled in a qualifying plan. This program rewards employees for taking an active role in their health. And based on employee success and participation rates, employers get rewarded with up to 5 percent of their premium.

Enhancement: Large Group Voluntary Dental Program
Beginning in June of 2012, we're excited to increase our presence in the voluntary market by offering our full portfolio of standard dental products on a voluntary basis to employers with 100 or more employees.

Ahealthyme.com-An Enhanced Approach to Family, Fitness, and Fun
We've made some improvements to ahealthyme.com that make it even easier for your employees to manage their health and their health plan. These include expanded wellness content and easy access to Member Central for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts members.

CVS MinuteClinics^®': Quick, Convenient Care
We've partnered with CVS to give Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts members access to a range of simple medical treatments at CVS MinuteClinics. Members can get care at these limited services clinics, usually for the same copayment as their primary care provider and without the need for a referral.

New Prior Authorization Requirement for Infant Formula Effective August 1, 2012
For members up to 12 months of age, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts will require prior authorization before coverage will be provided for infant formula purchased from a pharmacy with a prescription.

New Quality and Safety Measures in Opioid Management, Effective July 1, 2012
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts has consulted with an external advisory group of pain management experts, addiction experts, and primary care providers and pharmacists to develop a comprehensive program to promote evidence-based, safe, high quality, opioid prescribing.

Updated Quality Results Help Members Select a Primary Care Provider
We've incorporated updated quality results into the Find A Doctor tool on Member Central to make it even easier for our members to make informed choices.

Enhanced Cost Comparison Tool Helps PPO Members Better Manage Costs
We've improved our Medical Cost Comparison guide to make it even easier for our members of our Preferred Provider Organization (PPO) plans and their doctors to make effective health care choices.

Account Reminder: Status Change
As a reminder, it is critically important that you provide Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts with the most up-to-date enrollment status data, so that benefits can be coordinated as efficiently as possible.

Walgreens Leaving the Express Scripts Inc.^® Pharmacy Network
Express Scripts, Inc. is the company that administers pharmacy benefits on behalf of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts. Walgreens has notified Express Scripts that it will no longer participate in the Express Scripts retail pharmacy network as of January 1, 2012.

Important Reimbursement Changes in Blue Choice & Blue Choice Plan 2
In an effort to deliver more affordable products to our accounts and members, we are changing the way we reimburse members in certain plans for services received from non-participating1 providers and facilities in Massachusetts, effective January 16, 2012.

Safely Discard Unwanted Drugs on October 29
The U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's next National Prescription Drug Take Back Day will take place on Saturday, October 29, 2011, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Reimbursement for Out-of-Network PPO Providers
Effective January 1, 2012, claim payments will change under our commercial PPO plans for covered services provided by most non-participating covered providers.

Quick, Convenient Care with Minute Clinics
We've partnered with CVS to give Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts members access to a range of simple medical treatments at CVS Minute Clinics.