New ID number for Tyson Foods, Inc.
Beginning January 1, 2008, employees of Tyson Foods, Inc., with Wellmark Blue Cross and Blue Shield health coverage will be issued new eight-digit identification numbers reflecting an alpha prefix of TYS. Prior to this, the identification number was the member's social security number.
The BCBSKS company service area currently includes over 2,250 contracts covering 5,621 Tyson Foods members. You should continue to submit your claims to BCBSKS.
As always, be sure to ask your patients for their current identification card.
New FEP Identification Cards
Beginning in February through April of 2008, all FEP members will be issued newly redesigned identification cards. Examples of these new cards appear below. Also, new employees or annuitants enrolling during the upcoming FEP open season will be issued these cards so providers may actually see these cards prior to February.
Standard Option
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Basic Option
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An example of the ID card for the new FEP Basic Consumer Option benefit option appears in the next section of this newsletter.
FEP Pilots New Basic Consumer Option Effective January 1, 2008
FEP is offering a new benefit option in 2008 called the Basic Consumer Option (a sub-option of Basic Option). This sub-option is a high-deductible health plan that encourages its members to act as consumers when spending their benefits dollars, much as they do when making any other purchasing decision. For 2008, Basic Consumer Option is offered to federal employees who live in the following four pilot areas: Ohio, Minnesota, Tennessee and Missouri – Kansas City. While FEP members living in the Kansas company service area are not part of this pilot, some members from the pilot areas may seek services from Kansas providers.
Basic Consumer Option Key Features
- Network of Providers – Except for certain circumstances such as emergencies, Basic Consumer Option members must obtain services from Blue Choice providers.
- The Blue Choice provider network includes hospitals who have signed the Blue Choice provider agreement. It also includes non-hospital institutional providers (home health agencies, hospice agencies, end stage renal disease facilities and freestanding substance abuse facilities) who are CAP providers.
- New ID card - A valid Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan Basic Consumer Option ID card is needed with the debit card.
- Medical services - pays 100% of covered preventive care services not subject to the deductible. Once the deductible is met, other covered services are paid at 100% of the allowance.
- Deductible – $2,900 calendar year deductible for self only enrollments, and a $5,800 calendar year deductible for self and family enrollments
- Financial Components - This high deductible health plan is combined with a tax-favored Health Savings Accounts (HSA) or Health Reimbursement Arrangement (HRA) to help members better manage their healthcare costs.
- Debit Card - The card allows members to pay for and track out-of-pocket costs using funds from their HSA. Not all members will have a Blue Cross Blue Shield debit card, members may use any form of payment that is accepted by the provider for services.
 
- Provider Data and Decision Support Tools – The Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan provides information about healthcare providers (such as demographic, provider types/specialties, hospital affiliations, etc.) to members through the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Service Benefit Plan Online Provider Directory, available through www.fepblue.org. In addition to searching for a provider, decision support tools on cost and hospital profile information (i.e., cost ranges by episode treatment or groupings by conditions, profile data on length of stay, and hospital volumes and complications by procedure) are available through the www.fepblue.org. This information is provided to help members make healthcare decisions.
Provider Tips
- Always ask members, including Basic Consumer Option and other FEP members for their current ID card and keep a copy of the card in your file.
- Use the BCBSKS online inquiry process to check eligibility (including the accumulated deductible amount) and benefits at www.bcbsks.com. Providers who do not have online access can call the FEP customer service center at 1-800-432-0379.
- File claims for Basic Consumer Option and other FEP members to BCBSKS.
- If the member presents a debit card be sure to verify the out-of-pocket amounts before processing payment. Remember, the debit card should not be used for the total charge but only for the member's responsibility. (NOTE: Providers may forego using the debit card and submit the claims for processing. The provider remittance advice will reflect what the member owes.)
- Covered services are the same as under Basic Option.
For questions please contact:
BCBSKS FEP customer service center
- Toll free 1-800-432-0379
- Topeka local (785) 291-4181
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