BLUE CROSS AND BLUE SHIELD OF TEXAS TO ADMINISTER MEDICARE PART A IN NEW MEXICO, COLORADO.DALLAS--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Aug. 8, 1995--The Health Care Financing Administration Health Care Financing Administration, n.pr department in the U.S. agency of Health and Human Services responsible for the oversight of the Medicaid and Medicare benefit programs, including guidelines, payment, and coverage policies. (HCFA HCFA abbr. Health Care Financing Administration HCFA, n.pr See Health Care Financing Administration. ) has awarded Blue Cross and Blue Shield Blue Shield A US not-for-profit health care insurer that is a reimbursement intermediary for physicians. Cf Blue Cross. of Texas, Inc., the federal contract to serve as intermediary Intermediary See: Financial intermediary intermediary See financial intermediary. for the Medicare Part A program for New Mexico New Mexico, state in the SW United States. At its northwestern corner are the so-called Four Corners, where Colorado, New Mexico, Arizona, and Utah meet at right angles; New Mexico is also bordered by Oklahoma (NE), Texas (E, S), and Mexico (S). and Colorado. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas will begin processing Medicare Part A claims for those states effective Nov. 15, 1995. The transition phase of the contract has already begun. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas has been the intermediary for Medicare Part A and carrier for Medicare Part B in Texas since the program's inception in 1965. The company paid 36.3 million Medicare claims in 1994 (Parts A & B) totaling approximately $6 billion. The company, operating as TrailBlazer Health Enterprises, Inc., assumed responsibility for Medicare Part B claims for the state of Maryland in 1994. "We are delighted with the opportunity to serve this new group of Medicare beneficiaries as we once again expand our sphere of service outside Texas," said Rogers K. Coleman, M.D., president and chief executive officer of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. Medicare Part A claims for New Mexico and Colorado total more than 2.5 million per year. This contract will enable Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas to serve more than 600,000 additional Medicare beneficiaries. This will increase the total number of Medicare beneficiaries the company serves to more than 3 million, including the 1.9 million Medicare Parts A and B beneficiaries in Texas and 560,000 Medicare Part B beneficiaries in Maryland. The former intermediary for Medicare Part A for New Mexico and Colorado was New Mexico Blue Cross and Blue Shield. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas will work in full cooperation with New Mexico Blue Cross and Blue Shield and HCFA to achieve a smooth transition without any interruption INTERRUPTION. The effect of some act or circumstance which stops the course of a prescription or act of limitation's. 2. Interruption of the use of a thing is natural or civil. of services to Medicare beneficiaries and health care providers. HCFA had been seeking a new contractor with "a strong record of effective customer service and reliability in bill processing," according to according to prep. 1. As stated or indicated by; on the authority of: according to historians. 2. In keeping with: according to instructions. 3. Bruce Vladeck, HCFA administrator who oversees the Medicare program. "We are pleased that the government thinks so highly of our customer service and claim processing abilities," said Lelia Wright, chief operating officer Chief Operating Officer (COO) The officer of a firm responsible for day-to-day management, usually the president or an executive vice-president. of the Medicare strategic business unit of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas. "We are looking forward to using our experience to service this contract successfully in New Mexico and Colorado." As it does in Maryland, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas will administer New Mexico and Colorado Medicare business under the name of TrailBlazer Health Enterprises, Inc. Intermediaries process Medicare Part A claims submitted on behalf of Medicare beneficiaries by hospitals, skilled nursing facilities skilled nursing facility n. Abbr. SNF An establishment that houses chronically ill, usually elderly patients, and provides long-term nursing care, rehabilitation, and other services. and certain other providers of services. Medicare Part B claims are submitted for the services of physicians and other individual health care providers. The first and largest health insurance company in Texas, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas, along with its subsidiaries, offers a wide spectrum of health and other employee benefit programs. These range from HMOs available to employee groups to health care coverage products for individuals. Life and disability products are made available through the company's subsidiary, Group Life and Health Insurance Company. Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas serves 3.3 million Texans, providing health coverage to 1.4 million regular business customers and serving more than 1.9 million Medicare beneficiaries. CONTACT: Mike Doll doll, small figure of a human being, usually used as a child's toy. The many types of dolls found among the relics of primitive peoples were cult objects. Egypt, Greece, and Rome have left well-preserved dolls of wood, clay, bone, ivory, and bronze that were used , Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Texas Media Line 214/766-8888. |
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