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BCBSND News
BCBSND to join Cambia as newest affiliated single-state Blue plan. Read More ›
March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month and Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) is continuing with a colorectal cancer screenings campaign. We are looking for ways to support our members and partner with our provider community to decrease mortality, ensure affordability and increase access to services for our members.
In 2024, BCBSND partnered with Exact Sciences, the vendor of Cologuard. Cologuard screening kits are available to overdue members on the following plans:
On behalf of BCBSND, in 2024, Exact Sciences issued over 13,000 Cologuard kits to our members. Results showed 20% of the tests were returned, 37% coming from our NextBlue population and 13% tested as a positive result. It is because of our partnership with the provider community that we were able to get those members the help they needed in the time they needed.
Starting in April and throughout 2025, BCBSND and Exact Sciences will continue issuing the Cologuard kits for overdue members on the above plans.
What Providers Need to Know
For 2025, BCBSND and Exact Sciences is working to improve supplemental data to determine if our member has had a kit already issued or if a previous kit or colonoscopy procedure was completed. BCBSND has updated the member-education letters, providing additional information to our members.
Providers are asking for a list of members who are receiving kits. We hear you. Currently, we are not able to provide the information. However, we are committed to working through that request and will keep you informed if that is something we can offer in the future.
The Cologuard process:
Connecting Members with Primary Care
If a member receives a positive test result, our team proactively reaches out to those without an identified Primary Care Provider (PCP). This outreach ensures members understand their results and the recommended next steps. We make multiple attempts to connect members with a PCP for follow-up care. We also monitor claims to track the completion of necessary procedures like colonoscopies.
BCBSND Benefit: Zero Cost for Designated Tests
When ordered through BCBSND, selected members have 100% coverage with no co-pay or deductible. However, members are responsible for the cost of test kits if:
We are committed to informing our members of the importance of colorectal cancer screenings and working with their PCP to live a healthier life.
Questions?
Email prov.partners@bcbsnd.com