HCSC Employs Virtual Care To Expand Access to Primary Care Services

Ahead of 2023 open enrollment, Health Care Service Corporation (HCSC) announced that it will make its virtual care options available to midsize and large employers in two new states in 2023.

The solutions will bring virtual primary care to members in Illinois and Texas. HCSC also has health plans serving Montana, New Mexico, and Oklahoma, with a total of 17.5 million members. Its virtual primary care offering—which is driven by Teladoc Health—gives employees the ability to access an online care team with the goals of improving convenience and lowering costs.

“We know that having a primary care provider is associated with better overall health outcomes - fewer hospital visits, earlier detection of problems and improved management of chronic conditions,” said Monica Berner, MD, chief clinical officer for HCSC. “The COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated the effectiveness and convenience of telehealth, so we continue to evolve our solutions to help members get care where and how they need and want it.”

HCSC members can engage with the same virtual primary care provider each time they use the virtual platform. The virtual primary care provider can perform many of the same functions as an in-person provider, including offering annual exams, conducting preventive care measures, supporting chronic disease management services, prescribing medicine, and writing referrals.

The virtual primary care provider does not work alone. They have registered nurses and medical assistants who can help members navigate their primary care experience.

Additionally, HCSC sends members a blood pressure cuff and heart rate monitor for remote patient monitoring purposes when they adopt the new solution.

The virtual care solution also offers urgent care, behavioral healthcare, and dermatology services.

Virtual urgent care is available on demand and is intended to help members receive a fast diagnosis. HCSC’s virtual behavioral healthcare encompass counseling and psychiatry and provide support every day of the week. The virtual dermatology benefit allows members to upload pictures of their skin conditions and they can expect a response within 48 business hours.

In addition to the virtual primary care solution, HCSC noted that it has also introduced digital mental healthcare and digital care management programs. The payer implemented a program called Learn to Live, which enables individuals with mild to moderate depression, anxiety, substance abuse, or mental healthcare needs gain on demand access to mental healthcare professionals.

The payer has also employed a platform to help self-funded employer clients manage their member engagement efforts. HCSC saw the contracting burden placed on self-funded employers and the desire to fuse the self-funded employer’s offerings with the payer’s services.  The payer worked with a vendor partner to provide a digital platform that would streamline access to resources to fit these needs.

Digital platforms have also served HCSC well during moments of crisis. During the height of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020, Blue Cross Blue Shield used the HCSC mobile health program to increase access to childhood immunizations, influenza vaccinations, and health literacy education.