Blue Cross Blue Shield of North Dakota (BCBSND) is in support of Mental Health Awareness in the month of May. BCBSND is committed to ensuring the behavioral health and well-being of our members, employees and community, especially during uncertain times.
Living with a mental illness is a reality of millions of Americans of all ages each year. May is a time to raise awareness of those living with mental or behavioral health issues and to help reduce the stigma that so many experience.
We look to our provider community to meet appointment accessibility standards. BCBSND’s standards are designed to ensure that all covered services provided by primary care and specialty care providers, including additional or supplemental services contracted for or on behalf of our member, your patient, are available and accessible 24 hours a day, seven days a week, when medically necessary.
Providers should have after-hours instructions for patients such as an answering machine recording. Most provider facilities will instruct members to go to an emergency room or call 911, in the event of an emergency.
For additional information related to appointment access and availability standards, refer to the following provider manuals.
- BCBSND Commercial plans—section access and availability standards: BCBSND Provider Manual
- Medicaid Expansion plans—section access and availability standards: Medicaid Expansion Provider Manual
- NextBlue of North Dakota—section access and availability standards: NextBlue Provider Manual
Please refer to our medical and reimbursement policies related to behavioral health services for additional information on our BCBSND Providers webpage and NextBlue Provider Manual.
In support of our members, we look to our Provider Community to reassure our members, your patients, have services and benefits available.
Both providers and members may call the Customer Service Number on the back of the member’s insurance card to assist with the determination of benefits.
Together we can make a difference to those who suffer from behavioral health related conditions and make an impact on our North Dakota patients and communities across the entire state.
